Entry Level Information Technology Jobs in California

Introduction Living in Placer County from Placer County Video Portal Placer County is comprised of over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer is a great place to live, work, play, and learn. For more information about Placer County, please visit www.placer.ca.gov

POSITION INFORMATION Position Overview: The Information Technology Department (Telecommunications Division) is seeking an IT professional to join a collaborative team. The role involves overseeing the design, implementation, operation, and maintenance of various communication systems that support the County's public safety and internal operations. Key Responsibilities & Skills: Manage and maintain the Placer County P-25 digital trunked land mobile radio system, conventional analog radio systems, microwave network, and dispatch centers.

Work closely with telecom service providers, internal County customers, and external vendors to ensure systems are functioning properly and efficiently. Strong knowledge of network and system concepts, radio frequency theory, troubleshooting, system optimization and maintenance. Demonstrated expertise in project management, vendor management, and customer service.

Additional Information: This position is based in Auburn, CA, with required travel to various locations within Placer County and the surrounding areas, including Tahoe, Lincoln, and Roseville. The eligible lists established as a result of these recruitments may be used to fill vacancies in various County departments as they arise, subject to position-specific requirements. BENEFITS Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees.

The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department. Click here to view Placer Public Employees Organization (PPEO) benefits.

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer, please visit Placer County's Human Resources website. DEFINITION Performs professional duties related to the analysis, development, maintenance and administration of computer hardware and software systems to meet business needs. Incumbents may perform any of the following functions: analyzes, designs, monitors and administers servers and related platforms; designs, maintains, configures and monitors network and/or telecommunications infrastructures and related system components; consults with departmental customers to identify and analyze business functions that can be improved by the implementation of new hardware and/or software solutions; translates business requirements into system deployments, including the development of design specifications; performs professional-level systems maintenance and customer support duties; and performs other related duties as assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS This is the entry-level class in the Information Technology Analyst series. Positions in this class are typically distinguished from Information Technology Analyst II by the performance of less than the full range of duties assigned to the series. SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED Incumbents work initially under immediate supervision from an assigned supervisor while learning job tasks, progressing to general supervision as the procedures and processes of the assigned areas of responsibilities are learned.

Incumbents may also receive technical and functional supervision from a Senior Information Technology Analyst. Incumbents may provide technical and functional supervision over technical and/or para-professional staff. EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following.

Incumbents assigned to the Information Technology Analyst I classification initially perform the following duties in a learning and/or on-the-job training capacity. Evaluates customer technical needs and recommends solutions; plans, determines requirements, designs, builds, customizes, tests, implements, maintains and/or enhances a variety of hardware and software systems, integrating County network infrastructure and/or other systems; considers protocols, acceptable system security risk, and other related elements. Provides professional customer support for system-related software and/or hardware issues, needs, or requirements.

Interacts with clients to analyze system requirements; recommends technology solutions to improve operations. Determines and develops cost benefit analyses related to recommended technical solutions; evaluates risk options; ensures project compliance with County procedures or protocols, budgetary constraints and staff/resource utilization. Is responsible for the coordination and completion of projects that are limited in scope and/or specific to area of assignment; develops and monitors project budgets and resources; interfaces with clients to define project scope and review project activities, recommendations and outcomes; coordinates the use of project resources based on project requirements; designs and implements project testing and quality assurance processes.

Project-related duties may include: determining and developing cost benefit analyses for project justifications; developing projected budgets and resources needed to conduct the work; evaluating risk concerns and options; providing technical input into the development of specifications for "requests for proposals" pertaining to external services; reviewing vendor submissions and providing recommendations on vendor selection; monitoring vendor performance to ensure compliance with County specifications; ensuring project compliance with County procedures or protocols, budgetary constraints and staff/resource utilization; serving as the primary client interface on assigned projects; reviewing recommendations with clients and receiving approval to proceed; reviewing final outcomes with the client and obtaining their sign off that all work has been conducted in accordance with client requirements; coordinating the activities of contract personnel and/or vendors, consistent with project plans; identifies and resolves obstacles to progress; designing and directing project testing and quality assurance processes for assigned projects; Coordinates information technology activities of County department(s), division staff, and/or vendors consistent with project plans; identifies and resolves obstacles to progress, prepares for and manages delivery and installation. Prepares technical documentations, procedural plans, reports, correspondence and other documents; participates on committees and task forces; attends meetings, conferences and training sessions. Builds and maintains positive and professional working relationships with co-workers, other County employees, vendors, and the public using principles of good customer service.

Exercises technical or functional supervision over technical and/or para-professional staff. Exercises functional supervision over other professional staff on a project basis. Provides technical and functional supervision of contractors/vendors.

Provides after hours technology support as assigned. Performs other related duties as assigned. Functional Assignment Areas (While the majority of duties assigned to a position typically fall within one of the following areas, incumbents may also be assigned duties that cross multiple areas) When assigned to Network and Telecommunications Analysis/Administration (In addition to general duties) duties may include but are not limited to: Administers a departmental Local Area Network (LAN); monitors and adds users; installs and configures software; coordinates connectivity with the County Wide Area Network (WAN).

Designs, configures and installs network infrastructure, including wireless equipment, hubs, switches, cabling, servers, and peripherals. Investigates, analyzes and resolves server, telecommunications and/or network problems; troubleshoots failures implements solutions. Evaluates and implements network upgrades; tests hardware and software to ensure optimal functionality.

Designs, implements and maintains telecommunications systems, including, but not limited to, the 911 PSAP system infrastructure, PBX & VOIP based telephone systems, radio network, and the audio/video systems for County departments. Analyzes business needs and prepares design specifications, recommendations, and solutions for telecommunications technology. Designs, installs, supports and maintains call center solutions.

Develops, designs, maintains, and installs remote radio sites as part of a standards based P25 digital trunking radio network. Recommends solutions for specialized and unique signal transmissions used at remote sites. Provides custom PLC, database, and software programming to meet the needs of telemetry end users.

Prepares and programs computerized telecommunications customer databases. Assists in the development, and administration of the County's digital multi-site, multi-agency radio system. Conducts training pertaining to the use of end user telephony hardware and software.

Maintains telephone servers, Call manager, voicemail, call center and paging systems. Performs duties related to ensuring the integrity and security of County networks and all related components, including human element, physical and virtual servers, domain controllers, desktops, laptops, printers and other devices which utilize the County network. Scans and monitors network activity, filters malicious activity and virus probability; retrieves data for investigative purposes.

Maintains County/Department network and data security standards and provides recommendations. Performs computer forensics as requested by County legal department, auditors, or other authorized requests. Conducts research on latest security threats and uses new security products to help maintain the integrity of the County's network.

Develops security procedures and provides recommendations on security policies. WORKING CONDITIONS Work is typically performed in an indoor office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances; position occasionally requires travel to other locations. Work environments may include noise, dust and/or unpleasant odors, marked changes in temperature and humidity, and may occasionally require work in confined spaces.

Occasional evening, holiday and/or weekend work may be required. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below. Experience: One year of experience with applications and operations of computers.

Training: Equivalent to the completion of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in computer science, information technology or a closely related field. Additional relevant technical experience that demonstrates the ability to perform analytical duties in assigned technology area may substitute for the required education on a year for year basis. Possession of one or more approved information technology certificates and/or completion of other approved technology-related training may substitute for some or all of the required education.

Required License or Certificate: May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required. Depending upon assignment, demonstrated technical competency and/or certification pertaining to the information technology used by the appointing department may be required.

Applicants receiving their degree outside the United States must submit proof of accreditation by a recognized evaluation agency. Relevant, equivalent experience (performing the same or similar job requiring similar knowledge, skills, and abilities) may be substituted for the required education as determined by the Human Resources Department. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES Knowledge of: General operations, services, concepts, terms and activities common to a comprehensive, state-of-the-art information systems program.

Principles, methods and techniques used in designing, developing, testing and implementing computer hardware and software systems. Data processing techniques, including the types of hardware and software currently used to process data with different levels of complexity. Structured analysis and database concepts.

Computer hardware and software systems similar to those being used by the hiring department. Tools and equipment used in testing the functionality of computer applications. Principles and practices of troubleshooting computer hardware, software and network problems.

Principles and practices of customer service. Methods and techniques of developing and presenting technical documentation and training materials. Principles and practices of record keeping.

Modern office procedures, methods and equipment. Ability to: Gather, analyze and evaluate data and information in order to reason logically, draw valid conclusions, take appropriate actions and/or make appropriate recommendations. Learn to research, design, implement and maintain various hardware and software technology solutions, including new technology, in order to improved County processes or services.

Communicate technical information to a wide variety of users. Learn, interpret and explain pertinent County and Department policies and procedures. Recognize that changes made on a local level can affect services and equipment at the system wide level and take appropriate precautions.

Plan, organize, prioritize and process work to ensure that deadlines are met. Learn and utilize specialized terminology if needed by the specific assignment. Interpret and apply technical information pertaining to computer and network systems.

Adapt quickly to changes in policies, procedures, assignments and work locations. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those encountered during the course of the work.

Learn to prepare and maintain documentation for procedures, processes, and tables related to area of assignment. Read, comprehend, and retain technical information on computer products and systems. Provide on-call service during off hours, evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Functional Assignment Areas When assign...