Automation Specialist III
Nova 401(k) Associates · Remote · $100,000–$110,000 (stated in the posting)
Do you like using code to remove busy work, connect systems that don’t talk to each other, and make things better for clients? Nova’s Automation Team builds the Python automations and integrations that run much of our 401(k) administration business, and we’re looking for an experienced developer to help us take it further.
As an Automation Specialist III, you’ll report to our Development Team Lead and own projects from the first conversation with the business through deployment to production. Recent work on our team includes:
- Rebuilding a client-response workflow to pull data directly from the API instead of scanning PDFs, so changes to documents no longer break the code
- Building and extending our in-house payroll integration product, which pulls payroll data through third-party APIs and turns it into participant census and recordkeeper files
- Automating billing and invoicing across our practice-management, subscription billing, and accounting systems
- Replacing browser-based downloads with direct API integrations
- Standardizing logging and error alerting across our code base and resolving static-analysis findings
What sets our strongest developers apart isn’t only writing code that works. It’s spotting the fragile process nobody asked them to fix, replacing it with something durable, and leaving the code base cleaner than they found it. If that sounds like you, we’d like to talk.
Our team includes developers with both computer science and engineering backgrounds. What they share is rigor, curiosity, and a drive to get things right.
Why Developers Like Working Here:
- Fully remote. This is a full-time position you work from your home office, and we provide a proper computer and dual-monitor setup. Nova has offered remote work for over 10 years.
- Time in the code. Our team is small but excellent, so you spend most of your days building.
- Work with real impact. You collaborate with the business every day, so you see what your work changes and get to dig deep into solutions and workflow optimization.
- Room to do it right. We encourage quality improvements and make time to refactor when it’s needed.
- New things to build. When the business finds a new way to help our clients, you build the products and processes that make it happen.
- Overtime is paid. This is a non-exempt position, so when extra hours are needed, you’re paid for them.
To support your professional development, you may be eligible for paid time and/or financial incentives to earn relevant software credentials and/or credentials related to the 401(k) industry.
Nova 401(k) Associates is a vibrant national third-party administration (TPA) firm for 401(k) plans. Our industry is stable and growing.
What You’ll Do:
- Design, build, and modify Python scripts and integrations that automate work processes, improve client service, and support business goals
- Research and implement technology solutions, from targeted fixes to complex multi-system integrations, that make our processes more resilient and stable and prepare our systems to scale
- Integrate with third-party platforms through APIs and webhooks (e-signature, payroll providers, recordkeepers, billing and accounting systems)
- Manage the daily job schedule, respond quickly to production errors, find and fix root causes, and optimize throughput of the production environment
- Maintain, refactor, and modernize scripts and code written by others, and retire code that is no longer needed
- Deploy scripts and projects from development to production
- Assess our current practices; develop standards and procedures for version control, logging, and code quality; and lead by example to improve code quality across the company
- Work directly with business users to understand their workflows, account for edge cases, and confirm solutions meet their needs
- Report regularly to management verbally and in writing
- Work with our software vendors on potential automation projects
- Communicate with our IT group to ensure proposed solutions are consistent with our network standards
What You’ll Bring:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering or computer science
- A minimum of 5 years of experience building production code in a team environment with Python as a primary language
- Experience learning and working with a variety of APIs (REST/JSON, authentication, webhooks)
- Familiarity with MySQL, GitHub, and virtual machines
- Ability to document processes and manage projects in a team environment
- Curiosity plus independent research and analytical skills: you dig into a problem until you understand the root cause
- A high level of critical thinking
- Strong written and verbal communication skills including explaining technical topics to non-technical colleagues
- A desire to continually improve systems in terms of maintainability and resilience
- Coachable with a strong work ethic
- Comfortable with Microsoft Teams and video calls as the primary way of working with your team lead
- Ability to pass a background check
Nice to Have:
- Experience with retirement plan administration, 401(k), payroll, or other financial services data
- Experience with PensionPro, DocuSign, or payroll integration platforms
- Experience with AWS or other cloud services
- Experience with code-quality tools (such as SonarQube), CI pipelines, or browser automation (such as Selenium)
Compensation and Benefits:
- Base salary $100,000–$110,000 depending on experience
- Salaried, non-exempt position with overtime paid when needed
- Medical, dental, disability, and life insurance
- Paid time off
- 401(k) plan with employer match
- Paid time and/or financial support for relevant credentials
Work Location and Hours:
- Work from home
- Must work from the USA and be authorized to work for any U.S. employer
- Attend regular video meetings via Microsoft Teams or equivalent
- We supply all necessary computer equipment
- Standard business hours, with core hours in the Central Time Zone
We get it. We listen. We communicate.