GIS Database Engineer(Information Technology Analyst 2 (40 Hour))

Introduction

Do you have expertise in integrating Geographic Information Systems data? Are you ready to coordinate IT projects that support complex and specialized research investigations and statistical analyses? Are data-driven studies and projects concerning elections right up your alley?

The State of Connecticut, Secretary of the State (SOTS) is currently seeking flexible and dynamic individuals eager to contribute their experience within the Legislation and Election Administration division as a GIS Database Engineer (Information Technology Analyst 2). Join our team and embark on a rewarding career that offers growth, superlative benefits, and a culture that encourages work/life balance. 

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• Work for a Forbes top company - ‘Forbes’: State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023.
• Comprehensive health and dental insurance, providing you with peace of mind and access to quality healthcare.
• Robust pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings to secure your financial future.
• Generous paid time off, including vacation days, sick leave, personal days, and 13 holidays per calendar year.
• We are an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, which means you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service.
• A culture that recognizes the importance of work/life balance and offers alternate work schedules and telecommuting options.
• Opportunities to invest in your professional growth and development with training programs, tuition reimbursement, and opportunities for advancement within the State of Connecticut.
• Connecticut is a strong community with a lot to offer in entertainment, food and shopping, recreation in our beautiful state parks and forests, diverse culture, and rich history. Learn more about all Connecticut has to offer.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

• Full-Time, 40 hours per week
• Monday through Friday
• Core hours 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Location: Hartford, CT
• Hybrid (office/telework) may be available

THIS JOB IS FOR YOU IF

• You utilize your specialized expertise in geographic information systems workflow to manage elections and voter rights systems.
• You possess strong technical database expertise and attention to detail necessary to stand up and maintain statewide databases.
• Your value providing prompt quality service and improving access to information.
• You have a passion for promoting participation in the democratic process by providing a wide range of services for the people and businesses of Connecticut. 
• You want to do work that matters and build a better Connecticut with the Office of the Secretary of the State. 

DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO

• Execute the technical operations of a public statewide information database to investigate if current state and municipal election laws and practices meet the Connecticut Voting Rights Act’s (CTVRA) provisions; 
• Modify, administer, and design database systems; 
• Provide technical support to the state’s centralized voter registration system (CVRS) and the election night reporting system;
• Conduct system performance analysis, tuning, and storage management;
• Assist staff and customers in the use of systems and software utilized by the LEAD division; 
• Write utilities for system management, reporting, file cleanup and auditing;
• Recommend and create action plans for system development and integration;
• Construct operational DBMS and data stores that enable informational, analytical management inquiry;
• Impact and improve our state and the elections process. 

ABOUT US

Through the dedication of knowledgeable staff and advanced technology, the Office of the Secretary of the State works as a team to provide a wide range of services for the people and businesses of Connecticut. We are a repository of records for the State and provide important information and resources regarding business and commercial filings, elections, and authentication as prescribed by the constitution, and federal and state laws. We seek to bolster business development opportunities, and foster a more inclusive political process by educating, informing and engaging communities in youth and civic preparation.

The Legislation and Election Administration Division (LEAD) administers, interprets and implements all state and federal laws pertaining to elections, primaries, nominating procedures, and the acquisition and exercise of voting rights. The Division encourages and monitors the implementation of the National Voter Registration Act and other voter registration efforts in Connecticut. In addition, the division is the official keeper of all acts, orders, grants and resolutions of the General Assembly, receives and maintains legislation, regulations and a wide range of other public documents as required by statute, and administers Connecticut’s notary public program.

Selection Plan

For assistance in applying, please visit our 'Applicant Tips on How to Apply' page

APPLYING FOR THE POSITION

• For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e. Executive, Judicial or Legislative) to the other.
• In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date of the job opening, unless otherwise specified. You must specify your qualifications on your application. 
• Ensure that your application is complete before submitting it. To comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut no longer requests resumes during the initial application process. Once your application is submitted into the JobAps system, you cannot make revisions.
• In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited. For institutions located outside of the U.S., you must provide documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service specializing in determining foreign education equivalencies to the recruiter listed on this job posting.
• All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the specified deadline. Late applications will not be considered. Candidates may request a rare and documented exception for events that incapacitate them during the entire duration of the job posting period by providing a legally-recognized justification to accommodate such an exception. Requests may be made to emily.kennedy@ct.gov. 

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER APPLYING

• Applicants will receive correspondence via email, and are also encouraged to monitor their Personal Status Board daily for status updates, notices, and tasks required in the recruitment process.
• Some postings may require additional referral questions (RQs). You will receive an email with these questions after the posting’s closing date. Check your email and Personal Status Board for notifications, including your spam or junk folders. 
• You may be required to submit additional documentation supporting your qualifications at any point during the recruitment process. The documentation may include a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, or licensure, at the discretion of the hiring agency.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, but your application may be considered for future vacancies in this job class.
• Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
• Candidates offered a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.

CONNECT WITH US

• Due to the high volume of applications, we cannot confirm receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. 
• If you have any questions about this recruitment, please contact Emily Kennedy at emily.kennedy@ct.gov.  
• Follow the State of Connecticut on LinkedIn to stay updated on our career opportunities and news.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency Information Technology (IT) environment this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of information technology tasks and project coordination work involving infrastructure systems support, security and application development in an IT environment.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

For All Functional Areas

• Acts as liaison to hardware and/or software vendors, system developers, programmers and user community; 
• Evaluates and recommends products; 
• Participates in Request for Proposal (RFP) process; 
• Assists in estimating cost for annual budget; 
• Identifies and implements opportunities for cost savings; 
• Conducts system performance analysis, tuning and storage management; 
• Assists staff and customers in use of computer systems and software packages; 
• Trains operators, IT staff and end users on new procedures; 
• Participates in recovery activities; 
• Participates in the evaluation of new, related technologies; 
• Analyzes requirements and designs systems; 
• Participates in or coordinates project planning sessions with customers, analysts and team members to analyze requirements and provide design recommendations for moderately complex systems; 
• Provides technical consultation on moderately complex issues regarding the usage of the infrastructure, integration of applications systems into the infrastructure, etc.; 
• Participates in system integration testing of operating system, system utilities, hardware upgrades as well as new software and hardware technologies; 
• Works with project team to define and design scope for each project; 
• Plans, coordinates and schedules assigned projects; 
• Coordinates resources for projects; 
• Ensures timely completion of all phases of projects; 
• Evaluates and recommends vendors; 
• Performs related duties as required.

Systems Programming

• Provides second or third level support for network connectivity, or related network issues for the user community; 
• Diagnoses and resolves moderate network problems utilizing traces, hardware diagnostic tools, software aids, network management systems and utilities; 
• Coordinates the installation and maintenance of network components; 
• Analyzes network activity; 
• Analyzes capacity planning and facilities bandwidth requirements and system interdependencies; 
• Manages, maintains and contributes to network system documentation; 
• Develops back-up procedures for LAN servers; 
• Analyzes the recovery and reliability capability of systems and network services and makes recommendations for improvement; 
• Recommends hardware and software purchases in support of remote access; 
• Configures and certifies wiring; 
• Participates in projects which calls for troubleshooting, installing, implementing, administering, and maintaining network systems; 
• Assigns file access controls, encryption keys and other security attributes; 
• Maintains host and/or front-end processor communications software; 
• Provides support to customers experiencing problems with hardware, operating systems and related utilities in servers; 
• Assists in installation and maintenance of performance monitors, schedulers, program management systems and utilities, report generators and compilers; 
• Configures and installs application packages; 
• Coordinates and/or performs installation and configures operating systems, new software releases, system upgrades and patches in support of hardware products; 
• Coordinates backups and file management with operations staff; 
• Proactively tunes operating systems and system components to avoid performance problems; 
• Writes utilities for system management, reporting, file clean up and auditing; 
• Provides and maintains documentation and manuals necessary at operational level; 
• Responsible for standards and design of physical data storage, maintenance, access and security administration; 
• Performs functions associated with vulnerability and security risk assessments; 
• Performs functions in support of investigative and forensics activity; 
• Performs related duties as required.

Software Development

• Recommends and creates action plans for system development and/or integration; 
• Responsible for standards and design of physical data storage, maintenance, access and security administration; 
• Writes utilities for system management, reporting, file clean up and auditing; 
• Configures and installs application packages; 
• Develops and maintains documentation and manuals necessary at customer level; 
• Prepares time and cost estimates and initiates purchase requests for multiple projects; 
• Creates test files and performs system testing across multiple packages and systems; 
• Writes and programs system specifications; 
• Defines work and/or data flow; 
• Designs screens, forms and reports; 
• Defines data elements; 
• Prepares source code; 
• Designs and develops tables and relationships; 
• Arranges necessary hardware and software availability for assigned projects; 
• Analyzes assigned specifications, codes, tests and implements software solution, utilizing appropriate software engineering processes; 
• Debugs and/or corrects errors; maintains integrity of software; 
• Maintains and enhances existing programs; 
• Writes utilities for system management, reporting, file clean up and auditing; 
• Designs and develops routine to moderately complex applications; 
• Responsible for all phases of systems development life cycle; 
• Develops strategies for data acquisitions, archive recovery, security and implementation of routine to moderately complex applications; 
• Defines and develops the project scope of multiple projects; 
• Constructs operational Database Management System (DBMS) and data stores that enable informational, analytical management inquiry; 
• Performs backup and recovery on database management systems; 
• Configures database parameters, and prototype designs; 
• Provides basic database support and troubleshooting; 
• Responsible for standards and design of physical data storage, maintenance, access and security administration; 
• May be responsible for design, development and implementation of new system interfaces for applications on multiple platforms from mid-range computers to client servers and internet-based environments; 
• Performs related duties as required.

Database Administration

• Recommends and creates action plans for system development and/or integration; 
• Provides and maintains documentation and manuals necessary at operational level; 
• Provides basic database support and troubleshooting; 
• Responsible for standards and design of physical data storage, maintenance, access and security administration; 
• Writes utilities for system management, reporting, file clean up and auditing; 
• Analyzes requirements and designs systems; 
• Recommends and creates action plans for system development and/or integration; 
• Provides and maintains documentation and manuals necessary at operational level; 
• Proactively tunes operating systems and system components to avoid performance problems; 
• Coordinates backups and file management with operations staff; 
• Responsible for standards and design of physical data storage, maintenance, access and security administration; 
• Constructs operational DBMS and data stores that enable informational, analytical management inquiry; 
• Performs backup and recovery on database management systems, configures database parameters, and prototype designs; 
• Performs related duties as required.

Network Support

• Recommends and creates action plans for system development and/or integration; 
• Performs functions associated with vulnerability and security risk assessments; 
• Performs functions in support of investigative and forensics activity; 
• Maintains host and/or front end processor communications software; 
• Provides second or third level support for network connectivity, or related network issues for the user community; 
• Diagnoses and resolves moderate network problems utilizing traces, hardware diagnostic tools, software aids, network management systems and utilities; 
• Coordinates the installation and maintenance of network components; 
• Analyzes network activity; 
• Analyzes capacity planning and facilities bandwidth requirements and system interdependencies; 
• Manages, maintains and contributes to network system documentation; 
• Develops back-up procedures for LAN servers; 
• Analyzes the recovery and reliability capability of systems and network services and makes recommendations for improvement; 
• Recommends hardware and software purchases in support of remote access; 
• Configures and certifies wiring; 
• Participates in projects which calls for troubleshooting, installing, implementing, administering, and maintaining network systems; 
• Assigns file access controls, encryption keys and other security attributes; 
• Provides and maintains documentation and manuals necessary at operational level; 
• Develops and implements network security procedures; 
• Installs, configures and programs hubs, routers, bridges, gateways, servers, multiplexors, modems and other communications equipment; 
• Installs, monitors, maintains and upgrades network access to servers and mainframe services; 
• Maintains host and/or front-end processor communications software; 
• Monitors network traffic for malicious activity; 
• Performs related duties as required.

IT Security

• Assists in developing, testing and maintaining agency disaster recovery plans (DRP) designed to restore IT system operability; 
• Assists with development of processes and procedures in support of IT Business Continuity Planning; 
• Performs functions in support of platform recoverability assessments and Business Impact Analysis (BIA) to determine and assess the impacts associated with disruptions to business functions; 
• Performs functions in support of risk analysis of IT environments by assessing administrative, technical and physical safeguards; 
• Assists with IT investigations to include maintaining chain of custody procedures; 
• Performs forensics and documenting detailed reports of findings; 
• Monitors network activity for malicious activity; 
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of
  • IT equipment and diagnostic tools; 
  • principles and techniques of systems analysis, design, development and programming; 
  • principles of information systems; 
  • principles and theories of business and planning functions; 
  • programming languages; 
  • capabilities of computer technology; 
• Knowledge of
  • methods and procedures used to conduct detailed analysis and design of computer systems; 
  • principles and techniques of software generation and programming; 
  • practices and issues of systems’ security and disaster recovery; 
  • computer operating systems; 
  • project management principles and techniques; 
  • principles and techniques of business information systems re-engineering; 
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills; 
  • oral and written communication skills;
  • skill in technical problem solving; 
  • skill in logic and analysis; 
  • skill in problem solving; 
• Skills in project coordination; 
• Considerable ability to
  • analyze, troubleshoot and resolve data communications problems; 
  • write, test and debug computer programs; 
  • use programming development tools; 
  • prepare manuals, reports, documentation and other written materials; 
  • identify, analyze and resolve complex business and technical problems; 
• Ability to analyze and debug complex software programs.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Six (6) years of experience in information technology (IT) operations, programming, systems/software development or another IT-related support area.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been performing professional information technology work in such areas as:  installation and support of microcomputer hardware, software and operating systems; analysis, design and development of information systems; network hardware and software installation and support; network hardware and/or software problem diagnosis and resolution; performing any closely related professional IT function. 

NOTE: For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of an Information Technology Analyst 1.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

• College training in management information systems, computer science or information technology-related area may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
• A Master's degree in management information systems, computer science or electrical engineering may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience integrating Geographic Information Systems data including database design, development, maintenance, and documentation.
• Experience with all phases of computerized map preparation including digitizing, data transformation, data reformatting, and map production.
• Experience with Geographic Information Systems software programs.
• Experience applying analytical and cartographic principles including mathematics of scale and projection transformation.
• Experience collecting, maintaining, and analyzing data related to the federal or any state Voting Rights Act.
• Experience collecting information such as U.S. Census estimates, voter registry lists, geocoded data, and shapefiles. 
• Experience responding to inquiries from election officials and the public. 
• Experience applying database management principles, processes, technologies, and tools. 
• Experience with data wrangling, formatting, and cleaning across multiple data sources and formats. 

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes.  As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.