Systems Administrator I/II/III

Salary

$80,516.80 - $141,668.80 Annually

Location

San Luis Obispo, CA

Job Type

Permanent - Salary

Job Number

1026PM-002263-01

Department

Information Technology

Division

ITD Administration

Opening Date

10/16/2026

Closing Date

11/1/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

About the Position

San Luis Obispo County Information Technology Department (ITD) offers an exciting, fast-paced environment where exceptional performance is encouraged and rewarded. ITD consists of 84 staff within four (4) operational Divisions: Administration; Applications; Customer Service / Delivery; and Infrastructure. ITD resources are operated and maintained in a manner that supports high availability of services while minimizing risk of business interruption. ITD's focus is on developing a sustainable customer focused technology environment that enhances and improves the quality of technology services used by County departments for the benefit of all San Luis Obispo County residents, businesses, and visitors. This career opportunity provides candidates the exposure of working with all county departments; essentially 23 different industries. The County supports a work-life balance and hybrid work environment, provides a generous pension, and provides an outstanding community-oriented environment.

About the Opportunity

The Systems Administrator I/II/III performs a variety of technical duties by providing technical support including the planning, installation, coordination, maintenance, upgrades and overall support for computer systems and their individual hardware and software components; administers, evaluates and modifies systems to assure proper security and operation; plans, coordinates and implements system software program release changes for systems and servers; resolves technology problems and provides for system enhancements; provides technical support and assistance to customers; and does other related work as required.

Typical Tasks and Representative Duties

• Configures, operates and maintains programs, databases and systems.
• Troubleshoots problems with programs, databases and system software to successful resolution.
• Maintains end user software accounts.
• Performs program, data and system backups and restoration activities.
• Researches and resolves problems and makes technical recommendations.
• Prepares customer, operations and systems documentation according to pre-established standards.
• Provides assistance to customers during and after the conversion, implementation, or installation of new hardware, software and applications.
• Communicates with County staff, vendors, customers and outside agencies to exchange information, coordinate activities and resolve issues or concerns.
• Maintains current knowledge and communicates with external vendors

For complete job description for Systems Administrator I click here.

For complete job description for Systems Administrator II click here.

For complete job description for Systems Administrator III click here.

To learn more about the San Luis Obispo County's Information Technology Department Click Here.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will join an existing team of highly experienced enterprise system administrators. The ideal candidate will possess the following:

Interpersonal competencies – the ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following interpersonal skills:

• Have a positive attitude with a “get it done correctly” the first-time mind set
• Have a high degree of self-motivation
• Have a passion for keeping technologies current and a willingness to learn new technologies
• Be able to implement a careful and meticulous approach to configuring complex IT systems
• Have strong analytic, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills to avoid service interruption
• Be able to plan and execute work independently and as a team member
• Be able to prioritize and manage several tasks daily
• Be able to collaborate with others to solve problems, design solutions and implement changes
• Have strong verbal and written communication skills
• Interact in difficult situations with a professional, thoughtful, and open demeanor

Systems Administration Experience – the ideal candidate will have knowledge of and experience with administering and supporting the following technologies:

• Microsoft Office 365 online services including Exchange Online, Teams, and OneDrive
• Microsoft SharePoint Online websites and Power Platform services
• Microsoft Server operating system configuration and optimization
• Microsoft Azure Cloud Computing servers and services
• Microsoft Active Directory and Single Sign-on authentication services
• Microsoft PowerShell and other scripting languages
• Microsoft SQL database administration, optimization, and reporting
• Microsoft SCCM, SCOM, and Intune administration and utilization
• Cisco Unified Computing System hardware support and optimization
• Cisco Firewall log analytics
• VMWare ESXi Hypervisor, vSphere, NSX, and Distributed Firewall
• Pure Storage SSD appliance hardware and software
• Veeam Enterprise Backup and Replication software administration
• Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365
• Red Hat and Ubuntu operating system configuration and administration
• Generic server and storage hardware support and optimization
• Splunk log querying, reporting, and analytics
• Ability to work with systems and components across OSI Layer 1 through 7
• Knowledge of cybersecurity principles and practices especially related to user access, east/west data flow, and resource authentication

Technical Certifications (optional) – one or more of the following certifications, or similar, are a plus (please include technical certifications in your application):

• Microsoft 365 Certified Administrator Expert
• Microsoft 365 Certified Collaboration Communications Systems Engineer Associate
• Microsoft 365 Certified Teams Administrator Associate
• Microsoft 365 Certified Azure Administrator Associate or Security Engineer Associate
• VMware Data Center Virtualization certification
• VMware Network Virtualization certification
• VMware End-User Computing certification
• VMware Cloud Management and Automation certification
• Configuring Cisco Unified Computing System course certificate
• Cisco CCST IT Support certification
• VMCE Veeam Certified Engineer
• VMCA Veeam Certified Architect
• Pure Storage Data Storage Associate
• Pure Storage Flash Array Storage Professional
• Pure Storage Data Protection Professional
• Splunk Core Certified Power User

Minimum Qualifications

A combination of education, training, and experience resulting in the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. An example of qualifying education and experience includes:

Systems Administrator I: Either A: An associate's degree or60 semester units or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university, or a certificate of completion from a job-related, accredited vocational institution.

Systems Administrator II: Either A: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. OR B: An associates degree or60 semester units or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university, or a certificate of completion from a job-related, accredited vocational institution. In addition, two years of experience installing and maintaining hardware and software systems.

Systems Administrator III: Either A: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. In addition, two years of experience installing and maintaining hardware and software systems. OR B: An associate’s degree or 60 semester units or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university, or a certificate of completion from a job-related, accredited vocational institution. In addition, four years of experience installing and maintaining hardware and software systems.

Licenses and Certificates

Certain positions within this classification may require driving. When driving is an essential function of the position, a valid CALIFORNIA driver license will be required at the time of appointment and must be maintained throughout employment.

Other Conditions of Employment:

Employees must be willing and able to respond to after-normal workday or irregular and on-call emergency requests on nights, weekends and holidays.

The selected candidate will be required to successfully pass a thorough background investigation.

How to Apply

Applications, including answers to supplemental questions, must be submitted online by the final filing date.

Most County recruitments require you to respond to supplemental questions as part of the application process. We recommend that you review these questions prior to beginning your application.

An initial application review will be conducted. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are best qualified will be invited to participate in selection activities which may include online assessments, performance exams, written exams, and interviews.

Final candidates will be required to have an in-depth background review performed before proceeding in the process. Please note that references will not be contacted until the end of the process.

If you have questions or would like to discuss the opportunity further, please contact Human Resources at [email protected]. Confidential inquiries are welcomed.

For further information regarding the County of San Luis Obispo, visit our website at www.slocounty.ca.gov.

Reasonable Accommodation Notice

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment. Please call 805-781-5959 for assistance or e-mail [email protected] for more information.

Veteran's Preference Points

If you are applying for employment with the County of San Luis Obispo and you served in the United States Armed Forces, you may be eligible for veteran's preference points as part of the recruitment process. Some dependents and survivors of eligible veterans may also be eligible for preference points. Click here for more information and to learn how to apply for this benefit. Please note that Veteran’s credits must be on file with the County of San Luis Obispo Veterans Services Office prior to the recruitment closing date indicated on the job announcement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The County is an equal opportunity employer. Objectives are directed toward assuring equal opportunity in selection / promotion, pay, and job assignments. Recruitment and selection procedures have been established to ensure non-discrimination on the basis of political or religious opinions or affiliations, age, sex, race, color, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or other non-merit factors. In addition, the County complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act in hiring and retaining employees. For more information contact the Human Resources Department at (805)781-5959.

Make a Difference

Employees of the County of San Luis Obispo are public servants who impact the lives of our community every day. From supporting efforts to reduce homelessness, keeping our drinking water clean, or serving the families in need in the community, County employees make a difference.

Compensation and Benefits

Your annual salary is supplemented by a generous benefit package.

In general, temporary employees are not eligible for County-sponsored benefits and may have limited benefit options available to them. For more information on benefit eligibility, please e-mail [email protected].

For additional information regarding the benefits listed that may be available to you, visit the associated Benefits-At-A-Glance webpage (click here for link).

Some benefits include:

• Medical (PPO, EPO, HDHP), Dental (HMO, PPO) and Vision Insurance
• Health enhancing programs such as Hinge Health, GIThrive and Carrum Health for medical enrollees.
• Cafeteria (County contribution to pay for insurance premiums)
• Free visits to the employee health clinic
• Mental Health resources/benefits including Headspace
• Voluntary insurance plans (life insurance, disability, critical illness and many more)
• A lifelong retirement benefit through the San Luis Obispo County Pension Trust
• Optional deferred compensation plan with up to $500 per year match (depending on bargaining unit)
• Tax savings accounts (medical and dependent care)
• Paid personal, sick and vacation days
• 12 paid holidays
• Employee Assistance Program
• Education and Wellness Allowance
• Post Employment Health Plan
• Family Friendly workplace policies
• Flexible work schedule options
• Rideshare commuter benefits
• Pet Insurance

The County of San Luis Obispo has been recognized as a Diamond Level Family Friendly Workplace by San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce. We support our employees through: childcare assistance, flexible scheduling practices, paid and unpaid leave, comprehensive health benefits, flexible spending accounts, and employee assistance programs.

Pension Benefit and Employee Contribution Rates:

The County's pension is a defined benefit plan that provides a guaranteed monthly pension payment for life based on your time in service, wages, and other factors. The County is the primary contributor to the pension fund, but the health of the pension fund also depends on mandatory employee contributions. Employees are required to pay a percentage of their base pay towards the pension fund, ranging from 5% to 19%. This amount is deducted from your paycheck pre-tax every pay period. To find out how much will be deducted from your paycheck should you be hired for this position, please contact Pension Trust at (805) 781-5465.

Healthcare Benefits and Cafeteria Contributions:

The County offers comprehensive medical coverage to you and your family, along with two dental plan options and vision coverage. All permanent employees receive a monthly employer contribution (or ‘cafeteria’ contribution) to help them pay for their portion of the medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums. The amount of the cafeteria contribution varies by Bargaining Unit (BU) and the extent to which employees enroll their dependents. If the cafeteria amount is greater than your selected premiums, the remainder of the cafeteria is paid out to you in your paycheck as taxable income. If the cafeteria amount is less than your monthly premiums, you pay the remainder of the premiums with pre-tax wages.

To estimate your out-of-pocket costs (or cashback from extra cafeteria), visit the Cafeteria Rates webpage (click here for link).

Learning and Development

The County prioritizes your learning, personal and professional development, and career growth. Employees have access to over 1500 on-demand courses, instructor led courses, and job-specific trainings.

Employees can take courses to upskill to make themselves more competitive for promotional opportunities and further their career growth. Examples of courses include:

• Emotional Intelligence
• Supervisor/Manager academies
• Microsoft Suite courses
• Defensive Driving
• Financial management
• Retirement preparedness
• Teambuilding
• Written Communication
• Conflict Management
• Clifton StrengthsFinder and DISC
• Job specific conferences/trainings

Student Loan Forgiveness

Did you know that if you are employed by a government agency you may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program

County employees also have access to GotZoom, a program that offers tools and support to navigate your federal student loans.

Homebuyer assistance program

Employees have access to the “Assist-to-Own” program sponsored by Golden State Finance Authority (click here for link to more information) to get a loan for the down payment.

01

Please describe in detail how your education and experience make you qualified for this position based off of the minimum qualifications?

Required Question

Employer

County of San Luis Obispo

Address

1055 Monterey Street
Suite D-250
San Luis Obispo, California, 93408

Phone

805-781-5959

Website

http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/

About the Position

San Luis Obispo County Information Technology Department (ITD) offers an exciting, fast-paced environment where exceptional performance is encouraged and rewarded. ITD consists of 84 staff within four (4) operational Divisions: Administration; Applications; Customer Service / Delivery; and Infrastructure. ITD resources are operated and maintained in a manner that supports high availability of services while minimizing risk of business interruption. ITD's focus is on developing a sustainable customer focused technology environment that enhances and improves the quality of technology services used by County departments for the benefit of all San Luis Obispo County residents, businesses, and visitors. This career opportunity provides candidates the exposure of working with all county departments; essentially 23 different industries. The County supports a work-life balance and hybrid work environment, provides a generous pension, and provides an outstanding community-oriented environment.

About the Opportunity

The Systems Administrator I/II/III performs a variety of technical duties by providing technical support including the planning, installation, coordination, maintenance, upgrades and overall support for computer systems and their individual hardware and software components; administers, evaluates and modifies systems to assure proper security and operation; plans, coordinates and implements system software program release changes for systems and servers; resolves technology problems and provides for system enhancements; provides technical support and assistance to customers; and does other related work as required.

Typical Tasks and Representative Duties

• Configures, operates and maintains programs, databases and systems.
• Troubleshoots problems with programs, databases and system software to successful resolution.
• Maintains end user software accounts.
• Performs program, data and system backups and restoration activities.
• Researches and resolves problems and makes technical recommendations.
• Prepares customer, operations and systems documentation according to pre-established standards.
• Provides assistance to customers during and after the conversion, implementation, or installation of new hardware, software and applications.
• Communicates with County staff, vendors, customers and outside agencies to exchange information, coordinate activities and resolve issues or concerns.
• Maintains current knowledge and communicates with external vendors

For complete job description for Systems Administrator I .

For complete job description for Systems Administrator II .

For complete job description for Systems Administrator III .

To learn more about the San Luis Obispo County's Information Technology Department Click Here.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will join an existing team of highly experienced enterprise system administrators. The ideal candidate will possess the following:

Interpersonal competencies – the ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following interpersonal skills:

• Have a positive attitude with a “get it done correctly” the first-time mind set
• Have a high degree of self-motivation
• Have a passion for keeping technologies current and a willingness to learn new technologies
• Be able to implement a careful and meticulous approach to configuring complex IT systems
• Have strong analytic, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills to avoid service interruption
• Be able to plan and execute work independently and as a team member
• Be able to prioritize and manage several tasks daily
• Be able to collaborate with others to solve problems, design solutions and implement changes
• Have strong verbal and written communication skills
• Interact in difficult situations with a professional, thoughtful, and open demeanor

Systems Administration Experience – the ideal candidate will have knowledge of and experience with administering and supporting the following technologies:

• Microsoft Office 365 online services including Exchange Online, Teams, and OneDrive
• Microsoft SharePoint Online websites and Power Platform services
• Microsoft Server operating system configuration and optimization
• Microsoft Azure Cloud Computing servers and services
• Microsoft Active Directory and Single Sign-on authentication services
• Microsoft PowerShell and other scripting languages
• Microsoft SQL database administration, optimization, and reporting
• Microsoft SCCM, SCOM, and Intune administration and utilization
• Cisco Unified Computing System hardware support and optimization
• Cisco Firewall log analytics
• VMWare ESXi Hypervisor, vSphere, NSX, and Distributed Firewall
• Pure Storage SSD appliance hardware and software
• Veeam Enterprise Backup and Replication software administration
• Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365
• Red Hat and Ubuntu operating system configuration and administration
• Generic server and storage hardware support and optimization
• Splunk log querying, reporting, and analytics
• Ability to work with systems and components across OSI Layer 1 through 7
• Knowledge of cybersecurity principles and practices especially related to user access, east/west data flow, and resource authentication

Technical Certifications (optional) – one or more of the following certifications, or similar, are a plus (please include technical certifications in your application):

• Microsoft 365 Certified Administrator Expert
• Microsoft 365 Certified Collaboration Communications Systems Engineer Associate
• Microsoft 365 Certified Teams Administrator Associate
• Microsoft 365 Certified Azure Administrator Associate or Security Engineer Associate
• VMware Data Center Virtualization certification
• VMware Network Virtualization certification
• VMware End-User Computing certification
• VMware Cloud Management and Automation certification
• Configuring Cisco Unified Computing System course certificate
• Cisco CCST IT Support certification
• VMCE Veeam Certified Engineer
• VMCA Veeam Certified Architect
• Pure Storage Data Storage Associate
• Pure Storage Flash Array Storage Professional
• Pure Storage Data Protection Professional
• Splunk Core Certified Power User

Minimum Qualifications

A combination of education, training, and experience resulting in the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. An example of qualifying education and experience includes:

Systems Administrator I: Either A: An associate's degree or60 semester units or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university, or a certificate of completion from a job-related, accredited vocational institution.

Systems Administrator II: Either A: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. OR B: An associates degree or60 semester units or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university, or a certificate of completion from a job-related, accredited vocational institution. In addition, two years of experience installing and maintaining hardware and software systems.

Systems Administrator III: Either A: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. In addition, two years of experience installing and maintaining hardware and software systems. OR B: An associate’s degree or 60 semester units or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university, or a certificate of completion from a job-related, accredited vocational institution. In addition, four years of experience installing and maintaining hardware and software systems.

Licenses and Certificates

Certain positions within this classification may require driving. When driving is an essential function of the position, a valid CALIFORNIA driver license will be required at the time of appointment and must be maintained throughout employment.

Other Conditions of Employment:

Employees must be willing and able to respond to after-normal workday or irregular and on-call emergency requests on nights, weekends and holidays.

The selected candidate will be required to successfully pass a thorough background investigation.

How to Apply

Applications, including answers to supplemental questions, must be submitted online by the final filing date.

Most County recruitments require you to respond to supplemental questions as part of the application process. We recommend that you review these questions prior to beginning your application.

An initial application review will be conducted. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are best qualified will be invited to participate in selection activities which may include online assessments, performance exams, written exams, and interviews.

Final candidates will be required to have an in-depth background review performed before proceeding in the process. Please note that references will not be contacted until the end of the process.

If you have questions or would like to discuss the opportunity further, please contact Human Resources at [email protected]. Confidential inquiries are welcomed.

For further information regarding the County of San Luis Obispo, visit our website at www.slocounty.ca.gov.

Reasonable Accommodation Notice

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment. Please call 805-781-5959 for assistance or e-mail [email protected] for more information.

Veteran's Preference Points

If you are applying for employment with the County of San Luis Obispo and you served in the United States Armed Forces, you may be eligible for veteran's preference points as part of the recruitment process. Some dependents and survivors of eligible veterans may also be eligible for preference points. Click here for more information and to learn how to apply for this benefit. Please note that Veteran’s credits must be on file with the County of San Luis Obispo Veterans Services Office prior to the recruitment closing date indicated on the job announcement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The County is an equal opportunity employer. Objectives are directed toward assuring equal opportunity in selection / promotion, pay, and job assignments. Recruitment and selection procedures have been established to ensure non-discrimination on the basis of political or religious opinions or affiliations, age, sex, race, color, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or other non-merit factors. In addition, the County complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act in hiring and retaining employees. For more information contact the Human Resources Department at (805)781-5959.

Make a Difference

Employees of the County of San Luis Obispo are public servants who impact the lives of our community every day. From supporting efforts to reduce homelessness, keeping our drinking water clean, or serving the families in need in the community, County employees make a difference.

Compensation and Benefits

Your annual salary is supplemented by a generous benefit package.

In general, temporary employees are not eligible for County-sponsored benefits and may have limited benefit options available to them. For more information on benefit eligibility, please e-mail [email protected].

For additional information regarding the benefits listed that may be available to you, visit the associated Benefits-At-A-Glance webpage (click here for link).

Some benefits include:

• Medical (PPO, EPO, HDHP), Dental (HMO, PPO) and Vision Insurance
• Health enhancing programs such as Hinge Health, GIThrive and Carrum Health for medical enrollees.
• Cafeteria (County contribution to pay for insurance premiums)
• Free visits to the employee health clinic
• Mental Health resources/benefits including Headspace
• Voluntary insurance plans (life insurance, disability, critical illness and many more)
• A lifelong retirement benefit through the San Luis Obispo County Pension Trust
• Optional deferred compensation plan with up to $500 per year match (depending on bargaining unit)
• Tax savings accounts (medical and dependent care)
• Paid personal, sick and vacation days
• 12 paid holidays
• Employee Assistance Program
• Education and Wellness Allowance
• Post Employment Health Plan
• Family Friendly workplace policies
• Flexible work schedule options
• Rideshare commuter benefits
• Pet Insurance

The County of San Luis Obispo has been recognized as a Diamond Level Family Friendly Workplace by San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce. We support our employees through: childcare assistance, flexible scheduling practices, paid and unpaid leave, comprehensive health benefits, flexible spending accounts, and employee assistance programs.

Pension Benefit and Employee Contribution Rates:

The County's pension is a defined benefit plan that provides a guaranteed monthly pension payment for life based on your time in service, wages, and other factors. The County is the primary contributor to the pension fund, but the health of the pension fund also depends on mandatory employee contributions. Employees are required to pay a percentage of their base pay towards the pension fund, ranging from 5% to 19%. This amount is deducted from your paycheck pre-tax every pay period. To find out how much will be deducted from your paycheck should you be hired for this position, please contact Pension Trust at (805) 781-5465.

Healthcare Benefits and Cafeteria Contributions:

The County offers comprehensive medical coverage to you and your family, along with two dental plan options and vision coverage. All permanent employees receive a monthly employer contribution (or ‘cafeteria’ contribution) to help them pay for their portion of the medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums. The amount of the cafeteria contribution varies by Bargaining Unit (BU) and the extent to which employees enroll their dependents. If the cafeteria amount is greater than your selected premiums, the remainder of the cafeteria is paid out to you in your paycheck as taxable income. If the cafeteria amount is less than your monthly premiums, you pay the remainder of the premiums with pre-tax wages.

To estimate your out-of-pocket costs (or cashback from extra cafeteria), visit the Cafeteria Rates webpage (click here for link).

Learning and Development

The County prioritizes your learning, personal and professional development, and career growth. Employees have access to over 1500 on-demand courses, instructor led courses, and job-specific trainings.

Employees can take courses to upskill to make themselves more competitive for promotional opportunities and further their career growth. Examples of courses include:

• Emotional Intelligence
• Supervisor/Manager academies
• Microsoft Suite courses
• Defensive Driving
• Financial management
• Retirement preparedness
• Teambuilding
• Written Communication
• Conflict Management
• Clifton StrengthsFinder and DISC
• Job specific conferences/trainings

Student Loan Forgiveness

Did you know that if you are employed by a government agency you may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program

County employees also have access to GotZoom, a program that offers tools and support to navigate your federal student loans.

Homebuyer assistance program

Employees have access to the “Assist-to-Own” program sponsored by Golden State Finance Authority (click here for link to more information) to get a loan for the down payment.