Application Services Lead

Key Tasks & Responsibilities

Application Operations & Maintenance

Lead operations and maintenance (O&M) for all hosted applications within scope, including ColdFusion applications and supporting backend services

Ensure continuous availability and performance of application environments (dev, test, staging, production)

Manage application start/stop services, scheduling, and on-demand operational support

Monitor system performance and coordinate resolution of application-related issues

Software Development & Engineering Oversight

Analyze and study complex system and application requirements and translate them into technical solutions

Design software tools, reusable components, and subsystems to support enterprise application services

Apply formal software engineering methodologies including data flow diagrams, system modeling, and CASE tools

Support application modernization efforts and integration with enterprise platforms using technologies including ColdFusion, PHP, and .NET

Software Lifecycle & Configuration Management

Oversee software lifecycle processes including development, testing, deployment, and maintenance

Supervise software configuration management (SCM), version control, and code repository compliance

Ensure all application code is maintained in enterprise repositories in accordance with best practices

Manage migration of software builds across environments (development through production)

Patch & Release Management

Oversee application patching and updates in compliance with NIH/HHS policies

Coordinate testing, validation, and deployment of patches and upgrades across supported platforms

Monitor vendor release cycles and assess impact on application environments

Ensure remediation of vulnerabilities and compliance with security requirements (e.g., CVSS thresholds)

Coordination & Stakeholder Engagement

Serve as primary liaison between infrastructure teams, developers, and Government stakeholders

Coordinate with system administrators, database administrators, and external contractors for deployments and maintenance activities

Support impact analysis for infrastructure or platform changes affecting applications

Performance Optimization & Continuous Improvement

Review existing programs and applications to refine functionality, reduce processing time, and improve efficiency

Identify opportunities for automation, standardization, and service improvement

Support DevSecOps integration and CI/CD pipeline enhancements

Reporting & Documentation

Maintain documentation for application environments, configurations, and processes

Provide status reports on application health, patching, and deployment activities

Track and report corrective, adaptive, and preventative maintenance activities

Required Technical Skills

Proficiency in ColdFusion, PHP, and .NET application frameworks

Strong experience with Oracle databases and database-integrated applications

Experience administering and supporting Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) environments

Experience with application hosting environments (on-prem and/or cloud-based)

Proficiency in software development methodologies, system design, and engineering best practices

Experience with configuration management and version control systems (e.g., Git)

Strong knowledge of patch and release management processes

Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and DevSecOps practices

Required Tools & Platform Experience

Hands-on experience with Atlassian suite (Jira, Confluence) for workflow tracking, documentation, and collaboration

Experience with Microsoft Office SharePoint for content management and collaboration

Experience managing and supporting shared network directories and enterprise file systems

Familiarity with enterprise ticketing systems (e.g., ServiceNow)

Preferred Skills

Experience supporting Federal or NIH environments

Familiarity with hybrid cloud environments (e.g., Azure)

Knowledge of containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes)

Experience supporting Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) environments

Key Competencies

Technical leadership and team coordination

Analytical thinking and problem-solving

Strong communication and stakeholder engagement

Process improvement and operational efficiency focus

Ability to manage multiple priorities in a mission-critical environment

Education & Experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field

Experience

5–8 years of experience in application services, software engineering, or application operations

Experience supporting enterprise application hosting environments in a Data Center and/or hybrid cloud environment

Demonstrated experience managing software lifecycle and configuration management processes

Security Clearance

Applicants must be able to obtain a Public Trust clearance