Application Developer

Job Title: SmallTalk Developer

Location: Remote

Type: Contract

About the Role

A government agency is modernizing its legacy Juvenile Justice Information System (JJIS), a mission-critical application built on Smalltalk and an on-premises Oracle database. We seek an experienced SmallTalk Developer to analyze the legacy codebase, translate its business logic into plain English/pseudo-code, and support the transition to a modern low-code platform. This role bridges technical and non-technical teams, ensuring seamless knowledge transfer while maintaining the legacy system during the transition.

Key Responsibilities

Legacy System Modernization:

Analyze and interpret legacy Smalltalk code to document business logic, validation rules, and system functionality.

Convert technical Smalltalk code into clear English/pseudo-code for vendor and stakeholder alignment.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams (vendors, business analysts, QA) to validate requirements and acceptance criteria.

Participate in Agile processes, including sprint planning, user story refinement, and technical reviews.

Support testing efforts (QA/UAT) for the modernized application.

Legacy Application Maintenance:

Provide ongoing support, troubleshooting, and bug fixes for the legacy Smalltalk system.

Develop use cases and user stories to guide future enhancements.

Diagnose and resolve production issues, working closely with the Service Desk.

Conduct design walkthroughs with stakeholders to validate solutions.

Perform unit testing and ensure system stability.

Technical Environment:

Work within a complex ecosystem: Oracle databases, client/server architecture, and integrations with external systems.

Communicate technical concepts effectively to diverse audiences (IT teams, business users, leadership).

Required Qualifications:

5+ years of hands-on Smalltalk development experience.

Expertise in Object-Oriented Analysis and Design (OOAD).

Proven ability to document legacy systems and translate technical logic for non-technical stakeholders.

Experience in multi-platform environments (desktop OS, client/server, relational databases).

Familiarity with Agile methodologies and full SDLC participation.

Strong collaboration and communication skills.

Schedule & Logistics:

Hours: 20 hours/week (5 hours/day, Monday–Thursday).

Time Zone: Pacific Standard Time (PST).