Java Developer (Senior) at Discovery Limited

Key Purpose

To fulfil a pivotal role within a software development team that designs, develops and maintains the systems for Discovery’s dynamic Life Insurance business.

Areas of responsibility may include but not limited to

Planning:

• Perform a high-level impact analysis, establish Scope and provide estimates based on technical requirements.
• Proactively liaise with all stakeholders.
• Create required planning tasks in SDLC tool and set due dates according to agreed milestones.

Analysis and Design:

• Actively participate in the collaborative technical design process.
• Research and find effective solutions to technical issues that arise.
• Update development timelines based on final requirements.
• Liaise with the relevant subject matter experts where clarification is required.

Development:

• Translate technical requirements into executable code without errors.
• Ensure optimally performing system code in line with technical specifications, following prescribed process, architecture standards and procedures.
• Ensure delivery within agreed timeframes.
• Conduct unit testing and fix any defects found within the agreed SLA.
• Escalate risks to the project early on.

Quality and Testing:

• Run code through the automated code review tool, review errors with the technical lead and fix before committing to the code base.
• Perform peer code reviews to ensure consistent application of standards, logic and effective use of libraries and reusable aspects of the software.
• Develop and maintain reusable Unit Tests.
• Assist the Test Analyst in ensuring that a comprehensive test pack is produced, which includes all the required scenarios. 
• Verify that the completed software meets the established standards and is fit for purpose.
• Review the risk / impact of defects found in testing, prioritize and ensure that the priority is accurate.

Risk and Release Management:

• Conform to the Build and Release cycles.
• Provide timeous support to the Quality Assurance Team when issues arise during testing.
• Handle all outstanding defects.

Production Support and Root Cause management:

• Ensure that the root cause of system errors are effectively analysed and prioritized for fixing.
• Proactively bring issues and problems to the attention of the team and propose solutions to solve them.
• Assist system users and the infrastructure teams with technical support issues.

Team Collaboration:

• Adhere to the culture of communication and collaboration across all teams. 
• Attend and participate in the regular team / project stand-ups.
• Actively mentor team members where required.
• Provide feedback at the regular 1-on-1’s with your leader.
• Proactively set goals, track them and address any concerns with your leader.
• Participate in Performance reviews with your line manager and project leads.
• Actively participate in internal up-skilling initiatives.
• Transfer knowledge and contribute to building a shared knowledge base

Personal development:

• Keep abreast of current technological trends and how these might be applied in the Discovery environment.
• Constant improvement of knowledge of the various applications, their functions and data models.

General:

• Ability to communicate clearly, constructively and effectively. Able to follow and participate in technical, business process, and other discussions.
• Able to build strong business relationships with other members of the team and the business areas we support.

Personal Attributes and Skills

Intermediate knowledge of:

• Applicable programming disciplines and languages.  Refer to technical competencies list.
• Data modelling and design of database structures
• Unit Testing
• Systems Integration testing
• SDLC methodologies
• Behavioural Skills:
• Action orientated go-getter, hungry to learn and add real value.
• Self-motivated.
• Driven by a sense of responsibility and ownership.
• Structured and analytical problem solver: Obsessive about finding solutions to problems.
• Able to plan, organise and prioritize own work.
• Attention to detail.
• Able to multitask.
• Highly adaptive and flexible to a changing environment.
• Able to work independently, but also as an effective member of a Team: reliable, works actively with others towards common goal, communicates constructively, shares information, knowledge and experience, treats others in a respectful and supportive manner.

Education and Experience

Essential:

• 5+ years’ experience in software development
• IT related Degree or Diploma (BSc/BTech or similar).

Advantageous:

• Formal software development qualification(s), such as Object-Oriented Analysis & Design.

Key Technical Competencies

General:

• Version control (GIT)
• UML and modelling tools (Enterprise Architect, etc)
• SDLC methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, DevOps, etc)
• SQL

Java:

• Java programming language
• Java EE
• JBoss EAP (or similar Application Server)
• Data layer (JPA, Domain Object Model, XML/XSD, JAXB, ORM frameworks, RDBMS and PL/SQL beneficial)
• Business services (EJB, RMI)
• Integration services (Apache Camel, REST / SOAP web services)
• Messaging systems (JMS, Tibco EMS, Oracle Advanced Queuing, MQ)
• Presentation layer technologies (JavaServer Faces, HTML 5, JavaScript, CSS3)
• Design patterns (DAO, Command pattern, MVC, etc)
• Testing methodologies (Junit)
• Code quality tools (SonarQube)
• Build tools (Apache Ant, Jenkins, etc)
• SDLC tools (Jira, BitBucket, etc)