Job Posting: Information Technology Specialist I

Secretary of State

JC-518562
-
Information Technology Specialist I
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST I

$6,513.00 - $10,537.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 6/5/2026

Job Description and Duties

The office of the Secretary of State (SOS) comprises nearly 750 dedicated public servants who uphold the rights of Californians while also making our government, history, and businesses both accessible and transparent. Led by an elected leader accountable to the public, the staff at SOS work to ensure our office reflects the people we serve daily. The Office of the Secretary of State is recruiting a permanent, full-time Information Technology Specialist I within the Office of Voting Systems Technology Assessment (OVSTA).

Under the general direction of the Information Technology Supervisor II, of the Office of Voting System Technology (OVSTA), the Information Technology Specialist I is responsible for voting technology auditing, testing, and certification, which includes voting systems, electronic poll books, remote accessible vote by mail systems, and other emerging election technologies. The incumbent is responsible to ensure the technology is secure and promotes the integrity of statewide voting technology.

Duties will include the following:
  • Track, monitor, and audit voting technologies statewide, researching incidents and emerging issues to identify performance concerns and security vulnerabilities.
  • Review voting technology certification applications and technical data packages; develop customized testing protocols and oversee functional, regression, and volume reliability testing of voting technology systems.
  • Serve as the agency’s voting technology subject matter expert, advising senior staff, county stakeholders, and other governmental agencies on system usage, security, and auditing procedures.
  • Schedule and manage testing events, oversee consultant contracts, coordinate logistics, and provide regular reporting and documentation throughout the certification lifecycle.
  • Analyze state and federal legislation related to voting technology; evaluate policy impact, fiscal implications, and legal consistency; and draft position papers and recommendations for leadership.
  • Plan and coordinate stakeholder demonstrations and public hearings for voting technology systems; present staff reports and represent the Secretary of State at local, state, and national meetings.
Desirable Qualifications:
  • Experience proposing legislative, regulatory, or procedural changes within a government, compliance, or technology certification environment.
  • Demonstrated ability to analyze, interpret, and communicate complex technical data, including compliance reports, testing documentation, or regulatory guidelines.
  • Knowledge of security, programming, and operational aspects of technical systems, with experience providing guidance or expertise to government agencies, local jurisdictions, or regulated entities.
  • Familiarity with federal and state regulatory frameworks, with experience reviewing applications or submissions for compliance with applicable laws, rules, and requirements.
  • Experience building and leading cross-functional stakeholder teams, facilitating meetings, and delivering progress reports to leadership or oversight bodies.
  • Experience maintaining working knowledge of current laws, rules, and policies within a regulated environment, and applying them accurately in a compliance or advisory capacity.
  • Strong interpersonal and written communication skills, with a proven ability to engage effectively with staff at all levels, technical experts, and members of the public.
  • Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent project management training and experience is preferred.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

This position provides telework opportunities based upon the agency’s telework policy and business needs. The incumbent will be required to respond or work off business hours as determined by the operational needs of the Secretary of State. This position will require occasional travel and the ability to work off-hours and adjust work schedule to work early mornings, late evenings, and weekends when necessary. Must be able to lift and move equipment.

This job advertisement indicates whether this position is eligible for telework. All employees who telework are required to be California residents, in accordance with Government Code 14200, and may be required to report to the Secretary of State’s Headquarters (Sacramento), when needed, and on short notice. Candidates who reside outside of the state of California may be interviewed; however, the selected candidate must have a primary residency in the state of California prior to appointment (and continue to maintain California residency) as a condition of employment. Failure to meet this requirement may result in the job offer being rescinded.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-518562
Position #(s):
785-520-1402-600
Working Title:
Information Technology Specialist I
Classification:
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST I
$6,513.00 - $8,729.00 A
$7,163.00 - $9,599.00 B
$7,864.00 - $10,537.00 C
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

Department Information

The Office of the Secretary of State (SOS) consists of nearly 750 dedicated public servants who uphold the rights of Californians while also striving to make our government, elections, and businesses both accessible and transparent. Led by an elected leader, accountable to the public, we are dedicated to fostering career development opportunities and growing a skilled workforce that embraces inclusion and values diversity.

Located in downtown Sacramento, the SOS building is within walking distance to a variety of eateries and amenities. Light Rail, State Capitol, Downtown Commons (DOCO), and Golden 1 Center, just to name a few. Conveniently located in the SOS building, the Gold Rush Grille offers delicious daily specials for breakfast or lunch and is open to the public. Our on-site childcare incorporates programs for children six weeks to five years old. Priority waitlist access and special discounted rates are available for SOS employees.

For more information about the SOS, please visit sos.ca.gov.

Personal Leave Program: Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary wage reductions in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) accruals. The specific rate and hours earned were negotiated and agreed upon by each bargaining unit. The salary range(s) included in this job advertisement do not reflect the temporary salary reduction.

Special Requirements

Supplemental Questionnaire: The applicant must submit a Supplemental Questionnaire responding to the questions listed below, it should be no more than three (3) pages typed, using business professional font, font size and formatting. Responses do not need to include the question but must be numbered in the same order. Applications submitted without the Supplemental Questionnaire will not be considered.
  1. Describe your experience reviewing and analyzing technical documentation to understand a systems design, interfaces, and functional performance.
  2. Describe your experience developing IT systems test plans and protocols.
  3. Describe your experience with the development, interpretation, and implementation of state and federal laws and regulations.
  4. Describe your project management experience.
  5. Describe your experience presenting technical subject matter to audiences both internal and public.
This position requires a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail. Your Supplemental Questionnaire responses should reflect your ability to communicate effectively in writing.

Examination Information: Candidates new to state service or those seeking a promotional opportunity must take the online examination to establish eligibility. The examination can be found at the following link: Cal Careers - ITS I

There is also a Limited Examination & Appointment Program (LEAP) exam available for this classification. Information on the LEAP certification process is available on the Department of Rehabilitation LEAP Certification website.

Education: When using education to meet minimum qualifications, education must include the specified information technology or closely related course work. Please include all the required documents necessary to verify that you meet the minimum qualifications for this classification (i.e., degree, transcript, license, and certificate). If your degree is not in one of the specified degrees as stated in the Class Specifications, please provide a copy of your most recent unofficial transcripts to be evaluated for comparability. If you fail to provide the required documentation, your application package will be marked as incomplete and will not be considered for an interview. Candidate may be required to provide transcripts prior to hire.

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 6/5/2026

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; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Secretary of State
Attn: Leah Mikol
1500 11th St - 4th Floor - Suite 475
Sacramento, CA 95814

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Secretary of State
1500 11th St - 4th Floor - Suite 475
Sacramento, CA 95814
Please drop off applications in the lobby rotunda in the secured bin marked Human Resources.
08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

  • 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. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
  • Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
  • Supplemental Application - Please follow directions to respond to the Supplemental Questionairre above. 
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Human Resources Contact:
Leah Mikol
(916) 653-6974
lmikol@sos.ca.gov

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:
Sarah Bielski
(916) 653-6974
sbielski@sos.ca.gov
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.

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.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)
By Mail
Drop-off
Print Job