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Senior Programmer Job Description Template

Before you post a job ad, take some time to evaluate your needs. Prepare a list of duties and qualifications, and then decide the most effective way to present the information. Whether you advertise through your company’s career site or through external job boards, your description should be purposeful and succinct. Read through the senior programmer job description sample below to learn how to create a successful pitch. A good description weeds out unqualified candidates and helps you draw in higher-skilled professionals.

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Senior Programmer Job Summary

The senior programmer provides direct programming support for our healthcare division. He or she will work closely with analysts, researchers and statisticians to develop operations solutions and program specifications. This senior-level role will oversee SAS testing and a team of five junior programmers.

Senior Programmer Job Duties and Responsibilities

  • Oversee SAS programming projects for healthcare/pharma division
  • Read, write and debug SAS code. Prepare SAS DATA STEPs for patient databases, diagnostics and other large-level datasets.
  • Mentor a team of five junior programmers.
  • Assist project leaders with statistical testing, and suggest new methods based on output.
  • Collaborate with researchers and analysts to identify client objectives and specifications.
  • Comply with programming standards, company directives and legal requirements.
  • Prepare ad hoc queries for new business.
  • Provide technical and analytical support for internal and external stakeholders.
  • Carry out all SAS upgrades.
  • Train new hires on applicable technology and corporate practice.
  • Manage team schedule and perform semi-annual performance appraisals.

Senior Programmer Job Requirements

  • Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science or related field.
  • Minimum 5 years in SAS programming. Healthcare experience is a plus.
  • Experience with SAS Management console and SAS Data Integration/Forecast studio
  • Supervisory experience highly desirable.
  • Proven ability to mentor others.
  • Able to work PC, Oracle, Informix and Unix data structures
  • Able to troubleshoot and solve complex technical issues.
  • Highly analytical with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Excellent time management skills with the ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines.
  • Advanced knowledge of Office Suite products.

Company Profile

Netstyle Solutions broke ground in 2011, and we’ve since become a family of nearly 300 team members. We serve dozens of domestic and international clients in a variety of industries. Our software solutions streamline business operations and improve customer service at all levels of production. Our employees enjoy a dynamic and collaborative startup culture, a casual dress code, a competitive benefits package, structured career opportunities and ongoing appreciation for the value we create.

Best Practices When Writing a Job Description

  • On average, job seekers spend less than one minute on each job page, and very few applicants actually click to the next page of results. As you draft your pitch, be sure to reference the senior programmer job description sample above. Also, use the following tips to make sure you’re job opening attracts the candidates you want.

    • Do use industry jargon. Whether you’re a new tech startup or a seasoned retail enterprise, be sure to use specific computer language throughout your description. Qualified candidates can easily sense ignorance, so you definitely want to be precise about the skills you’re looking for. Not only will this improve your candidate pool, but it will also make your company more credible.
    • Do emphasize tasks. Candidates should understand the primary purpose of the job before they apply. What percentage of each day will be spent managing other people? What percentage of the week will be devoted to specific programming tasks? Job seekers are on the lookout for the next step on the career ladder, so be specific about the purpose of the role you’re about to fill.
    • Don’t ignore Google Ad words. Take a minute to learn the common words that people search for. Include those in key phrases throughout your ad, but don’t overstuff the description. It needs to flow well without sounding forced.
    • Do write the summary and company profile in paragraph form. Use bullets for duties and qualifications.
    • Don’t be vague. This is a big one. Avoid being too general about your requirements. Additionally, use action-oriented language and specific software details.
    • Do be candid. Job candidates appreciate transparency. It’s both professional and helpful. With that said, make sure you’re not intimidating your applicants. Include an inviting call to action that encourages qualified candidates to learn more about your organization.

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Senior Programmer Job Responsibilities

A clear and accurate senior programmer job description will be invaluable to the hiring process. As programmers accumulate experience, they often specialize in certain programming languages or areas of development, so when you’re looking to hire a senior programmer, you want to make sure the new hire’s expertise will align with your needs. For example, if your company needs someone to develop and maintain database software for desktop UIs, you won’t want to be flooded with candidates who have only written code for mobile platforms. And if you need the new hire to communicate with customers to assess their needs, you’ll want someone with customer service experience.

Make sure you include any unique needs, but don’t let the list of responsibilities run too long; you don’t want to risk candidates skimming what you’ve written and choking your inbox with unqualified applications. 6-8 bullet points is a good number for a senior programmer job description.

The following are examples of specific, well-written senior programmer job responsibilities:

  • Monitor project progress, identify changes in scope and communicate those changes to management in a timely manner
  • Develop software with rigorous adherence to HL7 standards
  • Assist less-experienced team members as needed
  • Release updates to proprietary internal programs every two weeks in response to requests for new functionality by department heads
  • Address bugs reports promptly and effectively
Senior Programmer Job Specifications

A well-curated list of senior programmer job specifications is an important part of any senior programmer job description. When writing yours, you’ll want to keep both soft and hard skills in mind. List all programming languages the candidate will use in the position and the years of experience you’d like to see. But don’t forget to include communications skills that a candidate will require for success. Some senior programmer positions require the employee to write reports for management, hold conversations with customers to help identify their needs or write documentation to teach new users how to make the most of the programs under development. Mentioning these kinds of skills will help winnow the field of candidates and expedite the hiring process.

Make sure you clarify which specifications in your senior programmer job description are minimum requirements and which are desired or preferred, but not necessary. You may even want to split these into two separate lists. Here are a few examples of specifications:

  • Associate of Arts in Computer Engineering or similar field (Bachelor’s preferred)
  • At least 5 years’ experience in software development, testing and debugging, with at least 1 year in the healthcare industry
  • Strong communication skills by phone and email for keeping upper management updated on project timelines
  • Expertise with Microsoft SQL database and XML
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently to meet hard deadlines

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Writing Your Senior Programmer Job Description: Do’s and Don’ts

Reference the following practices when drafting a senior programmer job description. These tips can help you attract the candidates you want and deter the candidates you don’t want.

• Do be concise. Programmers have little interest in fluffy language, and they’re definitely part of the crowd that searches for jobs on mobile apps. Your bullet points should be easy to read, and the entire description should look appealing on both large and small screens.
• Do identify a niche. Most programmers specialize in one or more specific languages, so you’ll have no trouble finding someone who knows your software. Be clear in your qualifications section, if not in your job title.
• Don’t overload the title with keywords. Focus on key phrases, and don’t go over five words. Keyword stuffing is more harmful than it is helpful.
• Do share your story. Technology is always changing, and programmers usually like to know how and where you got started. Additionally, let candidates know where you are headed. This gives them a sense of long-term career potential.
• Do state the location of the job. Candidates want to know where they will be based. Include the city, state, type of work environment and any travel requirements.
• Do consult your company policy before divulging salary details.
• Do use company lingo. This further conveys your mission and culture and gets applicants excited to apply.
• Don’t intimidate. Keep the description candid but welcoming. You might consider a statement about non-discriminatory hiring practices.
• Don’t leave out instructions. Guide applicants to whatever platform you use for applications. Links are effective.
• Do list in order. Put the main job duties or most important qualifications at the top of your bullet lists.