Principal Software Engineer

You have a clear vision of where your career can go. And we have the leadership to help you get there. At CNA, we strive to create a culture in which people know they matter and are part of something important, ensuring the abilities of all employees are used to their fullest potential. 

CNA seeks to offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to our employees that helps them — and their family members — achieve their physical, financial, emotional and social wellbeing goals.

For a detailed look at CNA’s benefits, check out our Candidate Guide.

Individual contributor providing highest level of leadership in systems analysis, system design, application development and/or integration expertise on the most complex systems applications to support business needs. This position has an understanding of technical systems from an end-to-end perspective, how to develop automated solutions to business problems, and/or how to maintain centrally developed or integrated systems. The focus of this position will be designing or developing business applications and/or designing or developing alternative solutions.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Performs a combination of duties in accordance with departmental guidelines:

• Performs a combination of duties in accordance with departmental guidelines: 

• Acts as the principal designer for major high risk, high complexity systems and their subsystems utilizing a thorough understanding of available technology, tools and existing designs. Includes leading the integration of vendor applications and/or consulting resources into CNA applications and/or resources. 

• Provides comprehensive technical consultation to business unit and IT management and staff at the highest level of complexity on all phases of application programming and processes for diverse development platforms and computing environments. Includes performance engineering, functionality testing, production implementation, application recovery and maintenance, application stability, defect resolution, and meeting service level agreements. 

• Acts as expert technical lead to develop and mentor staff in all phases of the development and implementation process. Participates in instructing, directing, and checking the design or applications work of others. Leads high risk projects. 

• Acts as liaison between clients, vendors, consulting resources, and applications area. Analyzes problems regarding detailed requirements and capabilities and works cross organizationally to resolve issues and solve problems. 

• Researches and evaluates new and/or alternative solutions and recommends the most efficient and cost-effective application programming solution consistent with strategic direction. Also anticipates changes to determine development tools, processes and implements those decisions. 

• Assists with the identification and selection of information technologies, vendors, and/or consulting resources which assist the functional business units in meeting their strategic objectives. Includes assisting with relationship management, contract negotiations, and ensuring adherence to requirements. 

• Works closely with other IT areas to contribute to the overall strategic direction of the applications portfolio. Includes partnering with Architecture to assist with the overall technology direction of CNA. 

 

May perform additional duties as assigned. 

  

Reporting Relationship 

Typically Director or above 

 

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities 

• Expert technical knowledge of the system development life cycle, and system and application program development technological alternatives. 

• Senior level knowledge of client area's functions and systems. 

• Must be competent to work at the highest technical level of all phases of application program/system design and implementation and have excellent analytical and problem solving skills. 

• Excellent project management skills and ability to organize and plan effectively to meet both short and long range project goals. 

• Solid knowledge of interface design and user centered design method. 

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with peers, IT management and staff, and internal business partners/clients. 

• Advanced computer skills including Microsoft Office suite and other business related software systems or languages including, but not limited to Mainframe, DB2, UNIX, Oracle, Websphere J2EE Java, Peoplesoft, Business Objects, and ET