Website State of California - Secretary of State
Job Description and Duties
The office of the Secretary of State (SOS) comprises nearly 750 dedicated public servants who uphold the rights of Californians while also making our government, history, and businesses both accessible and transparent. Led by an elected leader accountable to the public, the staff at SOS work to ensure our office reflects the people we serve daily. The Office of the Secretary of State is recruiting a permanent, full-time Information Technology Specialist I within the Office of Voting Systems Technology Assessment (OVSTA).
Under the general direction of the Information Technology Supervisor II, of the Office of Voting System Technology (OVSTA), the Information Technology Specialist I is responsible for voting technology auditing, testing, and certification, which includes voting systems, electronic poll books, remote accessible vote by mail systems, and other emerging election technologies. The incumbent is responsible to ensure the technology is secure and promotes the integrity of statewide voting technology.
Duties will include the following:
- Track, monitor, and audit voting technologies statewide, researching incidents and emerging issues to identify performance concerns and security vulnerabilities.
- Review voting technology certification applications and technical data packages; develop customized testing protocols and oversee functional, regression, and volume reliability testing of voting technology systems.
- Serve as the agency’s voting technology subject matter expert, advising senior staff, county stakeholders, and other governmental agencies on system usage, security, and auditing procedures.
- Schedule and manage testing events, oversee consultant contracts, coordinate logistics, and provide regular reporting and documentation throughout the certification lifecycle.
- Analyze state and federal legislation related to voting technology; evaluate policy impact, fiscal implications, and legal consistency; and draft position papers and recommendations for leadership.
- Plan and coordinate stakeholder demonstrations and public hearings for voting technology systems; present staff reports and represent the Secretary of State at local, state, and national meetings.
Desirable Qualifications:
- Experience proposing legislative, regulatory, or procedural changes within a government, compliance, or technology certification environment.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze, interpret, and communicate complex technical data, including compliance reports, testing documentation, or regulatory guidelines.
- Knowledge of security, programming, and operational aspects of technical systems, with experience providing guidance or expertise to government agencies, local jurisdictions, or regulated entities.
- Familiarity with federal and state regulatory frameworks, with experience reviewing applications or submissions for compliance with applicable laws, rules, and requirements.
- Experience building and leading cross-functional stakeholder teams, facilitating meetings, and delivering progress reports to leadership or oversight bodies.
- Experience maintaining working knowledge of current laws, rules, and policies within a regulated environment, and applying them accurately in a compliance or advisory capacity.
- Strong interpersonal and written communication skills, with a proven ability to engage effectively with staff at all levels, technical experts, and members of the public.
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent project management training and experience is preferred.
You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.
Final Filing Date: 6/5/2026
To apply for this job please visit calcareers.ca.gov.