Application Developer

Application Developer

Description

Application Developer

The Southern Company Energy Management Systems (EMS) department is looking for one full-time application developer to support the expansion of inverter-based resources (IBR) across the Southern Company transmission and distribution systems. This position will support Southern Company as its fleet transitions to include and control many smaller variable and distributed energy resources (examples: solar, wind, and industrial-scale battery sites). This is one of the most exciting and dynamic times in recent history for the power industry as we evaluate and implement renewable energy and emerging technologies to build the future of energy for the advancement of our customers and communities.

This position will include all aspects of application development including enhancement of existing applications, bug fixes and security updates, development of new solutions, database schema design, support for standard and custom components, and application configuration and maintenance. In addition, this position will develop data flows using an enterprise Extract Transform Load (ETL) tool to support new variable/distributed energy solutions. This position requires knowledge of web application development, SQL databases, and software development life cycle processes. The candidate will need to deal with topics like CI/CD, GIT, scripting, API interactions, code quality, advanced version control topics, and more.

This is a hybrid position, located in Birmingham, Alabama and will be filled at a level dependent upon the skills and experience of the successful candidate. The successful candidate must have strong analytical skills and be able to successfully work within a fast-paced, diverse team supporting critical operational functions of Southern Company.

* Job Responsibilities *

• Become familiar with Variable Energy Resources (VER) and Distributed Energy Resources (DER) and enhance EMS applications and processes to support the changing energy grid
• Become familiar with Power Coordination Center and Operating Company Control Center operations in order to create and maintain applications that meet user needs and requirements
• Develop and support applications with complex business requirements including custom data interfaces, security and compliance regulations, and standards from electric industry groups
• Develop and enhance applications and data interfaces to support inverter-based resources across the changing Southern Company transmission and distribution systems
• Develop data flows and support the EMS department's Extract Transform Load (ETL) tool, CloverDX
• Provide on call support (24x7x365) in a team rotation for the mission critical solutions
• Develop and deploy application changes using JetBrains IntelliJ IDE, SonarQube code analysis, Sonatype Nexus suite, GitHub Enterprise source code management and similar software development tools
• Work with database administrators to create and update database schemas and manage complex data models in in Microsoft SQL
• Manage changes to production solutions using Change Management practices including source code management, creation of formal deployment procedures and back-out plans, quality testing, documentation, etc.
• Adhere to all Corporate and EMS guidelines, policies, and established work practices

Job Requirements

Experience & Education

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Management of Information Systems, related software development disciplines -or- 4 years of full-time equivalent work experience in software engineering in real-time computing environments
• Master's degree is a plus

Required Knowledge and Skills

• Technical proficiency with Java, JavaScript, HTML5, JDBC, REST and SOAP APIs
• Critical thinking and problem solving
• Knowledge of software requirements definition, analysis, design, implementation, maintenance, and change management methodologies
• Knowledge of various software development techniques including object-oriented design patterns
• Knowledge of traditional, Agile, and DevOps software development lifecycle methods
• Knowledge of secure software development best practices
• Knowledge of web development technologies, architectures, and software development tools
• Knowledge of relational database requirements analysis, schema design, and query construction
• Ability to directly interact with and guide internal customers
• Organizational skills to plan and carry out system projects
• Strong written and verbal communication skills (understand customer requirements, interact with customers, provide verbal presentations, and create training and support documents, specifications, and action plans)
• Interpersonal skills (work directly with multiple levels of Company personnel including development, operations, security, and compliance personnel, general management, external software vendors, and staff and management from other electric utility entities)

Desired Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of real-time computing solutions for the control, monitoring, and administration of bulk electric system operations
• Knowledge of relational database programming and performance tuning skills
• Knowledge of software development and CI/CD environments/tools (such as JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA, Maven, Jenkins, SonarQube, and Nexus Repository)
• Knowledge of Windows-based and UNIX-based application server platforms
• Knowledge of local area network and wide area network communication
• Knowledge of ETL tools, including CloverDX and OSI EITK
• Technical proficiency with Bootstrap, AngularJS, Vue, Spring, Spring Boot, WebSockets, AJAX, and Apache and Tomcat webservers
• Knowledge of data historians such as AVEVA PI System or AVEVA eDNA

Behavioral Attributes

• Exhibit Our Values (Safety First, Unquestionable Trust, Superior Performance and Total Commitment) in all business dealings
• Self-motivated with attention to details, accuracy, follow-up, and continuous learning
• Exercise independent judgment and discretion
• Experience with and an eagerness to work within a structured development process with strong change management controls
• Contribute to the team dynamic by sharing experiences, valuing differences, developing relationships, and building trust with peers, supervisor, and management
• Desire to grow in Southern Company's Leadership Competencies (Business Execution, Communication, Relationships & Networking, Innovation, Development of Others, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion)

Note: This position falls under the Insider Threat Program.

Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is America's premier energy company, with 46,000 megawatts of generating capacity and 1,500 billion cubic feet of combined natural gas consumption and throughput volume serving 9 million customers through its subsidiaries . The company provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy through electric operating companies in four states, natural gas distribution companies in seven states, a competitive generation company serving wholesale customers across America and a nationally recognized provider of customized energy solutions, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications . Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices that are below the national average. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, Southern Company and its subsidiaries are inventing America's energy future by developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including carbon-free nuclear, 21st century coal, natural gas, renewables and energy efficiency, and creating new products and services for the benefit of customers. Southern Company has been named by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer, recognized among the Top 50 Companies for Diversity by DiversityInc, listed by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the 40 Best Companies for Diversity and designated a Top Employer for Hispanics by Hispanic Network. The company has earned a National Award of Nuclear Science and History from the National Atomic Museum Foundation for its leadership and commitment to nuclear development and is continually ranked among the top energy companies in Fortune's annual World's Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility rankings. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.

Southern Company is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.

Job Field: Information Technology

Job Type: Standard

Primary Location: Alabama-Metro Birmingham/Eastern AL-Birmingham

Operating Company: Southern Company Services

Job Type: Standard

Travel (Up to): Yes, 25 % of the Time

Work Location(s):

APC Corporate Headquarters - 600 North 18th Street (600BIRMINGHAM)

600 North 18th Street

Birmingham, 35203

Req ID: SCS2010927