Principal Network and Systems Engineer

Description

PRINCIPAL NETWORK & SYSTEMS ENGINEER
Regular, Full-Time Employment Opportunity

Future Salary Increases

• 3.5% effective July 2024
• 3.5% effective July 2025

Benefits:

• Eligible for overtime pay
• Retiree medical benefit
• California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) Pension
• 11 paid Holidays, plus 30 hours* of Floating Holidays (*Prorated based on date of hire)
• Paid Time Off (PTO) accruals
• Generous medical contribution towards medical, dental, and vision.
• The City does not participate in Social Security.
• Potential hybrid schedule after probationary period
• Onsite gym

Are you interested in leading a dynamic team responsible for networking, system administration and telecommunications? The City of Sunnyvale is seeking a service-oriented Principal Network & Systems Engineer for the Information Technology Department. This position supervises the Network & Systems team. The team focuses on voice and data networking, telecommunications, radio infrastructure and overall storage and system administration. The team balances competing demands between operational and project tasks. Strong customer service and exceptional communication skills are essential to interact effectively with IT and business staff, consultants, contractors, the public and project stakeholders. The art of translating business needs into technical solutions is a highly desirable skill. Experience in implementing and supporting a complex network (e.g., Cisco) and systems infrastructure (e.g. VMs), troubleshooting ideas, performing systems analysis, and multi-tasking are essential for this role. Join Sunnyvale's award-winning IT department and help lead the charge in driving innovation and excellence through the City.

Under general direction of an Information Technology Manager, supervises, leads, coordinates, monitors, performs and supports multiple information technology areas that may include one or more citywide data center activities and systems of data, voice, radio, video networks, and/or server solutions; revises, improves, updates, and maintains existing systems under the appropriate Service Level Agreements (SLAs); participates in and/or manages infrastructure, system implementation or client services projects to include schedule and resource planning; provides training and technical support to technical staff and end users; closely coordinates and works with departmental managers, system owners, end-users, public officials, the public, vendors, and project teams; executes the Information Technology Strategic Plan; assists in the development and management of the unit's performance measures and budget; supervises and manages staff within the unit; operates as the subject matter expert; and performs other duties as assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
Principal Network & Systems Engineer is the highest level in the classification series. The classification of Principal Network & Systems Engineer is distinguished from the higher-level Information Technology Manager in that the Information Technology Manager is responsible for the overall administration of the division. This classification is further distinguished from the lower-level Senior Network & Systems Engineer in that the Principal Network & Systems Engineer is assigned the most complex duties and responsibilities of the positions in the series, works independently to complete operational and project tasks, may lead IT projects, and/or may have full supervisory responsibility.
The Network & Systems Engineer classification series has three (3) distinct areas of focus listed below and all are assigned to the appropriate unit within the Infrastructure Services Division. To be hired as a Principal Network & Systems Engineer classification, the candidate must demonstrate the minimum qualifications with an emphasis in all three of the areas of focus below:

• Voice and Data Networking: Responsible for configuring and modifying the configuration of the City's voice and data networks to meet evolving and ongoing functional needs of City departments.
• Telecommunications: Responsible for configuring and modifying the configuration of the City's telecommunications to meet evolving and ongoing functional needs of City departments.
• Radio Networking: Responsible for configuring and modifying the configuration of the City's radio networks to meet evolving and ongoing functional needs of City departments.
• System Administration: Responsible for configuring and modifying the configuration of the City's server and storage systems to meet evolving and ongoing functional needs of City departments. Automate data exchange between related, but separate systems, including external interfaces to transfer data to and from vendors

Essential Job Functions

(May include, but are not limited to, the following):

• Supervises assigned IT staff; provides mentorship, guidance and direction; prepares and delivers evaluations of assigned staff.
• Plan, prioritize, assign, supervise and review the work of assigned staff.
• Participate in the selection of staff; provide or coordinate staff training; motivate staff and manage effective teams.
• Assists in the development and implementation of department and unit goals, objectives policies and procedures and correspondingly aligns to goals of assigned staff.
• Oversees the planning, design, installation, and supports data center activities and systems of data, voice, radio and video network infrastructures, IT equipment, servers, storage and applications to achieve optimum performance and security.
• Communicates effectively with internal clients and vendors to identify needs and evaluate alternative business solutions.
• Performs structured and complex analyses, designs and develops integrated information flow.
• Completes own service requests in a timely manner and provides support to end users, assigns service requests, incidents and problem tickets to team members.
• Ensures team contributions to the department's performance/service metrics. Defines standards of appropriate usage and performance of systems accordingly.
• Researches, designs, develops security and integrity of infrastructure and client device systems to ensure protection from inappropriate access or destruction to include disaster recovery and business continuity.
• Develops and executes preventive maintenance programs identifying weaknesses of current system to determine critical server/storage or network issues, including cybersecurity.
• Develops contract specifications, coordinates services and monitors terms and agreements provided by vendors and independent contractors.
• Recommends, evaluates, and monitors the acquisition and operational cost of network and server related items to obtain the best results, meet budget guidelines, and ensure system compatibility.
• Manages and monitors tasks related to projects or system implementations.
• Coaches, mentors, and trains other city staff through both formal and informal training programs.
• Oversees, develops, and maintains technical system documentation and develops and provides training programs and materials to end-users and other technical staff. Ensures completion of technical documentation by subordinates.
• Develops and executes project plans based on standard Project Management guidelines, and leads or participates in projects according to the plan, to include carrying out the IT Strategic Plan (ITSP).
• Evaluates operations and activities of assigned responsibilities; recommends improvements and modifications; prepares various reports on operations and activities.
• Participate in budget preparation and administration for projects, operations or technology investments; monitor and control expenditures.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Position requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking, kneeling, crawling, squatting and stooping in the performance of daily activities. The position also requires repetitive hand movement and fine motor coordination in performing computer installation and repair and preparing reports using a computer keyboard. Additionally, the position requires both near and far vision when repairing and installing computers, and color vision is required to accurately interpret visual displays and voice and data wiring color code standards. The nature of the work also requires the ability to climb ladders, drive motorized vehicles and work in small spaces. Acute hearing is required when communicating by telephone and in person. The need to lift, drag and push equipment and materials weighing up to 50 pounds is also required. Some of these requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodation.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience:

The minimum qualifications for education and experience can be met in one of the following ways:

• A Technology Certificate from an accredited college or trade school in information technology, computer and information research science, computer engineering, computer information systems, network architecture, network and computer systems administration, telecommunications administrations, electronic engineering technology, technology project management or closely related field AND eight years of experience in any two of the focus areas; OR
• An Associate's degree or have completed 60 semester or 90 quarter units at an accredited college or university in systems administration, network systems administration, business information systems, computer science, information technology or closely related field AND eight years of experience in any two of the focus areas; OR
• A Bachelor's degree or four years of full-time post-secondary education from an accredited college or university with concentration in computer science, computer engineering, information technology, engineering, or closely related field; AND seven years of experience in any two of the focus areas OR
• At least two of Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE), NetApp Certified Implementation Engineer (NCIE), Palo Alto Networks (PAN) Accredited Configuration Engineer (ACE), Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certificate, VMWare Certified Professional (VCP), Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA) or Microsoft Certified Solutions Engineer (MCSE) certification AND eight years of experience in any two of the focus areas

NOTE: A Master's of Science degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Computer Information Systems, Public Administration, Business Administration or related field may be substituted for one year of experience.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of excellent customer service.
• Principles and practices of IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL).
• Principles and practices of IT Service Management (ITSM) systems to include Incident/Problem Management; Request Fulfilment; Knowledgebase; Asset Management and IT Service Catalogs.
• Network traffic and performance parameters.
• Principles of VoIP and standard telephony.
• Principles of radio networks and frequencies
• The installation and management of relational databases.
• Methods and procedures of systems administration and security and integrity maintenance.
• Connectivity, system integration, and network design.
• Structure development, features, and access including configurations protocol and interfacing.
• Current developments and trends of network technologies.
• Principles and methods of system and network storage management.
• Local Area Network wiring and distribution methods.
• Wide Areas Networking Connectivity utilizing leased services, fiber backbone, and wireless transports.
• Principles and practices of budget monitoring.
• Principles and practices of supervision, training and performance evaluation.
• Methods and techniques to motivate staff and manage effective teams.
• Applicable industry and safety codes and standards.
• Cybersecurity practices and procedures.
• Principles of project management.

Ability to:

• Provide excellent customer service.
• Supervise, coach, guide and mentor team members.
• Communicate effectively, orally and in writing.
• Analyze network/system problems by developing and using appropriate test structures and related diagnostics.
• Assess the risks and costs of IT operations and developing cost-efficient solutions.
• Translate user defined requirements into specifications and features.
• Supervise the work of subordinate employees and maintain functional relationships with a variety of other technical and non-technical staff.
• Design and perform server administration activities.
• Lead complex network and server/storage design projects in support of the IT Strategic Plan and City goals.
• Establish, maintain, and promote positive and effective working relationships with employees, other agencies and the public; work independently and as a member of a team.
• Effectively organize, prioritize, follow-up, and use good judgment on work assignments to meet established deadlines.
• Determine needs for and/or develop administrative/operational policy proposals.
• Perform alternative cost/benefit analysis for network or server/storage enhancement or replacement and provide recommendations.
• Develop and maintains technical system documentation.
• Assist in contract development and negotiation and manage vendor performance.
• Develop and provides training and materials to end-users and other technical staff.
• Respond to cybersecurity issues and remediate in a timely manner.
• Serve as a client liaison to identify and define project requirements, scope and objectives.
• Develop project plans based on standard Project Management guidelines, and leads or participates in projects according to the plan, in support of the IT Strategic Plan.

Willingness to:

• Provide emergency response to reduce downtime, correct errors or monitor vendor activity surrounding critical system failures, off-hours scheduled maintenance downtime or work on call on a scheduled and as needed basis.
• Provide services in different geographical locations throughout the City as requested by users or needed.

Licenses/Certificates:

• Possession and maintenance of a valid class C California driver's license and a safe driving record, or the ability to provide alternate transportation which is approved by the appointing authority.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Public sector employment experience.
• Proven track record of implementing new network or server solutions within an organization and/or successfully maintaining a complex network.
• Proven track record of motivating teams and providing supervision to high-performing teams.
• Possession and maintenance of Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certificate.
• Possession and maintenance of VMWare Certified Professional (VCP) certificate.
• Proficient in the following: Active Directory; Dell Server Hardware; Windows Server OS; VMWare vSphere; Storage Area Networks; Email Administration; SQL; DNS; DHCP.
• Possession of NetApp Certified Implementation Engineer (NCIE) certificate.
• Possession of NetApp Certified Data Administrator (NCDA) certificate.
• Possession of Palo Alto Networks Accredited Configuration Engineer (ACE) certificate.
• Possession and maintenance of Palo Alto Networks Accredited Configuration Engineer (ACE) certificate. Possession and maintenance of Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certificate.
• Possession and maintenance of Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA) certificate.
• Possession and maintenance of Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): Server Infrastructure level.

Application and Selection Process

APPLICATION PROCESS
The application period closes on Thursday, July 11, 2024, at 5:00 pm (postmarks or faxes are not accepted). Candidates are asked to fully describe any training, education, experience, or skills relevant to this position. Electronic applications may be submitted online through the City's employment page at https://sunnyvale.ca.gov , and click on 'City jobs'. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

EXAM PROCESS
Applications will be competitively screened based on the minimum qualifications of this position. Based upon a review of the application materials, the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in the oral examination process scheduled for Monday, July 29, 2024 and/or Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Note: The examination process may be changed as deemed necessary by the Director of Human Resources).

SELECTION PROCESS
Those candidates that receive a passing score on the examination will be placed on an eligibility list for up to one year, in accordance with the City's Civil Service Rules and Administrative Policies. Top candidates on the eligibility list will be invited to participate in an in-person selection interview with the department tentatively scheduled on August 5-7, 2024 . Any candidate that is selected by the hiring department will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment process, which may consist of a background history check, as well as a medical exam(s) administered by a City selected physician(s) before hire. Prior to starting work, all newly-hired employees will be fingerprinted to check conviction history. A conviction history will not necessarily disqualify an applicant from appointment; however, failure to disclose conviction history will result in refusal of employment or termination. Positions which are covered by the Department of Transportation regulations are required to submit to a pre-employment drug test and to random drug and alcohol testing.

INFORMATION ABOUT PROOF OF EDUCATION
Please note: Any successful candidate, selected by the hiring department will be required to submit proof of education (i.e. original copy of the diploma or college/university transcripts).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Positions in this job classification are represented by the Sunnyvale Employees Association (SEA).

The information contained within this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

The City of Sunnyvale is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the City of Sunnyvale not to discriminate against all qualified applicants or employees on the basis of actual or perceived race, religion (including religious dress or grooming practice), color, sex (includes gender, pregnancy, childbirth, medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, breastfeeding or medical conditions related to breastfeeding), gender identity and/or gender expression, sexual orientation (including heterosexuality, homosexuality and bisexuality), ethnic or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, uniformed service member status, marital status, family relationship, age, cancer or HIV/AIDS related medical condition, genetic characteristics and/or genetic information, and physical or mental disability. Applicants needing special accommodations for testing should submit a request to the Department of Human Resources at time of application.

Summary of Sunnyvale's Employees Association SEA

Notice of CFRA (California Family Rights Act) Rights and Obligations

Closing Date/Time: 7/11/2024 5:00 PM Pacific

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