Technical Lead (Project Assistant)

Duties Description

Duties Description

The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) is the state’s student financial aid agency, responsible for centrally administering New York’s major college aid programs. It oversees grants, scholarships, loan-forgiveness programs, and related services – including flagship programs like the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), the Excelsior Scholarship, and other State scholarships. HESC awards nearly $1 billion in financial aid to more than 330,000 students each year.

As a member of the Innovation and Transformation Team, the incumbent will support agency technology applications and IT needs through modernizing legacy systems, assisting with procuring viable technology solutions, and providing ongoing technical support to ensure seamless operations and future scalability.

General Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To

Collaborate with product owner and HESC staff to guide legacy modernization projects, assess their progress, and ensure their success;

Evaluate work completed by other technical staff to determine whether it meets the quality standards and acceptance criteria as defined by HESC, providing actionable feedback as necessary;

Participate in long-term strategic discussions, including the scoping and execution of development projects beyond HESC’s initial RFP, providing strategic advice to HESC staff on technical topics such as software development, infrastructure, and security compliance;

Propose and research software solutions for HESC needs, and serve as technical advisor during procurement processes;

Ensure consistency and maintainability across HESC systems, championing best practices for DevOps, testing, and other areas;

Liaise with the NYS ITS Information Security Office in development, compliance, and other discussions;

• Work across teams, such as NYS ITS, vendors, and HESC staff to ensure systems are developed effectively and efficiently;

Support product owner to understand and respond effectively to the needs and expectations of HESC stakeholders;

Liaise with the NYS ITS Information Security Office, as needed;

Foster a culture of continuous improvement, investing in developer culture and practices to create a supportive and inclusive working environment

Provide overall technical advice to guide agency goals and direction;

Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualification

Minimum Qualifications

Nine years* of relevant professional experience?

• An Associate's Degree may substitute two years of the required experience.
• A Bachelor's Degree may substitute four years of the required experience.
• A Master's Degree may substitute five years of the required experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Proficiency in .NET programming; Experience with Java or COBOL

Extensive knowledge of database management and data pipelines; experience with Microsoft SQL Server or DB2 databases

Expertise in the areas of system design and architecture in complex settings

Experience managing applications distributed across physical and cloud infrastructure

Experience working iteratively using methods such as Agile or Scrum

Experience managing, modernizing, or replacing multiple complex applications and components within an organization

Experience in analyzing and implementing security solutions, ensuring adherence to established policies and standards

Experience in design and implementation of scalable AI solutions, leveraging cloud platforms

Additional Comments

NOTE: HESC’s business hours require working between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

NYS is an equal opportunity employer.

Benefits of Working for NYS

Generous benefits package, worth 65% of salary, including:

Holiday & Paid Time Off

• Thirteen (13) paid holidays annually, plus two (2) floating holidays
• Up to Thirteen (13) days of paid vacation leave annually
• Up to Five (5) days of paid personal leave annually
• Up to Thirteen (13) days of paid sick leave annually for CSEA or PEF; up to eight (8) days of paid sick leave annually for M/C
• Up to three (3) days of professional leave annually to participate in professional development
• Initially positions will work full-time in the office and a hybrid telecommuting schedule of up to 50% remote work can be discussed with the hiring manager during the interview .

Health Care Benefits

• Eligible employees and dependents can pick from a variety of affordable health insurance programs
• Family dental and vision benefits at no additional cost

Additional Benefits

• New York State Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) Membership
• NYS Deferred Compensation
• Access to NY 529 and NY ABLE College Savings Programs, as well as U.S. Savings Bonds
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• And many more.

METHOD OF APPLICATION: RESUME, to apply, by January 30, 2026, please submit a clear, concise cover letter and resume, to: [email protected] indicating that you are applying for the position of Technical Lead (Project Assistant). Please clearly indicate how you meet the minimum qualifications for this position.