County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under general direction, to investigate, analyze, and evaluate software programs which will improve the efficiency of the technical staff and computer operations; to develop logic, write, and test software programs defined by higher level software programmers; to enhance, install, and test vendor supplied utilities and software packages; to assist in the development and modification of relatively complex software; to write operations manuals and guides and to do related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

Software Analyst II’s supervise, guide and give technical assistance to Programmers and Programmer Analysts involved in software programming. Software Analyst II’s work on all phases of software programming independently and require general direction only for the balance of the activities. Supervision is received from the Manager of Technical Services with technical or supplementary guidance and training provided by Senior Software Analysts who are available for consultation and review of work. The positions in the class of Software Analyst II differ from those in the class of Software Analyst by the Software Analyst II being involved in more complex and difficult software systems programming while the Software Analyst is more closely supervised and does not supervise the work of others. Senior Software Analysts are responsible for the most complex software programming applications, such as multi-programming, telecommunications and file management.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

1. Plans, assigns, supervises, and reviews the work of Software Analysts and other assigned staff.

2. Develops logic, codes, and tests software packages defined by Senior Software Analysts.

3. Develops or enhances software programs to improve the efficiency of technical staff and computer operations.

4. Enhances and tests vendor supplied utilities and software packages.

5. Assists in the development and enhancement of relatively complex software, such as routines supporting multi-programming, telecommunications and file management.

6. Writes computer operator guides, programmer guides, and documentation for software.

7. Provides technical information and assistance to applications programmers in the use of teleprocessing and remote job entry, sub-routines, utilities, data bases, disk maintenance, file access methods, job control language (JCL), and applications languages (COBOL).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Either I

The equivalent of one year in the class of Software Analyst or an equivalent or higher class in the Alameda County classified service (non-classified includes District Attorney’s Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts) with experience in software programming.

Or II

The equivalent of four years’ recent, full-time, paid, increasingly responsible experience in computer programming, including at least two years in software programming and analysis.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and methods of computer operating system software programming and systems analysis.
• Principles and techniques of applications programming.
• Principles and techniques of assembler language programming.
• Job Control Language for current County hardware.
• Methods of program problem analysis and correction.
• File organization for current County hardware, data organization and access methods in computerized systems.

Ability to:

• Apply the principles of software programming and design to a variety of situations.
• Develop software programs.
• Interpret and evaluate existing software programs and enhancing them for efficiency.
• Give guidance and technical assistance to applications programmers and Programmer Analysts involved in software programming.
• Decision making, judgment.
• Plan and organize.
• Problem solve and analyze.
• Management Control.
• Leadership.
• Interpersonal Sensitivity.
• Be Flexible.
• Communicate effectively in writing.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

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