S Y S T E M S P R O G R A M M E R / S P E C I A L I S T
Positions in this banded class perform specialized work in supporting information technology equipment and systems for the business, research, and instructional functions of customers. Work involves the advanced use of software and/or hardware tools to provide ongoing services. They will have an expertise with core infrastructure elements and how they interrelate to provide a cohesive computing environment. Positions install new versions of systems level software and associated programs from vendor releases. This work may be specialized as systems architecture. They must have an understanding of the configuration of the systems software, applications, and space usage is to determine impacts as changes and enhancements are made. Work includes optimizing systems performance, troubleshooting systems problems, and analyzing usage and systems load issues of a highly technical nature. Work may include interaction with customers, technicians, analysts, and specialists to troubleshoot problems related to the use of single and/or multiple information systems. Work may include creation, installation, and modification of software and hardware, testing, and documentation on a variety of platforms. They may have responsibility for the final technical decision on major systems problems.
Positions at this level perform technical work in the development, installation, modification of specialized and complex computer systems software. They independently monitor and fine tune systems software, debut and resolve technically complex problems, and provide planning and project management for new releases and versions of software. They provide support for a variety of software products. They monitor systems performance and reports to isolate the probable causes of the problems. They access system and subsystem data or System Management
Facility (SMF) records to produce standardized reports dealing with data that details operating system, including I/O, network activity, software usage, error conditions and processor utilization in order to identify issues and help make recommendations for performance and availability tuning.
Positions at this level develop and implement open systems and mainframe security measures to safeguard information against unauthorized access and identify and implement security plans for hardware, software applications, data, telecommunications, and computer installations. Positions respond to mainframe security threats, advise programmers on appropriate security policies and controls, and modify and maintain complex operating systems and applications using engineering releases from the vendor or manufacturer.
Positions design, configure, code, test, and debug operating systems or major applications such as hierarchical or relational data base system software, sophisticated file maintenance routines, telecommunications software, and intricate utilities related to storage methodology, printing, or related functions. Positions resolve problems related to operating systems and vendor products identified through analysis of other technical
Positions at this level perform highly technical work in the development, installation, tailoring, modification and maintenance of specialized and very complex systems software. The work requires complete knowledge of systems architecture, hardware configuration and software inter-connectivity. Positions resolve the most complex and unusual problems, serve as system experts for the state and/or a very large organization and are the highest level of technical support in a highly specialized area of systems software.
Positions understand and utilize the environment ’s system & subsystem parameters, usage & runtime data from SMF, data from performance tools, history reports and application architecture to make detailed forecasts of system and applications growth, identify expansion or upgrades of the system and maintain technical knowledge of new devices and technological advancement to understand impact to the computer systems and forecast changes to the systems.

specialists. Capacity and performance specialist positions utilize environment, system
& subsystem parameters, usage & runtime data from SMF, data from performance tools, history reports and application architecture to monitor the performance of the mainframe computer systems and network and review the impact of new applications on system capacity, system performance and consult with and advise agency programmers on applications design to increase performance.
Systems level capacity and performance specialists at this level can perform the rigorous capacity and availability analysis required to identify opportunities for workload balancing, tuning and application optimization.
III. COMPETENCIES
Competency
Knowledge - Technical
Planning and Organizing
Project Management
Technical Solution Development
Definition
Possession of a designated level of technical skill or knowledge in the specific technical area(s) and the ability to keep up with current developments and trends in areas of expertise.
Ability to develop plans to accomplish work operations and objectives. Ability to arrange and assign work to use resources efficiently. Ability to develop strategic plans, organizational structures, and systems to fulfill legislative or mission driven organizational goals.
Ability to provide oversight for project(s) and all related activities in that setting to include quality assurance and safety. Ability to coordinate and manage facilities, equipment, supplies and related resources as necessary for the project. Ability to monitor environmental risks, if any and quality control. Ability to establish a set of tasks and activities associated with an intended outcome and timeline. Ability to ensure actions are performed and/or implemented to achieve the results of the project.
Ability to demonstrate a methodical and logical approach to addressing customer needs. Ability to use innovative solutions and/or designs where appropriate.
Technical Support Ability to understand internal/external customer technologies and problem resolution techniques.
Ability to communicate effectively with customers. Ability to utilize system level data and listen to symptom descriptions; to analyze problems; to respond effectively and to provide constructive feedback to the client on problem resolution.
Consultancy Skills Ability to provide advice and counsel. Ability to understand client programs, organization and culture.
Note: Not all competencies apply to every position/employee; evaluate only those that apply. Competency statements are progressive.

IV. COMPETENCY STATEMENTS BY LEVEL
Knowledge – Technical
Possession of a designated level of technical skill or knowledge in the specific technical area(s) and the ability to keep up with current developments and trends in areas of expertise.
Contributing
Ability to modify moderately complex operating systems software. Ability to assist with design, coding and debugging.
Functional knowledge of automated operations software. Ability to generate standard reports using available system monitoring tools.
Journey
Ability to modify complex operating software programming. Ability to make sophisticated modifications.
In-depth knowledge of automated operations software and its functioning related to other software. Ability to collect and utilize appropriate environment, system & subsystem parameters, usage & runtime data from SMF, data from performance tools, history reports and application architecture to analyze and report on system performance.
Advanced
Ability to serve as technical resource to others in the installations, modification or enhancement of operating systems.
Thorough knowledge of the resident operating systems, security systems software, and the architecture design of the most complex systems.
Planning and Organizing
Ability to develop plans to accomplish work operations and objectives. Ability to arrange and assign work to use resources efficiently. Ability to develop strategic plans, organizational structures, and systems to fulfill legislative or mission driven organizational goals.
Contributing
Ability to assist management in establishing work standards, standard processes and references.
Ability to develop own work schedule and monitor progress against defined parameters.
Journey
Ability to provide regular day-to-day planning and organizing the work of others.
Ability to reorganize work assignments of other employees and adapt their workload to unanticipated changes.
Ability to apply technical judgment to plan and organize tasks to achieve desired outcomes.
Advanced
Ability to provide leadership in long-term planning for the work unit.
Ability to plan task timelines and use of resources.

Project Management
Ability to provide oversight for project(s) and all related activities in that setting to include quality assurance and safety. Ability to coordinate and manage facilities, equipment, supplies and related resources as necessary for the project. Ability to monitor environmental risks, if any and quality control. Ability to establish a set of tasks and activities associated with an intended outcome and timeline. Ability to ensure actions are performed and/or implemented to achieve the results of the project.
Contributing Journey
Ability to manage projects of medium to high complexity. Ability to develop project plan, manages milestones and drive project forward.
Ability to manage highly complex projects including software installation and migration.
Ability to develop projects.
Ability tor keep project on track.
Advanced
Ability to manage projects that have high impact and/or of highest complexity, involving significant changes to infrastructure or the implementation of emerging technologies.
Ability to exercise final technical decision responsibility. Ability to manage and/or develop projects.
Technical Solution Development
Ability to demonstrate a methodical and logical approach to addressing customer needs. Ability to use innovative solutions and/or designs where appropriate.
Contributing
Ability to make recommendations for enhancements or changes to improve system performance.
Ability to assess impact of new technologies on current systems.
Ability to demonstrate thorough knowledge of technologies and systems in place and to support these technologies.
Ability to interact with hardware and software vendors as appropriate to solve problems.
Journey
Ability to identify trends in recurring problems and develop appropriate solution.
Ability to assist management in establishing technical standards and processes.
Ability to develop advanced solutions to improve operational performance.
Ability to integrate knowledge and skills from a range of technologies to address work assignments and problems of moderate complexity. Ability to research and implement appropriate new technologies.
Advanced
Ability to serve as an expert in designing system infrastructure to solve reoccurring problems.
Ability to develop and/or implement highly complex information technology solutions to enhance enterprise success.

Technical Support
Ability to understand internal/external customer technologies and problem resolution techniques. Ability to communicate effectively with customers.
Ability to listen to symptom descriptions; to analyze problems; to respond effectively and to provide constructive feedback to the client on problem resolution.
Contributing Journey Advanced
Ability to recommend methods of resolving problems to lower level analysts or client representatives.
Ability to serve as a resource in solving problems of medium complexity.
Ability to negotiate time and priorities with vendors to achieve problem resolution.
Ability to serve as a resource in solving problems of high complexity.
Ability to resolve problems through advanced systems analysis and troubleshooting procedures independently.
Consultancy Skills
Ability to provide advice and counsel. Ability to understand client programs, organization and culture.
Ability to provide technical consultation on complex projects.
Contributing
Ability to provide consultation on issues and requests from clients that may require the implementation or creation of a custom solution.
Ability to consult with senior level decisionmakers to discuss alternative technical solutions.
Journey Advanced
Ability to understand the market, industry and competitors that have an impact on the customer's business.
Ability to consult with senior level decisionmaker and develop long-range strategic alternatives on an on-going basis.
Ability to analyze and assess client needs to develop effective and appropriate solutions to complex problems.
Ability to build client support of ITS objectives.
Ability to provide expertise and consulting to committees and boards on a regular basis.
Ability to consult with other specialists, analysts, technicians, and vendors to develop solutions using new or existing technologies.