Software Engineer II - Assessments

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career. Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families. The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is: Grade: Technical 408 Pay Range: $118,900.00 - $178,500.00 Job Description The Software Engineer II is an early- to mid-career contributor that has a combination of formal education and experience in the software engineering field. They are responsible for the research, design, development, analysis, testing, and implementation of software operating or application systems. They communicate project information to client, project manager, or other design personnel working on projects. They maintain good working relationships with clients and staff. They write and maintain complete documentation. They support team members and ensure established goals and deadlines are met. They keep management informed of status and significant problems. What You'll Do As a Software Engineer, you'll help design, build, and evolve the systems that power learning experiences for hundreds of thousands of students. You'll work alongside talented engineers, product partners, and architects to deliver reliable, scalable solutions while contributing to a collaborative engineering culture that values innovation, quality, and continuous improvement.SE2 Role Scope And Technical Profile: Key Responsibilities Design, develop, test, and maintain modern web applications and services using Java, REST APIs, and cloud-based technologies. Translate business and product requirements into scalable, maintainable software solutions while identifying opportunities to improve architecture and technical design. Contribute to the design and implementation of distributed systems with a focus on reliability, performance, security, and operational excellence. Participate in technical discussions, architecture reviews, and code reviews that raise engineering quality across the team. Own features and services from concept through deployment, monitoring, and ongoing support. Troubleshoot production issues, identify root causes, and implement durable solutions to improve system resilience. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality software on schedule while balancing technical excellence and business outcomes. Develop automated tests and quality strategies that enable continuous delivery and rapid feedback. Share knowledge, mentor peers, and contribute to a culture of learning and technical growth. Evaluate emerging technologies, tools, and engineering practices that can enhance team effectiveness and product capabilities. What We're Looking For Technical Skills Strong foundation in software engineering principles, including object-oriented design, data structures, algorithms, security, testing, and system design. Experience building web applications and APIs using Java and modern development frameworks. Experience with JavaScript-based technologies such as Node.js, React, or Angular. Understanding of cloud-native architectures and designing systems for scalability, reliability, performance, and cost efficiency. Experience working with relational databases and integrating third-party services and platforms. Familiarity with modern software development practices including CI/CD, automated testing, version control, observability, and Agile delivery. Ability to analyze complex technical challenges and deliver pragmatic, maintainable solutions. Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across engineering and product teams. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience. 3+ years of experience developing web applications and services using Java, REST APIs, and related technologies. 2+ years of experience with technologies such as: Java (Spring Framework preferred)JavaScript (Node.js, React, Angular)SQL and database developmentAPI development and systems integration Preferred Experience Cloud-native application development, particularly AWS. Modern application modernization efforts, including refactoring monolithic applications into scalable cloud-based services. Agile/Scrum software development environments. IntelliJ, VS Code, Git, and Jira. Application integration with enterprise and legacy systems. Identity and access management technologies. Technical certifications in cloud, software development, or architecture disciplines. Why Engineers Choose WGU Build software that directly impacts student success and expands access to education. Work on meaningful technical challenges involving scale, performance, integration, and modernization. Influence architecture and engineering decisions rather than simply implementing requirements. Collaborate with experienced engineers in a culture that values ownership, innovation, and continuous learning. Gain exposure to cloud technologies, modern development practices, and large-scale enterprise systems while growing your career. Visa Sponsorship While we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, WGU is not able to provide visa sponsorship for this role. This position requires occasional travel of up to 20%, including required attendance at designated company summits (typically one to two per year). Additional travel may include conferences, visits to company locations, and other business-related events as needed. Additional travel may be assigned as needed to support business requirements. Position & Application Details Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave. How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday. Additional Information Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive. Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu. Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law. In 1997, a coalition of 19 U.S. governors founded Western Governors University with a singular vision: to make higher education more accessible by offering full degree programs online. Starting small, we quickly expanded. 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