INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST III

California Department of Social Services; Sacramento (CA); Hybrid; USD 106,098 - 142,178; Full time

Job summary

A state government agency is seeking a Cloud Engineer Lead to oversee the deployment of enterprise cloud solutions in Sacramento. This role requires expertise in cloud architecture, governance, and security, along with strong leadership and mentorship skills. The ideal candidate will drive technical execution, implement continuous improvements, and work collaboratively across teams to deliver reliable cloud platforms. The post includes a hybrid work arrangement and requires a background investigation prior to hire.

Qualifications

• Experience in implementing and managing cloud solutions.
• Strong understanding of cloud governance and security implications.
• Ability to integrate automation frameworks for cloud operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the deployment of enterprise cloud solutions.
• Build DevOps pipelines and support VM-based workloads.
• Implement cloud governance controls and security measures.
• Monitor cloud performance and conduct research on emerging technologies.
• Mentor junior engineering staff.

Skills

Cloud Architecture

DevOps

Cloud Security

Technical Leadership

Cost Management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

AWS

Azure

Terraform

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

Position Details

Job Code #: JC-508430
Position #(s): 800-760-1415-003
Working Title: Cloud Engineer Lead
Classification: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST III
Salary Range: $9,507.00 - $12,740.00
Minimum Salary Note: New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
# of Positions: 1
Work Location: Sacramento County
Telework: Hybrid
Job Type: Permanent, Full Time

About the Department

Are you interested in making a difference in the lives of fellow Californians while achieving your career goals? Do you set high standards for yourself and enjoy a collaborative and challenging work environment? The mission of the California Department of Social Services is to serve, protect, and support the people of California experiencing need in ways that empower wellbeing and disrupt systemic inequities. The vision of the California Department of Social Services is to provide quality services with a commitment to an inclusive, diverse, and equitable California where all people can thrive.

ISD's Mission

ISD’s mission is to develop, support and promote the business value of IT which comes from the ability to conduct business processes more reliably, faster and at lower cost. ISD creates value by continually improving customer service and providing access to information that enables better decision making by CDSS business units.

ISD Accomplishes This By:

• Effectively managing information systems and equipment;
• Planning, communicating and implementing responsible information technology policies and solutions;
• Sharing and transferring information technology knowledge and tools.

CDSS Guiding Principles

• Diversity. Equity. Inclusion. Accessibility. Belonging.
• Community Engagement – We prioritize the lived experiences of community members as a driving force behind the creation, implementation, desired impact, or change of programs and services.
• Empowerment – We engage, operate, and advocate from the understanding that each community and person have desires and capabilities to lead in their own life.
• Quality Services – We provide services that align intent and impact by ensuring that they are accessible, community driven, interconnected, and continuously improved.
• Data Defined Outcomes – We equitably collect and analyze data, take data-driven action, and measure outcomes relevant to those we serve, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Job Description and Duties

Are you a technical expert with a passion for building and securing enterprise-scale cloud environments? The California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Information Systems Division (ISD), is seeking a Cloud Engineer Lead (Information Technology Specialist III) to drive the technical execution of our cloud strategy. We are seeking a highly skilled Cloud Engineer to lead the implementation, operation, and continuous improvement of enterprise cloud platforms and services.

Within the Operations and Management Branch of the Information Systems Division, this role serves as a senior technical authority, translating cloud architecture and strategy into secure, scalable, cost-effective, and high-performance cloud solutions that enable operational excellence and support mission-critical business systems.

As a key member of the Operations and Management Branch, the ITS III Cloud Engineer works closely with Cloud Architects, security teams, development teams, and enterprise stakeholders to design, build, govern, and optimize cloud environments. This position emphasizes hands‑on engineering leadership, automation, governance enforcement, and operational excellence across cloud platforms.

The ideal candidate demonstrates advanced technical expertise, strong problem‑solving abilities, and the ability to collaborate across organizational teams to deliver reliable cloud solutions aligned with enterprise strategy, security, and compliance requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Engineering Leadership: Lead the deployment of enterprise cloud solutions, overseeing technical recovery, resiliency strategies, and operational readiness.
• Automation & DevOps: Build and integrate DevOps pipelines and automation frameworks to support VM-based workloads.
• Governance & Security: Implement and enforce cloud governance controls, including identity integrations (MFA, RBAC), resource tagging, and security posture management.
• Optimization & Research: Monitor cloud performance, execute cost‑management practices, and conduct Proofs of Concept (PoCs) for emerging technologies.
• Mentorship: Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineering staff while serving as a key advisor to leadership on cloud capabilities.

Special Requirements

• The position(s) require(s) a Background Investigation be cleared prior to being hired. This includes a criminal conviction history screening, fingerprinting via the Live Scan process to the Deputy Attorney General (DAG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Background investigation clearance is a condition of employment for this position.

Statement of Qualifications (SOQ)

The SOQ must be typed, single‑spaced, no more than two (2) pages, in 12‑point Arial font, and must include your full name on each page. Please respond to the following two questions:

• Describe a time when you were responsible for leading the end‑to‑end implementation of a complex enterprise cloud solution. How did you translate architectural designs into a functional, automated environment (IaC, CI/CD), and how did you manage the technical workload to ensure the project stayed on track?
• Describe your experience implementing cloud governance and security controls. How have you balanced the need for rapid deployment and innovation with strict requirements of state and federal security standards?

Required Application Package Documents

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically) or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.
• Resume – optional.
• Statement of Qualifications – Detail responses to the SOQ questions.

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have LIST or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining LIST eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; other candidates may be considered if no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date: 2/27/2026 to be considered.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability, exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation. It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug‑free workplace. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective.