Solution Engineer, Bruin Financial Aid

APPLICATIONS PROGR 4 (000652)

UCPath Position ID: TBD_2756

Position Description History/Status

Approved Date:

12/11/2024 6:51:09 PM

Date Last Edited:

12/11/2024 6:51:06 PM

Last Action Effective Date:

12/11/2024

Organization Details

Business Unit (Location):

LACMP

Organization Code:

5000O

Organization:

ADMINISTRATIVE VICE CHANCELLOR

Division Code:

5901D

Division:

ADMINISTRATION

Department:

455400 - IT SERVICES

Position Details

UCPath Position Number:

TBD_2756

Position Description ID

233146

UC Payroll Title:

APPLICATIONS PROGR 4 (000652)

Business Title:

Solution Engineer, Bruin Financial Aid

Personnel Program

Management and Senior Professional (MSP)

Salary Grade:

Grade 24

Job Code FLSA:

Exempt

Union Code (Collective Bargaining Unit):

99: Non-Represented (PPSM)

Employee Relations Code:

E: All Others - Not Confidential

Employee Class (Appt Type):

2 - Staff: Career

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)

1

SUPERVISION

UCPath Reports to Position Number:

41097582

Reports to Payroll Title:

Applications Programmer 4

UCPath Department Head Position Number:

40068309

Department Head Payroll Title:

info sys mgr 4

GENERAL SUPERVISION - Indicates that the incumbent develops procedures for performance of variety of duties; or performs complex duties within established policy guidelines.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Solution Engineer, Bruin Financial Aid will focus on the technical configuration and maintenance of the Bruin Financial Aid system, ensuring it aligns with the evolving needs of the Financial Aid office and university policies. The engineer will be responsible for understanding and implementing complex financial aid rules, regulations, and processes within the system. This includes configuring award packaging, eligibility determination, and disbursement processes. Additionally, the engineer will work closely with the Financial Aid office to troubleshoot issues, provide technical support, and identify opportunities for system enhancements. They will be responsible for staying up to date with system releases, patches, and upgrades, ensuring optimal system performance and security. The engineer will also collaborate with other IT teams, to ensure the operation of the Bruin Financial Aid product. This involves understanding data flows, mapping data elements, and resolving data discrepancies.

By effectively configuring and maintaining the Bruin Financial Aid system, this role will contribute to the efficient and accurate delivery of financial aid to students, enhancing the overall student experience.

The engineer within Financial Aid IT Products will positively impact UCLA's operations and culture by enabling University stakeholders to effectively leverage Student Records & Engagement and applications. This team member will advance the University's mission by delivering exceptional information technology services comprehensively and consistently across faculty, staff, and students. This role will execute UCLA's vision while modeling UCLA's culture and values. 

Academic Technology sets the strategy for a portfolio of enterprise-wide products and platforms enabling the activities of academic stakeholders across the university. The Academic Technology team designs, develops, configures, enhances, optimizes, and maintains core enterprise technologies for UCLA’s academic functions (Admissions & Financial Aid, Student Records & Engagement, Billing & Accounts Receivable, Bruin Learn Center of Excellence, and Faculty Information Products), ensuring functionality, quality, business value, user experience, and digital accessibility of the products and platforms to meet the expectations of the campus community. Academic Technology fuels ITS’ cloud-first strategy by strategically reducing technical debt in partnership with other departments and teams leveraging cutting-edge techniques to accelerate releases using automation and application lifecycle management standards and tools. 

The Student Products team conceives, configures, monitors, defines, tests, delivers, optimizes, and refines student products and application technologies, including admissions & financial aid products, student records & engagement products, and billing & accounts receivable (BAR) products.

Systems & Solutions Development

1.Leads the development, maintenance, and enhancement of highly complex Systems-based applications, ensuring they meet functional and performance requirements ensuring reliability and security.

2.Takes a leadership role in designing and implementing complex solutions, considering business needs, technical feasibility, and configuration requirements.

3.Works closely with business analysts, integration developers, system architects, and stakeholders to ensure seamless operations of the campus systems applications with the University's overall technology ecosystem.

4.Develops, tests, and maintains code for core system and application functionalities, ensuring compatibility with modern technologies and adherence to coding standards and best practices.

25%

Application Development

1.Maintains technical documentation, including configuration guides, user manuals, and system diagrams.

2.Provides technical support and troubleshooting assistance to resolve production issues as needed.

3.Prepares and approves or obtains approval for system and configuration documentation. Initiates and oversees changes in configuration and maintenance standards.

4.Understands and applies industry best practices and department policies and procedures. May serve as a technical lead for configuration projects.

5.Collaborates with team members and stakeholders to understand business requirements and implement effective configuration solutions.

20%

Problem Solving

1.Offers technical expertise, insights, and recommendations to guide decisions and improve the efficiency of development processes.

2.Addresses complex technical challenges, troubleshoots issues, and provides innovative solutions to ensure successful system operation.

10%

Customer Service

1.Performs thorough testing of Systems applications, identifying and resolving defects to ensure high-quality and reliable software.

10%

Continuous Improvement

1.Stays up to date and proactively researches and recommends emerging technologies and practices to optimize the performance and future-proof the organization's core systems.

2.Drives continuous improvement initiatives by suggesting process enhancements, adopting new tools, and implementing best practices.

3.Leads upgrading core applications, ensuring compatibility with new hardware, software, and security standards.

10%

Project Planning & Management

1.Works closely with project managers to ensure timely delivery of development tasks within assigned projects. Provides status updates and actively participate in project meetings.

2.Conducts in-depth analysis of systems to assess current functionalities, identify gaps, and propose enhancements.

10%

Communications & Training

1. Prepares comprehensive technical documentation for developed solutions, ensuring clear understanding and knowledge transfer.

2. Collaborates effectively within multidisciplinary teams, contributing to cross-functional projects and shared goals.

10%

Other

Actively contributes to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion across the organization and UCLA’s campus. Actively promotes the organization’s core values and consistently integrates innovation, employee fulfillment, teamwork, respect, excellence, integrity, service, and accountability into each aspect of their work.

5%

•

Performs other duties as assigned.

•

Complies with all policies and standards.

•

Complies with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Principles of Community.

•

This position description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's Degree

in one or more of the following fields: business administration, organization development, communication, or public administration, or a related field. 

Required

Five years

experience working in one or more of the following fields: application development, system-development, Systems programming, information technology, network operations, or a related field.

Required

Extensive experience in developing and maintaining large-scale enterprise applications.

Required

Experience in Systems programming including but not limited to a foundation with legacy platforms like COBOL, CICs, and JCL.

Required

Experience and strong knowledge with Systems RDBMS databases, such as DB2, & expertise in SQL for data retrieval & manipulation.

Required

Expertise of development methodologies, best practices, and design patterns.

Required

Extensive experience with debugging tools such as IBM Fault Analyzer, IBM FileManager for Z/OS, IBM FileManager for DB2, CADB2, Z/Os Debugger Terminal Interface Manager, Spufi, CEDF, QMF or equivalent

Required

Experience in complex higher education environments, serving academic and administrative functions of a large public university. 

Required

Seven or more years

experience working in one or more of the following fields: application development, system-development, Systems programming, information technology, network operations, or a related field.

Preferred

Experience with modernization efforts, such as migrating legacy applications to contemporary platforms.

Preferred

Ability to adapt and integrate with modern technologies.

Required

Techniques for identifying and resolving issues in Systems applications.

Required

Strong written and verbal communication skills and is able to communicate complex technical ideas to a diverse community of colleagues and stakeholders. Can relay technical information to audiences of technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Required

Able to establish and advance positive working relationships and a strong rapport with a diverse community of colleagues including team members, stakeholders, and customers.

Required

Advanced organizational skills, ability to balance priorities, deliver concurrent projects to various stakeholders. Ability to work in a project-based environment using project management practices.

Required

Advanced problem-solving skills; ability to identify root problems and scope solutions based on knowledge of resources, timelines, vision and strategy. Seeks information from diverse sources to inform solutions. Demonstrated ability to make decisions with integrity.

Required

Able to participate in activities to advance an inclusive environment that values equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging.

Required

Thinks creatively and introduces innovations such as the incorporation of new technologies or processes. Thrives in an ever-changing, fast-paced environment.

Required

Knowledge of modern applications techniques, such as CTG, APIs, web services, microservices, and knowledge of Systems security best practices.

Preferred

Familiarity with Assembler, Rexx and CList, Focus, PLI, SAS,CA-Scheduler, CA Endevor, GoAnywhere MFT or equivalent, as well as knowledge of Systems security best practices.

Preferred

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.

Live Scan Background Check: A Live Scan background check must be completed prior to the start of employment.

LOCATION AND PHYSICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, MENTAL (PEM) REQUIREMENTS

Environment and Work Location Information

Environment Type:

Non-Clinical Setting

Location Setting:

Campus

Location:

Wilshire Center

Standing/Walking

X

Sitting

X

Bending/Stooping

X

Squatting/Kneeling

X

Climbing

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 0-25 lbs

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 26-50 lbs

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull over 50 lbs

X

Physical requirements other

X

Chemicals, dust, gases, or fumes

X

Loud noise levels

X

Marked changes in humidity or temperature

X

Microwave/Radiation

X

Operating motor vehicles and/or equipment

X

Exposures other

X

Sustained attention and concentration

X

X

Complex problem solving/reasoning

X

X

Ability to organize & prioritize

X

X

Communication skills

X

X

Numerical skills

X

X

Mental demands other

X

X

Classification 3:  Position in which exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues is not part of the position description. The normal routine task involves no exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues and the employee can decline to perform tasks which involve a perceived risk without retribution.