Who are we?
Western National Insurance Group is a private mutual insurance company with over 120 years of experience serving customers' property-and-casualty insurance needs in the Midwestern, Northwestern, and Southwestern United States. Known as “The Relationship Company®,” we define success as a measure of the relationships we’ve built over time. In everything that we do, we know that delivering a friendly and helpful interaction makes for a better experience for everyone involved. That’s the power of “nice”. At Western National, nice is something we work to bring to every person and organization with whom we partner and serve.
Does this opportunity interest you?
Western National is seeking a Software Developer IV to join our team!
The individual in this role will have the opportunity to design, develop, test, and deploy high-impact software solutions while partnering with cross-functional teams to improve applications, automate processes, and influence engineering best practices. This individual also serves as a technical mentor, helping elevate the capabilities of teammates while driving innovation and continuous improvement across the development organization.
What are the responsibilities and opportunities of this role?
• Designs, develops, tests, and deploys high-impact software application modifications based on collaboratively defined business and technical requirements.
• Collaborates with product teams to troubleshoot application issues and deliver high-quality software solutions.
• Participates in work refinement, estimation, and planning activities to support successful project delivery.
• Prepares and executes unit testing for new and modified code in accordance with team and organizational standards.
• Partners with product and change control teams to ensure quality software releases.
• Creates and maintains technical documentation that supports ongoing product development and maintenance.
• Ensures timely delivery of projects and tasks while proactively communicating risks, delays, and roadblocks.
• Develops and guides the creation of technical specifications, flowcharts, and data flow diagrams to communicate complex application designs.
• Leads code review efforts and promotes development best practices across product teams.
• Identifies opportunities for process improvement and collaborates across teams to implement effective solutions.
• Leads troubleshooting, resolution, and communication for urgent production issues.
• Drives automation of development processes and identifies opportunities to improve efficiency across teams.
• Mentors team members by sharing technical knowledge and supporting professional development.
• Analyzes complex technical challenges, evaluates multiple solution options, and communicates recommendations.
• Identifies opportunities to improve application quality, business processes, and customer experience.
• Collaborates with team members to evolve development standards, policies, and best practices.
• Consistently acts according to our customer experience standards, including responding quickly, maintaining a positive attitude, building rapport, demonstrating empathy, managing the customer’s expectations, using the proper communication channel for the situation, and taking ownership to ensure the customer’s issue is resolved.
• Performs special projects and other duties as assigned.
Requirements
What are the must-have qualifications for a candidate?
• Strong mathematical, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and complete assignments with minimal guidance.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Advanced organizational and prioritization skills with the ability to manage multiple high-impact initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with product teams and cross-functional partners.
• Knowledge and practical application of relevant project methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively with both technical and nontechnical audiences across all levels of the organization.
• Advanced proficiency in required programming languages, code versioning tools, and deployment technologies.
• Broad exposure to multiple technology stacks, frameworks, and core systems.
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, mathematics, information management, statistics, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience accepted in lieu of education.
What will our ideal candidate have?
• Demonstrated ability to proactively mentor and develop colleagues with varying technical backgrounds and learning styles.
• Ability to influence product owners and development teams to prioritize technical improvements that align with company and industry standards.
• Experience identifying automation opportunities that improve software quality and development efficiency.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to influence technical decisions across teams without direct authority.
Compensation overview
The hiring range for this role is $112,300 - $160,600 annually. However, the base pay offered may vary depending on the job-related knowledge, skills, credentials, and experience of each candidate as well as other factors such as the scope and location of the role. Candidates looking for compensation outside of the posted range are encouraged to apply and will be considered based on their individual qualifications and/or may be considered for other positions.
Culture and Total Rewards
Western National has long been known as “The Relationship Company®” and caring for our employees is part of that relationship commitment. We value connectiveness, empowerment, and accountability, and we believe that our employees are our biggest asset.
Currently ranked as the 41st largest private company by revenue in Minnesota (Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal), Western National has earned accolades year-over-year as an employer of choice and garnered multiple awards for wellness in the workplace. Western National has also been named a Top Workplace by the Star Tribune for consecutive years. In addition, the Group is consistently recognized as a Ward’s 50 property-and-casualty insurance company for its outstanding financial results.
Western National offers full-time employees a significant Total Rewards Package, including:
• Medical insurance plan options and other standard employee benefits, including dental insurance, vision benefits, life insurance, disability insurance, and more!
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• 401(k) Plan (participants are eligible for 100% matching on the first 6% of their contributions)
• Wellbeing Program, including onsite fitness studio
• Paid Time Off – including holiday, vacation, and volunteer
• 100% company-paid tuition reimbursement for approved job-relevant coursework and access to The Institutes (Risk and insurance education)
• Paid parental leave
• Bonus opportunities
Western National believes in supporting balance between work and life by providing a flexible work environment, which includes a variety of hybrid and remote work arrangements designed to balance individual, job, department, and company needs.
Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.
Western National provides employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.