About the Department

This recruitment may be used to fill future permanent, substitute, limited term, and temporary positions, both full-time and part-time throughout the County.

Software Engineer I is part of a career series for Software Engineer I, II and III. Under the direction of an assigned supervisor, performs a variety of technical duties involved in the analysis, development and maintenance of assigned computer systems, databases and applications to meet County needs; resolves technology problems and implements system enhancements; reviews, analyzes and modifies existing systems and programs as necessary; designs, develops, tests, documents and implements new system applications as assigned; and does other related work as required.

The Software Engineer I (Substitute) position in the Planning & Building department will be responsible for contributing to the development of tools and processes to automate and improve existing department workflows. Current workflows include, but are not limited to:

- Routines for managing and maintaining the County's cloud-hosted Enterprise Permitting & Licensing (EP&L) software

- Managing and updating SSRS reports

- Managing SQL databases

- Presenting and interpreting department data through PowerBI

- Managing and tracking department assets and inventory

- Supporting department staff in a Microsoft M365 environment

Knowledge of:

Computer application programming and related technology by which data are captured, maintained, manipulated, interfaced, displayed and reported across multiple computing platforms both for internal and purchased applications
County and customer departmental goals as they relate to the work assigned
Common database structures, data collection, data management and data manipulation
Information Technology’s strategic direction and goals
Current technological developments and industry trends in area of expertise
Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy
Oral and written communication skills

Ability to:

Operate within the broader definition of a Software Lifecycle (SLC) which includes all phases of a software solution from conception through the phasing out and sun-setting of an application
Function daily within the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) which includes: requirements, estimating work, design, implementation (AKA construction), testing, deployment and maintenance phases
Integrate existing computer applications and systems with commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) packages, products developed internally or products developed by third-parties
Apply best practices for secure application design, coding and business continuity techniques
Stay abreast of emerging and changing technologies and adapt to changing technology and constraints
Work effectively with others including those of diverse perspectives and possess strong interpersonal skills such as listening, speaking, advisory, mediation, reconciliation and consensus
Maintain positive working relationships and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing with resource managers, customers, vendors, peers, subordinates, other government agencies and the public
Foster a spirit of teamwork and advocacy when meeting with staff and members of departments
Maintain a safe and orderly work area

The position is primarily for on-site work with occasional telecommute possible.

Click here for full job description for Software Engineer I.
Click here to learn more about the Planning & Building department.

Position Duties

The ideal candidate will have a strong software development background and have a passion for finding creative solutions to problems. Candidates should have experience coding in C#, Python, React, and other common languages. The candidate also should be familiar with PowerBI, Power Automate, and using and creating AI agents.

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

Software Engineer I: An associate's degree or 60 semester units or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university or completion from a job-related, accredited vocational institution

Minimum Qualifications

Applications, including answers to supplemental questions, must be submitted online by the final filing date. Apply for this position at governmentjobs.com/careers/slocountyca. 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.

Benefits

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

Image of SLO County Family Friendly Workplace Award

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.

Supplemental Questions

Do you possess an associate's degree or 60 semester units or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university or completion from a job-related, accredited vocational institution?

This position is full-time, in person located in San Luis Obispo, CA, with some possibility of telecommute after the first six months. Please confirm you understand this requirement.

Required Question

Agency Information

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/