1044-IS Engineer-Principal

Job description

City and County of San Francisco

Department of Human Resources

Title: IS Engineer - Principal

Job Code: 1044

DEFINITION

Under general direction, provides direct ongoing supervision to other IS Engineers. and/or provides technical leadership and direction and assumes technical responsibility for completion of major projects, or serves as the top technical authority for one or more related specialties. Performs and reviews complex work involving analysis, planning, designing, implementation, maintenance, troubleshooting and enhancement of complex large 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. Serves as the lead technical architect and systems integrator for large complex systems or networks.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

The Principal IS 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 as signed 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.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

May supervise subordinate Engineers and technical staff in the assigned work unit; or as a Project leader, coordinate a team of workers within the assigned work unit or jointly with other units. May be expected to provide consultation and guidance to IS professionals and non-IS professionals.

EXAMPLES OF IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES

According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job code/class and are not intended to be an inclusive list.

1. Analyze and evaluate systems software, hardware and communications strategies. Research and conduct feasibility studies on new hardware and software. Provide cost and time allocation estimates. Make recommendations based on these studies.

2. Establish hardware and software standards. Participate in technical committees.

3. May monitor, coordinate and assist in developing the work unit's budget.

4. Analyze and recommend procedures consistent with departmental directives, policies and regulations.

5. Develop strategic plans to meet data processing and technology needs; conduct capacity planning studies to project hardware and software needs.

6. Direct and monitor technical support activities related to complex large systems or networks. Troubleshoot and support the system or network in order to maintain the system or network's integrity and reliability. Contact software and hardware vendors when necessary.

7. Provide problem determination, corrective measures and technical support to anyone utilizing services and functions provided by the system or network. This includes but is not limited to applications programmers, business analysts, operations staff, help desk staff, technicians, administrators, end users- and managers.

8. Oversee data backup and recovery; ensure that sufficient generations of backup are available for data restoration.

9. Determine requirements for the development or enhancement of large complex systems or networks that serve as a data processing backbone for the City and County of San Francisco's information technologies infrastructures. May research and conduct feasibility studies on new technologies.

10. Design, plan, integrate, test, implement, document and enhance the physical and logical components of large complex systems or networks. This may involve the analysis and evaluation of systems software, hardware and communications strategies.

11. Perform very complex systems integration for interoperability over dissimilar platforms and technologies for large systems or networks. This may involve the integration of various protocols, systems software, hardware and communications platforms.

12. Determine the proper installation parameters for software and hardware for smooth integration and efficiency in relation to the enterprise system and network.

13. Write highly complex "user exits" to customize large systems software. This may involve specialized programming languages.

14. Analyze, detect, identify and correct complex systems software or hardware deficiencies.

15. Provide 24-hour on-call support to ensure rapid recovery from software or hardware problems for mission-critical systems and networks.

16. Act as the liaison between vendors, technical support hot-lines and departments to resolve complex systems or network problems. Coordinate and implement corrective measures; this may involve site visits, telephone assistance, remote systems or network management, and participation in technical committees.

17. Train and demonstrate technologies and systems to IS professionals and non-IS professionals.

18. Implement and maintain upgrades/updates/fixes for core operating systems and their related components, without negative impact to the overall availability and reliability of the enterprise systems/networks.

19. Prepare specifications and procedures documentation.

20. Plan, develop and implement backup and disaster recovery procedures for large systems and networks.

21. May supervise, assign, review and may participate in the work of subordinates in assigned unit. Perform as project lead in major projects. Monitor, coordinate and review project tasks and resources, providing technical assistance and guidance.

22. May review and recommend personnel actions in areas of performance, evaluation, training, selection and disciplinary measures. Ensure that appropriate policies and procedures are followed by subordinates.

23. May supervise and coordinate the analysis, planning, installation, integration, maintenance, customization and enhancement of hardware and software for complex large systems or networks that serve as a data processing backbone for the City and County of San Francisco's information technologies infrastructure.

24. May perform as project lead in major projects. Monitor and coordinate project task resources.

25. May act as a project lead to plan, implement and maintain upgrades/updates/fixes for core operating systems and their related components, without negative impact to the overall availability and reliability of the enterprise systems/networks.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of: advanced functions for the core hardware and software components that comprise complex large systems or enterprise networks. Analysis and evaluation techniques to plan, design, integrate, implement, maintain and troubleshoot large complex systems or networks across similar and dissimilar technology Platforms. Techniques and practices of supervision, project management and training.

Ability or Skill to: determine the systems or networking requirements to plan for or enhance the core data processing needs for the Enterprise system or network; solve problems. with minimal disruption or impact to the system or network; exercise judgement, decisiveness and creativity in designing, planning, troubleshooting and integration of large complex systems or networks based on the potential benefits and/or consequences; develop alternative solutions within established guidelines and standards; communicate effectively; coordinate, schedule and orchestrate the installation, maintenance and enhancements of large complex systems or enterprise networks; establish good working relationships with employees, other IS professionals, departmental end users and vendors: prioritize competing requests for service; read and understand professional journals and literature; manage and direct a group of workers; advise and interpret policies, procedures and standards.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

These minimum qualifications establish the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license(s) which are required for employment in the classification. Please note, additional qualifications (i.e., special conditions) may apply to a particular position and will be stated on the exam/job announcement.

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.

License and Certification:

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.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Essential duties require the following physical skills and work requirements: Some positions may require sufficient strength and coordination for lifting, pushing, pulling and/or carrying the weight of computer systems equipment. May require bending, stooping and/or crawling in order to install or repair computer systems hardware. May require hand/eye coordination and manual dexterity for taking apart casings, installing parts and reconnecting computer systems hardware. May involve extensive VDT exposure.

PROMOTIVE LINES

ORIGINATION DATE: 05/17/1997

AMENDED DATE: 06/27/16; 09/09/16; 11/03/23

REASON FOR AMENDMENT:

To accurately reflect the current tasks, knowledge, skills & abilities, and minimum qualifications.

BUSINESS UNIT(S):

COMMN SFMTA SFCCD SFUSD

Standard information

Disaster service work

All City and County of San Francisco employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

Historic and future compensation