Senior Cloud Engineer

California Department of Health Care Services; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 96,000 - 133,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid holidays and vacation

Defined retirement program (CalPERS)

Savings Plus Program (401(k), 457)

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

California Department of Health Care Services in Sacramento seeks a Senior Cloud Engineer to design and modernize CAPMAN’s cloud-native architecture. Under IT Manager supervision, you will lead scalable, secure, and resilient solutions that handle high-volume payments, dynamic eligibility, and CMS interoperability.

The role focuses on migrating legacy batch processes to event-driven, serverless models, optimizing data throughput, and ensuring compliance.

Qualifications

• Experience designing or supporting large cloud-based systems handling high-volume workloads.
• Experience with serverless compute, managed databases, and event-driven architectures.
• Experience with CI/CD, automation pipelines, infrastructure-as-code, and DevOps practices.
• Familiarity with Medicaid payment systems, CMS interoperability rules, and health-care data exchange.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical partners.
• Experience with Agile methodologies and tools such as Jira.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering and deployment of cloud-native components for CAPMAN modernization.
• Oversee performance tuning and reliability improvements.
• Develop automated deployment and monitoring processes.
• Ensure secure and compliant data exchanges across DHCS systems.
• Collaborate with internal and external teams to align technical solutions with policy needs.

Skills

Cloud architecture

Serverless computing

CI/CD

Infrastructure as Code

DevOps practices

Security

Tools

Jira

Job description

Work Location: Sacramento County

Job Description And Duties

About this Role: Under general direction of the Information Technology Manager I, the Information Technology Specialist II (ITS II) Cloud Engineer serves as DHCS’ primary technical expert responsible for designing and modernizing cloud-based architecture for the Capitation Payment Management System (CAPMAN) in support of H.R. 1. The ITS II provides advanced engineering expertise to create scalable, secure, and resilient cloud-native solutions that support increased payment-processing volumes, dynamic eligibility timelines, new benefit constructs, and expanded federal reporting requirements. This role leads DHCS efforts to transition legacy batch processes to event-driven and serverless models, optimize data performance, ensure strict CMS security and interoperability compliance. The position exercises a high level of independent judgment, technical depth, and the ability to translate complex business and policy needs into sustainable engineering solutions.

Core Competencies

The Cloud Engineer must demonstrate strong cloud-architecture proficiency, with the ability to design and implement serverless and distributed computing patterns that support high-volume workloads. Competence in secure integration engineering is essential, along with the ability to optimize large datasets and manage data flows across multiple enterprise systems. The role requires strong analytical skills, the ability to diagnose complex technical issues, and an understanding of DevOps automation, CI/CD, infrastructure-as-code, and cloud governance. Effective communication and cross-team collaboration are equally important, enabling the engineer to work seamlessly with development teams, program partners, security units, vendors, and enterprise technology groups.

Key Activities

The incumbent leads the engineering and deployment of cloud-native components necessary for implementing new HR1-driven CAPMAN payment logic, including the modernization of batch recalculation pipelines and the creation of scalable compute environments. The position oversees performance tuning, system reliability improvements, and the development of automated deployment and monitoring processes. It ensures secure and compliant data exchanges across DHCS enterprise systems and supports architecture reviews, documentation, and operational readiness activities. The Cloud Engineer collaborates with teams across DHCS and external partners to resolve complex issues, align technical solutions with policy and program needs, and maintain the stability and integrity of CAPMAN as it undergoes significant modernization.

This position is subject to the Department’s Conflict of Interest Code and requires annual filing of a Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700). This recruitment has been posted for more vacancies than currently exist as it may be used to fill additional identical vacancies which occur within 180 days of the closing date of this bulletin. You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

Please see the Telework and Salary Information section below for telework, reporting location, and temporary statewide salary reduction details.

Minimum Requirements

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST II

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist
• Duty Statement

Position Details

• Job Code #: JC-527979
• Position #(s): 802-352-1414-XXX
• Working Title: Senior Cloud Engineer
• Classification: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST II
• $8,625.00 - $11,905.00
• New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
• # of Positions: Multiple
• Work Location: Sacramento County
• Telework: In Office
• Job Type: Permanent, Full Time

Department Information: DHCS’ purpose is to provide equitable access to quality health care leading to a healthy California for all. DHCS is a dynamic organization with ambitious goals and talented, committed employees. We work hard every day to fulfill our vital responsibility to support the delivery of quality health care to Californians. DHCS is committed to addressing disparities within our organization and in our communities through efforts toward greater diversity, equity, and inclusion. This is accomplished, in part, by a commitment toward employing a diverse workforce that reflects the many communities we serve, and by promoting and enforcing equal employment opportunity.

Take a look at some of DHCS' recent projects and happenings that our Department has accomplished in the DHCS Newsroom.

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience designing or supporting large cloud-based systems handling high-volume financial or eligibility-based workloads.
• Expertise in cloud-native services such as serverless compute, managed databases, and event-driven architectures.
• Experience with CI/CD, automation pipelines, infrastructure-as-code, and DevOps practices.
• Familiarity with Medicaid payment systems, CMS interoperability rules, and health-care data exchange.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical partners.
• Experience with Agile methodologies and tools such as Jira.

Benefits

DHCS is dedicated to creating an innovative workplace for its team members that is inclusive, diverse, and interactive! Here are a few of the ways we stay engaged with our team:

• Continuous and ongoing training
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program activities
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Additionally, as a team member of the State of California, you may be eligible for many benefits, such as:

• Medical, including health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Paid Holidays and vacation/leave
• Defined retirement program
• Savings Plus Program (401(k), 457)
• Medical/Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts

For the latest information on the benefits offered by the State of California, please explore the Health Benefits Summary provided by CalHR. DHCS 2023-2027 Strategic Plan provides more information about our commitment to serving Californians and organizational excellence.

We need your help! Please let us know how you heard about our position by taking this brief optional survey: SurveyMonkey link . This survey is not required to be considered for this position.

Contact Information

Hiring Unit Contact: Nicolle Caughman [phone] [e-mail]

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office. EEO Contact: EEO Officer [phone] [e-mail] California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Telework and Salary Information

Telework: This position is not eligible for telework. Business travel may be required, and reimbursement is based on an employee's designated office and residence, subject to regulations and bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the reporting location will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

The reporting location for this advertisement will be located at: 1500 Capitol Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95814.

Salary: Effective July 1, 2025, the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) implemented the temporary Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025). PLP 2025 directs that each employee receive a temporary reduction in pay in exchange for PLP 2025 leave credits. The temporary salary reduction percentage and the number of PLP 2025 leave credits are based on the position’s associated bargaining unit. The salary range(s) included in this job advertisement do not include the temporary salary reduction. Please reach out to the hiring unit contact listed on this job advertisement for details.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), 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 (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.