Desktop Engineering Specialist

Washington State Department of Transportation; Washington (Washington County); On-site; USD 95,000 - 127,000; Full time

Job summary

Employment Security Department in Washington state seeks an experienced enterprise systems engineer to lead and maintain the agency’s desktop and endpoint infrastructure, with expertise in MECM, Intune, AD, Azure, and Microsoft 365. The role focuses on secure, reliable, and compliant services for statewide programs.

You will mentor teams, define automation standards, manage security and cloud services, and collaborate with stakeholders to align IT with the agency’s mission, including

Qualifications

• Option 1: 10 years IT experience in enterprise Windows, Active Directory and related tools.
• Option 2: Associate's degree + 8 years in the same disciplines.
• Option 3: Bachelor's degree + 6 years in the same disciplines.
• Option 4: Combination of education and experience.
• AND Three (3) years of consultative, administrative IT System Administration.
• Three (3) years in a large, complex IT Enterprise environment.

Responsibilities

• Engineer, implement, and maintain enterprise endpoint infrastructure (MECM, Intune, AD, Azure, M365).
• Manage cybersecurity operations: patches, compliance, incidents and risk mitigation.
• Provide advanced technical leadership and escalation for complex issues.
• Develop configuration standards, procedures, automation and training materials.
• Lead planning and deployment of software, OS updates, cloud services and configurations.
• Monitor performance and advise leadership while supporting incident response.

Job description

Salary : $94,620.00 - $127,248.00 Annually

Location : Thurston County - Other, WA

Job Type: Agency Internal - Permanent

Job Number: 2026-06006

Department: Employment Security Department

Division: Information Technology Services Division

Opening Date: 07/31/2026

Closing Date: 8/14/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description

This opportunity is open to internal ESD employees only.

The ideal candidate is an experienced enterprise systems engineer with deep expertise in Microsoft endpoint management, cybersecurity, cloud technologies, and systems administration within a large, complex IT environment. They possess exceptional analytical and troubleshooting skills, thrive in managing enterprise infrastructure and security solutions, and are skilled at planning, implementing, and maintaining mission-critical technologies. The successful candidate communicates effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, develops technical standards and automation solutions, mentors colleagues, and is committed to delivering secure, reliable, and efficient technology services that support ESD's mission and statewide business operations.

This position is member of the Desktop Engineer unit within ITSD, which is integral to the successful administration of the claimant and employer services within ESD by supporting the development and implementation of the improvements to the agency's software development lifecycle, and high profile initiatives that impact significant an fundamental services, such as collecting taxes from employers for unemployment insurance, distribution of unemployment insurance benefits, and providing WorkSource (job search) services to Washingtonians who are transitioning to their next careers.

Duties

• Engineer, implement, administer, and maintain enterprise endpoint infrastructure, including Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (MECM), Intune, Active Directory, Azure, Windows Defender Firewall, disk encryption, and Microsoft 365 technologies to ensure secure, reliable, and compliant desktop services.
• Manage enterprise cybersecurity operations by deploying vulnerability patches, monitoring endpoint compliance, responding to security incidents, mitigating risks, and ensuring systems align with agency security policies and industry best practices.
• Provide advanced technical leadership and serve as the highest level of escalation for complex enterprise system issues by diagnosing root causes, coordinating with vendors and cross-functional IT teams, and implementing sustainable technical solutions.
• Develop, document, and continuously improve enterprise configuration standards, operational procedures, automation processes, change management practices, and technical training materials that promote consistency, efficiency, and service quality.
• Lead the planning, testing, deployment, and ongoing support of enterprise software, operating system updates, cloud services, endpoint configurations, and infrastructure enhancements while minimizing operational risk and maintaining business continuity.
• Monitor enterprise system performance, advise leadership on technology improvements, support incident response and after-hours operations, and collaborate with internal customers and technical teams to deliver secure, scalable, and high-performing IT services supporting critical statewide programs.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Option 1: 10 years of IT experience performing position specific duties in the following disciplines: Enterprise level management of MS Windows operating systems, MS Active Directory, and similar systems management tools, SMS/MECM, imaging automation, local application virtualization, end-point protection suites, GPO/GPP, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365.
• Option 2: Associate's degree in information technology or related field and eight years of experience performing position specific duties in the following disciplines: Enterprise level management of MS Windows operating systems, MS Active Directory, and similar systems management tools, SMS/MECM, imaging automation, local application virtualization, end-point protection suites, GPO/GPP, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365.
• Option 3: Bachelor's degree in information technology or related field and six years of experience performing position specific duties in the following disciplines: Enterprise level management of MS Windows operating systems, MS Active Directory, and similar systems management tools, SMS/MECM, imaging automation, local application virtualization, end-point protection suites, GPO/GPP, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365.
• Option 4: A combination of education and experience.
• AND Three (3) years of consultative, administrative working in IT System Administration.
• Three (3) years working in a large and complex IT Enterprise environment.

Required Equity Competencies

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Required Experience Includes

• Accountability: Accept personal responsibility for work and actions.
• Communication Effectiveness: Effectively convey ideas and information.
• Critical Thinking: Use purposeful and reflective judgment to process, analyze, interpret, explain, evaluate, illustrate, and compare information.
• Customer Service: Commit to providing value-added services to external and internal customers.
• Inclusiveness: Actively contribute to a work environment that embraces diversity and uses diverse perspectives to help achieve organizational goals.
• Interpersonal abilities: The ability to relate to your co-workers, mitigate conflict, and inspire others to participate.
• Security: Preserve the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of ESD systems and data in accordance with the policies, procedures, and best practices established and maintained by the ESD information security team. Immediately report any Security event, incident, or breach in reporting.

Special Requirements/Conditions Of Employment

• Must be able to pass an Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Paid Family Medical and Leave (PFML) claim and fraud check.

Opportunity for All

We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, ethnic, racial, religious, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, people over 40 years of age, people with religious beliefs, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Employment Security Department is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

Employee benefits

Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation. We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Insurance Benefits

Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement And Deferred Compensation

State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security

All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays

Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Sick Leave

Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.

Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)

Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 non-overtime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave, and paid holiday.

As provided in , an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave

Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave

Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave

Leave Sharing

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.