Senior Software Engineer - Automation

Build reliable automation that improves how software performs, tests, and evolves. Sammons Financial Group offers a values-driven, ownership culture, comprehensive health coverage, and meaningful time for learning and development. This onsite role in West Des Moines, IA supports engineering work across requirements, security, testing, database design, and operational reliability.

What you will do

Under general direction, you will formulate and define system scope and objectives, devising and modifying procedures to solve highly complex problems while accounting for system capacity and operating constraints. You will prepare detailed specifications, then design, code, test, debug, document, and maintain application programs and automated test scripts across nearly all phases of application systems analysis and programming projects.

• Collaborate with analysts, designers, and programmers to conceptualize and develop new software programs, applications, and automated test scripts.
• Apply expert, systematic analysis to interpret technical problems and produce solutions aligned to the organization’s Systems Development Life Cycle.
• Lead the definition and documentation of software requirements, objectives, deliverables, and specifications for each project, working with internal users and departments.
• Define software development project plans, including scoping, scheduling, and implementation.
• Prepare and interpret business, functional, and non-functional requirements, creating and maintaining user-oriented applications and design specifications.
• Design, develop, and test automation scripts, following automated test script guidelines and researching issues through testing.
• Design, implement, and maintain databases, following database standards and integrity controls while analyzing information requirements and developing database specifications.
• Plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard information resources against accidental or unauthorized modification, destruction, or disclosure.
• Design, run, and monitor functional and performance tests to correct errors, isolate improvement areas, and support general debugging through critical review of test results.
• Recommend, schedule, and perform software improvements and upgrades.
• Ensure compatibility and interoperability across systems, and review existing system effectiveness and efficiency to develop improvement strategies.
• Create and describe system design models using common industry mechanisms such as E-R Diagrams, UML models, and flow charts.
• Perform cost-benefit and return on investment analysis for proposed systems to support management decisions.
• Direct research on emerging application development products, languages, and standards to support procurement and development efforts.
• Liaise with software and hardware suppliers to help resolve problems or emergencies promptly.
• Lead quality assurance of program logic, data processing, and error resolution.
• Train, mentor, and provide guidance to junior software development staff, and support cross-departmental projects as needed.

On-call availability is required during scheduled times, and extended work hours may be needed at night and on weekends in support of conversion, operational problem-solving, or testing new programs.

What you bring

• College degree in computer science, information science, or management information systems (preferred).
• Minimum 8 years of IT development experience (preferred).
• Effective verbal and written communication skills with business partners and IT staff.
• Problem-solving skills to research and recommend solutions.
• Ability to work multiple tasks and meet established deadlines.
• Ability to direct and coordinate other team members on projects without HR management responsibility.
• Knowledge of computer programming languages required for the system.
• Criminal background check required.

Work authorization: Sammons Financial Group is not considering candidates who need any type of immigration sponsorship now or in the future, including students on F1-OPT, F1-CPT, J-1, etc.

Technologies you may use

• JavaScript, Node.js, REST APIs, JSON
• SQL, relational databases
• Git/source control, CI/CD
• Automated unit, integration, API, regression, and end-to-end testing (including Playwright)
• Docker, Kubernetes
• C#, .NET, MongoDB, NoSQL
• Microsoft Azure, cloud platforms, Azure DevOps
• Event-driven or distributed architectures
• Performance and load testing, contract testing
• Observability, logging, metrics, distributed tracing
• Workflow and process automation
• LLM APIs, RAG, MCP, agentic workflows, AI evaluation, monitoring, guardrails, and human-in-the-loop design
• E-R Diagrams, UML models, flow charts

Compensation and benefits

• Salary: USD 84,721 - 176,501 per year.
• Comprehensive health coverage for you and your family, including Medical, Dental, Vision, HSA & FSA options, and term life insurance.
• Competitive compensation with a performance-based incentive program tied to clear goals and individual and/or company success.
• 100% company-funded ESOP, plus automatic enrollment in our 401(k).
• Friday afternoons off year-round, generous paid time off, and paid holidays.
• Paid development time, tuition reimbursement, and professional development opportunities across industry, individual, and leadership programs.
• Volunteer time off and a nonprofit matching gift program.
• Ownership culture aligned to shared values: Accountability, Connection, Openness, Respect and Integrity.

Regular attendance is required and expected to meet business service levels and workflow demands. Sammons Financial Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities during the employment process. Sammons participates in E-Verify.