> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/3465589-senior-software-engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/3465589-senior-software-engineer). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Senior Software Engineer - **Company:** State of Hawaii - **Location:** United States (Remote available) - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $165,000.0 - **Contract:** Temporary contract - **Skills:** Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), Architectural Patterns, Automation of Tests, Continuous Integration, Distributed Systems, Systems Development Life Cycle, Software Engineering, Data Streaming, Systems Architecture, Systems Integration, User-Centered Design, Enterprise Software Applications, Operational Systems, Api Design - **Published:** September 16, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=b2539923671d21d1 ## About the Role EDUCATION: Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor's degree or four years of equivalent experience. EXPERIENCE: Minimum five (5) years of professional experience in software engineering, with demonstrated progression into work of increasing technical complexity, scope, and independence, and at least two (2) years leading engineering and technical direction in complex, regulated, or large-scale settings. This experience should include: * Enterprise systems, integrations, or large-scale production environments * Legacy modernization, API development, and/or cloud or modular architecture * Navigating vendor relationships, procurement processes, or contract accountability in technology delivery * Demonstrated ability to function as a top-level technical contributor, performing the most advanced engineering work and providing expert guidance that shapes program direction and outcomes DESIRED EXPERIENCE: * Government, healthcare, or nonprofit technology environments serving large populations * Federal/state policy, compliance, and procurement constraints * Eligibility systems or benefits administration platforms * Experience originating technical approaches in environments where precedent is limited * Mentoring engineers or building engineering capacity within organizations KNOWLEDGE: * One or more core engineering disciplines combined with the breadth to operate effectively across the full technical stack * Modern software engineering principles, practices, and architecture patterns across the full development lifecycle * Systems integration, APIs, data flows, and distributed systems * Legacy system environments and modernization strategies * CI/CD, automated testing, and infrastructure-as-code * Human-centered design principles and how engineering decisions affect service delivery outcomes * Government service delivery contexts or large-scale public-facing systems * Government procurement processes, vendor management, contract structures, and cost drivers in technology delivery * Federal and state regulatory environments governing benefits administration and eligibility systems DESIRED KNOWLEDGE: Knowledge of Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or other government benefits programs., * Proven ability to deliver outcomes in environments with complex processes, multiple stakeholders, or regulatory constraints * Strong hands-on technical proficiency paired with the judgment to know when the work requires engineering, analysis, influence, or strategic advisement * Ability to scrutinize vendor deliverables, evaluate change orders, and navigate procurement dynamics to protect the state's interests and ensure public funds are spent effectively * Demonstrated ability to work across organizational boundaries, bridging policy, operations, legal, and technology with diverse stakeholders including federal agencies and state leadership * Strong communication skills, including comfort engaging with executives, frontline staff, technical teams, and federal counterparts * Ability to analyze and communicate technical trade-offs for both technical and non-technical audiences * Understanding of cost drivers, contract structures, and fiscal implications of technical decisions * Ability to plan, evaluate, and adjust technical approaches in response to shifting program priorities, federal requirements, and resource constraints * Strategic thinking; ability to hold a systems-level view while managing detailed execution * Empathy and user focus and deep commitment to improving outcomes for vulnerable populations * Adaptability to thrive in ambiguous environments and adjusts approach based on evolving information, constraints, and priorities. Other Information This position is exempt from civil service and considered temporary in nature. Therefore, if you are appointed to the position, your employment is considered "at will" which means you may be discharged from your employment at the prerogative of your department head or designee at any time. The appointment will have a specified not-to-exceed (NTE) date and is subject to the availability of funding and the operational needs of the department. Appointment duration, including any extension, is determined by the department and applicable State requirements. Work Location The primary work location for this position is identified in the job announcement. Any telework or alternative work arrangement is subject to departmental policy and approval and is not guaranteed as a condition of employment. ## Description As the senior engineering expert in Med-QUEST's Customer Experience Office, the Senior Software Engineer serves as the definitive technical authority for the division's customer experience and digital service delivery programs and sets the engineering standards and technical direction the division depends on. This position advises the CX Transformation Officer and senior leaders, translating complex engineering realities into recommendations that shape strategy, prioritization, and procurement. The role requires a holistic, systems-level view of Med-QUEST's technology landscape and the ability to move fluidly across the stack, tracing how a change in legislation, eligibility policy, or system architecture ripples through integrations, data flows, and user-facing services. Projects are not standalone; each touches and depends on others, and the engineer must hold that full picture while diving deep to determine what is technically possible, what is sustainable, and how to make it work. Day to day, the Senior Software Engineer leads technical discovery to understand how existing systems behave, where they fail, and how they should be modernized, and designs, builds, and maintains software, integrations, and system components using modern engineering practices when hands-on delivery is the most effective path. The work moves between hands-on engineering and higher-level judgment: evaluating trade-offs across feasibility, risk, cost, compliance, and timelines, scrutinizing vendor-delivered systems against what was promised, and translating federal policy requirements into secure, workable technical direction. Priorities include: * Engineering system changes for H.R. 1 work requirement implementation * Building and improving online renewal flows to reduce eligibility worker burden * Maintaining the infrastructure behind Hawaii's nation-leading ex parte renewal rates * Modernizing complex legacy Medicaid systems into modular, modern architectures while maintaining 24/7 service The Senior Software Engineer delivers work both directly and collaboratively with vendor teams and contractors, setting engineering standards, evaluating deliverables and change orders, and holding that work accountable for cost, quality, security, and interoperability, while building internal engineering capacity through mentoring staff and partners. This is senior digital service delivery work navigating complex technical, policy, and operational systems, meeting time-sensitive federal requirements, and ensuring compliance and effective service delivery. This position's official title is "Customer Experience Transformation Fellow (Software Engineer)." This announcement refers to the role as Senior Software Engineer. The two refer to the same position.