Job Details

Company Description

San Francisco is a vibrant and dynamic city, on the forefront of economic growth & innovation, urban development, arts & entertainment, as well as social issues & change. This rich tapestry of culture and ideas is sustained by our City's commitment to heighten the quality of life for the diverse population of San Franciscans and residents of the greater Bay Area. Our employees play an important role not only in making our City what it is today, but also in shaping the future of San Francisco.

Application Opening: 5/25/2022
Application Reposted: 11/06/2023*
*Announcement reposted to reflect changes in the minimum qualifications.
Application Deadline: Continuous

How to Apply:
Applications for Principal Information Systems Engineer - Applications Specialty are only accepted through an online process. Visit to begin the application process. Select “Apply Now” at the top of the job ad and follow instructions on the screen.

Applicants may be contacted by email about this announcement and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org).

Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

Job Description

Under general supervision, assists in analyzing, planning, implementing, maintaining, troubleshooting and enhancing large complex systems or networks consisting of a combination that may include mainframes, mini-computers, LANS, WANs and the physical and logical components that integrate these systems together as an enterprise networking backbone.

The 1044 Principal Applications Engineer is the highest level in the Engineer series and may be assigned to function as a supervisor, expert or project leader. When assigned as a supervisor, develops, coordinates and executes policies, methods and procedures, and supervises personnel. When assigned as an expert, performs work requiring a very high level of technical knowledge of a specific area or ability to integrate at a high level the knowledge of several areas (this is not considered to be a part of the normal career path for employees in this series; rather it is reserved for those employees with a mastery of specific technologies or a particular expertise). When assigned as a project leader, manages and provides technical leadership of projects involving large-scale, complex and highly analytical tasks. Positions at this level are distinguished from Senior IS Engineers, in that the latter performs more specific and small-scale, though complex, analytical tasks. Work is performed within a broad framework of general policy and requires creativity and resourcefulness to accomplish goals and objectives, and in applying concepts, plans and strategies which may deviate from traditional methods and practices. Serves as a lead assistant technical architect and systems integrator for large complex systems or networks.

Essential Duties:

1. Conceptualizes the need for and plans and ensures maintenance, design, implementations and enhancement of commercial software packages, internally developed applications and web services.
2. Conceptualizes designs and oversees the customization of new features to commercial software packages and internally developed applications according to end user requests.
3. Oversees the day-to-day operations of various applications.
4. Oversees the development of new applications based on customer's requirements and specifications.
5. Designs and writes test plans and ensures performance of applications, designs and leads implementation of fixes for problems as they arise, and leads product launches.
6. Provides leadership for technical support and leads the troubleshooting of problems related to applications.
7. Leads and guides writing of technical documentation and develops and implements best development practices regarding version control and testing.
8. Oversees performance of software upgrades and keeps track of software licensing.
9. Manages vendor relationships including scoping of application services and review of deliverables.

*This position may include additional duties as assigned.*

Qualifications

These minimum qualifications establish the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license(s) which are required for employment in the classification.

Education:
An associate degree in computer science, computer engineering, information systems, or a closely-related field from an accredited college or university OR its equivalent in terms of total course credits/units [i.e., at least sixty (60) semester or ninety (90) quarter credits/units with a minimum of twenty (20) semester or thirty (30) quarter credits/units in one of the fields above or a closely-related field].

Experience:
Five (5) years of experience analyzing, installing, configuring, enhancing and/or maintaining the components of an enterprise network.

Substitution:
Additional experience as described above may be substituted for the required degree on a year-for-year basis (up to a maximum of two (2) years). One (1) year is equivalent to thirty (30) semester units/ forty-five (45) quarter units with a minimum of 10 semester / 15 quarter units in one of the fields above or a closely-related field. Completion of the 1010 Information Systems Trainee Program may be substituted for the required degree.

Verification:
Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process.

If education verification is required, you must provide a copy of your diploma showing major or transcripts showing coursework completed. Information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at

If experience verification is required, you must submit a letter from your employer on the employer's business letterhead stating your name, job title(s), dates of service in complete form (mm/dd/yy), a detailed description of duties performed and the verification letter must be signed by the employer or appropriate designee, such as a Human Resources Representative. Performance evaluations showing duties performed and dates of employment may also be submitted as verification documentation. Resumes are NOT verification.

All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application. Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to lower scores.

Note: Any applicant whose application is deemed not qualified may reapply after 1 month upon successfully meeting the minimum qualifications for the given specialty area.

Note: Falsifying one's education, training or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

Additional Department Specific Requirements

Positions with the San Francisco Airport:
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Security Clearance: Candidates for employment with the San Francisco Airport Commission are required to provide a complete employment history for the past ten (10) years and an explanation of all gaps in employment during that period. The past ten (10) years of the candidate's employment will be verified. In addition, candidates will be required to undergo a criminal history check, including FBI fingerprints, in order to determine eligibility for security clearance and may be required to undergo drug/alcohol screening.

Customs Clearance: This position with the San Francisco Airport Commission requires that the incumbent be qualified for unescorted access to the San Francisco International Airport U.S. Customs Security Area. An application for a U.S. Custom Access Seal may be submitted to Customs ONLY after employment has commenced.

Positions with the Sherriff's Department:
Security clearance issued by the Sheriff's Department is required prior to appointment of positions with Jail Health Services and must be maintained for continued employment.

Positions with the Port:
Positions with the San Francisco Port Commission require that incumbents are able to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) certificate as a condition of employment. Additionally, candidates must be insurable under the Port's automobile liability insurance policy. Insurability must be maintained throughout employment.

Additional Information

Supplemental Questionnaire:
Applicants are required to complete a Supplemental Questionnaire as part of the online application process. The purpose of the Supplemental Questionnaire is to allow candidates to self-certify their qualifications for the position. Applicants must also complete the official application.

Tech Engineer – Applications Core Exam (Weight: 100%):
Candidates self-certifying meeting the Minimum Qualifications will be invited to participate in the online Tech Engineer – Applications Core Exam.

Note: A passing score must be achieved on all examination components in order to be placed on the Eligible List. The hiring department may administer additional position-specific procedures to make final hiring decisions.

Certification: The certification rule for the eligible list resulting from this examination will be Rule of the List. Additional selection processes may be conducted by the hiring department prior to making final hiring decisions.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.