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Key Tech Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Director, IT Operations

El Segundo, CA ยท On-site

$165K - $180K/yr

As a key technology leader, the Director will provide hands-on leadership and day-to-day management of the IT Operations team will oversee infrastructure, network operations, and vendor partnerships.

Oversee the technical design, deployment, and operation of key enterprise technologies, including Juniper switches, Cato Networks, Google Business Workspace, Active Directory, DNS/DHCP, Office ...

Manage key technology vendors, MSPs, and SaaS providers, including contracts, renewals, SLAs, and escalations. Oversee integration and understand data flows between platforms, ensuring operational ...

Manage key technology vendors, MSPs, and SaaS providers, including contracts, renewals, SLAs, and escalations. Oversee integration and understand data flows between platforms, ensuring operational ...

Java Back End Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA ยท On-site

$59.75 - $77.50/hr

... to key technology or application problems - Proactively collaborate and partner with internal stakeholders to deliver business impacting projects - Bring creative solutions to the table Required ...

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Key Tech information

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Key Technician, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Key Technician, you need expertise in locksmithing, key cutting, and security hardware, usually backed by a high school diploma and relevant vocational training or certification. Familiarity with key duplication machines, lock-picking tools, and digital access control systems is commonly required. Attention to detail, problem-solving, and strong customer service skills help you excel in handling security concerns and client needs. These abilities are essential for ensuring property security, customer trust, and efficiency in residential, commercial, or automotive settings.

What are Key Techs?

Key Techs, often referred to as Key Technicians, are professionals responsible for the setup, maintenance, and operation of technical equipment in various industries, such as film, television, live events, or manufacturing. Their duties typically include ensuring that all technical systems are running smoothly, troubleshooting any issues that arise, and collaborating with other team members to support production goals. Key Techs may specialize in areas like lighting, sound, or camera equipment, depending on the industry. Strong technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and attention to detail are essential for success in this role.

What are some common challenges faced by Key Techs, and how can they be addressed on the job?

Key Techs often work in fast-paced environments where troubleshooting and resolving technical issues quickly is essential. A common challenge is balancing multiple urgent requests while maintaining high-quality work, especially during peak hours or critical system failures. To address this, it helps to develop strong organizational skills, prioritize tasks effectively, and maintain clear communication with both team members and end-users. Additionally, staying up-to-date with the latest tools and technologies in your field can help streamline processes and minimize downtime.

What jobs pay $500,000 a year in the US?

In the US, high-paying roles such as senior technology executives, specialized surgeons, investment bankers, and successful entrepreneurs can earn $500,000 or more annually. Key tech roles like CTOs, product executives, and certain software engineering leaders with extensive experience and stock options also reach this level. These positions typically require advanced skills, significant experience, and often involve leadership or ownership responsibilities.

What is the difference between Key Tech vs Network Technician?

AspectKey TechNetwork Technician
Required CredentialsTypically certifications like CompTIA A+, Network+, or vendor-specific certificationsSimilar certifications such as CompTIA Network+ or Cisco CCNA
Work EnvironmentInvolves hardware setup, troubleshooting, and maintenance in data centers or client sitesFocuses on installing, configuring, and repairing network hardware and infrastructure
Employer & Industry UsageUsed across IT service providers, data centers, and enterprise IT departmentsCommon in telecom companies, ISPs, and corporate IT teams

Key Tech and Network Technicians share overlapping skills in hardware and network troubleshooting, often requiring similar certifications. While Key Tech may have a broader scope including hardware repair and system setup, Network Technicians specialize in network infrastructure. Both roles are essential in maintaining IT and network systems, with their differences mainly in focus areas and specific tasks.

What does Key Tech do?

Key Tech is a company that provides technology solutions and consulting services, often focusing on software development, IT infrastructure, and digital transformation projects. Employees in related roles may work with tools like cloud platforms, programming languages, and project management methodologies to support client needs.

What is the highest paid tech job?

The highest paid tech jobs are often executive roles such as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) or specialized positions like AI Research Directors, with salaries exceeding $200,000 annually. Senior software engineers, cloud architects, and cybersecurity executives also command high compensation, especially with advanced skills and certifications in areas like cloud platforms, machine learning, or security management.

What are the main tech jobs?

Main tech jobs include software developers, network administrators, cybersecurity analysts, data scientists, systems engineers, and IT support specialists. These roles often require knowledge of programming languages, networking, security protocols, and relevant certifications such as CompTIA or Cisco certifications.
What are popular job titles related to Key Tech jobs in California? For Key Tech jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Key Tech jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Key Tech jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Key Tech jobs? Cities in California with the most Key Tech job openings:
Director, IT Operations

Director, IT Operations

Los Angeles Times

El Segundo, CA โ€ข On-site

$165K - $180K/yr

Full-time

Posted 4 days ago


Job description

The Director of IT Operations is responsible for leading the strategy, execution, and continuous improvement of the organization's IT infrastructure and support services, including the IT Service Desk, End User Computing, and Voice/Video Telecommunication functions. This role ensures the reliability, security, and scalability of all technology systems that support editorial newsroom operations and corporate business functions.
As a key technology leader, the Director will provide hands-on leadership and day-to-day management of the IT Operations team will oversee infrastructure, network operations, and vendor partnerships. This role works closely with peer technology leads, business stakeholders, vendors, and strategic partners to align IT capabilities with the organization's evolving digital strategy, ensuring business continuity, enabling 24/7 newsroom and production operations, and delivering a high-quality end-user experience across a fast-paced media environment. This role holds full decision-making authority and accountability for department budgeting, vendor selection, and vendor spend within an approved threshold, and directly hires and manages the headcount of its team.
Responsibilities:
  • Lead all IT Operations teams, including Technical Support Specialist, the IT Service Desk, Infrastructure, Networking, Voice/Video Telecommunications, and End-User Computing support, ensuring high availability and performance of systems critical to newsroom and business operations. Develop, staff, and maintain the after-hours on-call schedule (nights and weekends) to ensure continuous support coverage.
  • Drive IT Operational strategy: Define and execute the strategy and roadmap for IT operations, infrastructure, and end-to-end user computing, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and digital publishing initiatives; identify, evaluate, and recommend new processes, technologies, and systems to improve and optimize the use of resources.
  • Ensure the stability, performance, and security of enterprise systems, including editorial platforms, content management systems (CMS), ad tech systems, and corporate applications.
  • Oversee enterprise incident, problem, and change management processes, serving as the senior point of escalation for major outages and critical business disruptions. Ensuring timely resolution of issues and continuous service improvement.
  • Manage and optimize relationships with external vendors, service providers, on- and off-shore support organizations, and technology partners, including contract and service level management negotiations (CSLAs/SLAs/KPIs), invoice review, coding, and cost control.
  • Establish and maintain IT operational policies, procedures, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and standards to ensure consistency, compliance, and efficiency across the organization; maintain the IT Service Catalog, knowledge base, and CMDB accuracy
  • Provide strategic oversight of 24/7 production operations, setting standards for P1/P2 incident handling, defining escalation and on-call models, and ensuring major incidents, outages, and performance issues are resolved consistently against agreed business SLAs.
  • Drive enterprise-wide asset and configuration management strategy across infrastructure, endpoints, applications, and cloud services, ensuring the CMDB, license posture, and configuration baselines remain accurate, governed, and audit-ready.
  • Lead IT infrastructure planning, including system upgrades, capacity planning, and technology lifecycle management
  • Ensure compliance with regulatory, legal, and security requirements, including data protection standards and industry frameworks (e.g., PCI-DSS, CCPA, CPRA, PII where applicable).
  • Develop and maintain disaster recovery and business continuity plans to support uninterrupted newsroom, publishing, and production operations.
  • Partner cross-functionally with Editorial, Product, Advertising, Finance, and Operations teams to deliver scalable and innovative technology solutions.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives, including process automation, cost optimization, and service delivery enhancements.
  • Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing IT Operations team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and service excellence; provide timely staff performance evaluations and support recruiting and hiring efforts

Requirements:
  • Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field required and 10+ years of progressive IT experience OR 12+ years of progressive IT experience.
  • 5+ years in a leadership role overseeing IT Operations, Infrastructure, or Service Delivery, including direct supervision of a team of 3 or more employees.
  • Experience supporting 24/7 operational environments, preferably within media, publishing, or similarly fast-paced industries.
  • Strong knowledge of IT infrastructure, including networks, servers, cloud environments, end-user computing, mobile devices, and enterprise applications.
  • Operational knowledge of release management, change control, help desk operations, CMDB, call management systems, patch/update/vulnerability management, MS WinOS and Apple macOS deployment tools.
  • Technical understanding of desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, VoIP telephony, IVR, multifunction printers, networking, servers, and office automation devices.
  • Experience managing IT Service Management (ITSM) frameworks (e.g., ITIL), Mobile Device Management (MDM), including incident, problem, and change management.
  • Proven experience managing vendors, contracts (MSAs, SOWs, Change Orders), and service level agreements, including invoice review and approvals.
  • Direct knowledge and experience with endpoint management tools, patch management, configuration management, and automation/scripting (PowerShell, Python, etc).
  • Demonstrate strong technical depth across core enterprise platforms, including Active Directory and identity/access management (IAM), relational and non-relational databases, and batch/ETL processing frameworks, with the ability to design, troubleshoot, automate, and optimize authentication flows, data access patterns, and scheduled workloads in complex, distributed environments.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop high-performing teams and manage cross-functional relationships.
  • Strong understanding of cybersecurity principles, risk management, and compliance requirements.
  • Experience with disaster recovery planning and business continuity strategies.
  • Excellent problem-solving, strategic thinking, and decision-making skills, with strong business acumen.
  • Strong written, verbal, and presentation communication skills, with the ability to influence and negotiate at all levels of the organization.
  • Ability to manage budgets, forecast expenses, and identify cost-saving opportunities.
  • Flexibility to work extended hours or respond to critical incidents as needed; limited travel may be required.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • ITIL Foundation (or higher) certification.
  • CompTIA A+ and/or Network+ certification.
  • PMP or other project management certification.
  • Experience in the media, entertainment, or publishing industry.
  • Experience evaluating and leading RFPs for EUC tools, telecom vendors, or managed services partners.
  • Familiarity with process automation and IT service management tooling implementations.
  • Experience with editorial, digital publishing, or ad tech platforms.

The L.A. Times is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We actively work to create an inclusive environment where all of our employees can thrive. This Privacy Notice for Los Angeles Times sets forth how we will use the information we obtain when you apply for a position with us. Explore our company history, achievement, values, mission and more on our career site.
The pay scale the Company reasonably expects to pay for this position at the time of the posting is $165,000 to $180,000 and takes into account a wide range of factors including but not limited to skill set, experience, training, licenses, certifications, and other business or organizational needs. Compensation will be determined based on the above factors along with the requirements of the position. At the L.A. Times, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for the role. Please visit our career site to view the benefits available to our employees. We recommend adding our applicant tracking system domain (@dayforce.com) as a safe sender or contact, sometimes these emails get filtered to candidates' spam folders.