State of Maryland

An Information Technology (IT) Programmer Analyst Trainee is the entry level of work designing, developing, testing, implementing and maintaining applications and programs using generally accepted computer programming languages or other developmental tools. Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive close supervision from an IT Programmer Analyst Supervisor or other data processing administrator.  Employees may be required to work evenings, weekends and holidays and may be subject to call-in.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the classification specification.

The IT Programmer Analyst Trainee, IT Programmer Analyst I and IT Programmer Analyst II are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The IT Programmer Analyst Trainee learns to perform duties under close supervision.  The IT Programmer Analyst I performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed.  The IT Programmer Analyst II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Learns to consult with users to plan, develop, evaluate and revise applications;

Learns to collect and analyze data concerning applications to determine the purpose of the application, work methods used, cause and effect of problems and improvements needed;

Learns to prepare conceptual designs of proposed new or revised applications outlining the purpose, software components, hardware requirements, cost analysis and alternative solutions;

Learns to prepare technical application designs and project specifications detailing input, processes, output and controls using narrative reports and analysis tools such as flowcharts and diagrams;

Learns to create and compile programs using generally accepted computer programming languages or other developmental tools;

Learns to use specialty software to perform utility routines including debugging and editing;

Learns to develop and assemble documentation including job control language, job control procedures, operating instructions, program documentation and user documentation;

Learns to implement applications by obtaining signatory approval from users, security and other reviewing units;

Learns to debug and troubleshoot defects, abends, issues and other problems identified in test regions and the production region, as needed, developing software solutions and participating in coordinating software testing and re-migration as needed;

Learns to train users in the use of new and revised applications;

Learns to maintain applications by evaluating and revising them as required;

Learns to perform emergency maintenance on applications and programs as required;

Learns to prepare system documentation to support software changes such as design documentation, test plans, scope statements and other deliverables required by the work request or project;

Reviews software manuals and other technical literature and attends workshops, seminars and training classes to learn to use various computer programming languages and tools used by the agency and to keep abreast of the latest developments in information technology;

May use PC-based productivity tools to assist in program design and documentation;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of computer programming;

Knowledge of generally accepted computer programming languages or other developmental tools;

Knowledge of the functions and capabilities of computers and peripheral equipment as related to programming;

Knowledge of job control languages;

Skill in coding computer programs using generally accepted computer programming languages or other developmental tools;

Skill in using specialty software;

Skill in following emergency, disaster recovery and security procedures;

Ability to learn the principles and practices of information technology applications analysis and design;

Ability to learn to analyze and design computer applications;

Ability to learn the functions and capabilities of computers and peripheral equipment as related to applications design;

Ability to learn to follow emergency, disaster recovery and security procedures;

Ability to learn to apply inductive and deductive reasoning to reach logical solutions to problems;

Ability to communicate effectively and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with users, vendors, computer operations personnel, IT Programmers and technical support staff.

Experience: Four years of experience converting data from project specifications by writing program code using generally accepted computer programming languages or other developmental tools.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate and eighteen months of experience converting data from project specifications by writing program code using generally accepted computer programming languages or other developmental tools for the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate and fifteen credit hours from an accredited college or university in systems analysis and applications programming using generally accepted computer programming languages or other developmental tools for the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute experience in one of the following areas: operating computers, scheduling, controlling input and output or maintaining backups or data storage, processing data on computers, evaluating, implementing and maintaining hardware and software, on a year-for-year basis for a high school education.

4. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Information Technology, Computer Science, Management Information Systems, or other information technology related field for the required experience.

5. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Computer Systems Programming classifications or Computer Systems Programming specialty codes in the Information Technology field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit G, Engineering, Scientific and Administrative Professionals classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime, as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance levels in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class as defined in the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification, and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.