Information Technology Specialist - Network Operations & Security Services

The City of Gaithersburg Department of Information Technology Services is looking for a motivated and customer service oriented individual to perform technical and systems analytical work in the design, installation, operation, and repair of the City's servers, voice data communications, systems, and network security environment. Members of the Network Operations & Security Services team respond to and resolve issues within the City's overall information systems infrastructure.
We are looking for a well-organized, self-motivated, and action-oriented individual who has excellent technical and problem-solving skills, is an effective communicator, demonstrates attention to detail, and can follow up on issues with minimal direction. A successful candidate will be able to handle a wide range of tasks and has the demonstrated ability to manage competing deadlines while working on multiple projects simultaneously.The candidate will be working in a respectful and supportive environment, joining an innovative and collaborative team committed to providing exceptional customer service and upholding the public interest.
This position could be filled at level I or II in the IT Specialist class series, consistent with the relevant experience, qualifications, and certifications of the candidate. Starting salary is negotiable within the anticipated target hiring range at each level:

• Level I - $70,000 to $83,000
• Level II - $80,000 to $95,000

In addition to salary, our total compensation package includes comprehensive insurance benefits (medical, dental, vision, life), paid time off, generous retirement contributions, health and wellness programs, tools to assist with paying down student loan debt and managing student loans, training and professional growth opportunities, and excellent work/life balance.
This position may be eligible to work up to a partial remote schedule (at the sole discretion of the Department Director). Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. A hybrid work approach ensures the successful candidate can work on-site to develop relationships with the team and collaborate in-person to get the job done while having the flexibility to work remotely when needed to achieve focused results.What you will do with us:

• Design, troubleshoot, repair, and maintain all aspects of a modern enterprise environment with physical and virtual infrastructure located on premise and in the cloud, including hardware such as, but not limited to, enterprise grade switches, routers, firewalls, and storage, and technologies such as enterprise backup software, Active Directory, centralized software deployment, endpoint management, and email.
• Assist in maintaining the City’s various security technologies such as endpoint protection, network monitoring, and email security.
• Perform operational day-to-day tasks requiring interface with other IT groups, from user provisioning/de-provisioning to acting as an escalation point to assist in troubleshooting various user-facing technologies to modifying a user’s access rights.
• Assist in managing network/telecommunication system upgrades, expansions, and equipment exchanges.
• Assist in installing and upgrading network and voice communication system hardware and software and related peripheral equipment and systems components.
• Evaluate and recommend software for specialized applications, platforms, and implementing systems projects.
• Provide guidance, training, support, and technical assistance to City staff as needed.
• Assist with other departmental services as needed.
• Provide outstanding service, pursue continuous improvement, and exceed expectations.

Key responsibilities are highlighted above; please click here to view the complete classification description for the IT Specialist class series. The classification description indicates the full salary range established for each position to provide opportunity for growth and development (Grade 108 for Level I and Grade 110 for Level II in the City's FY 2026 Schedule of Salary Ranges).What you will need to be considered:

• Associate's degree or higher in computer science, information systems, IT project management, or closely related field.
• Some relevant skilled experience directly supporting local and wide area networks, including networked software, security administration, server administration, and network backup and restoration.
• Excellent analytic and troubleshooting skills for problems that span multiple domains (application, network, system, hardware).
• Strong organizational skills and the ability and desire to take on new and unfamiliar tasks and assignments, take ownership of and prioritize tasks/projects, and handle multiple projects and meet deadlines under limited supervision.
• The ability to clearly communicate technical solutions in a cordial, user-friendly manner, and to provide one-on-one end user training as needed.
• Valid driver's license.
• Or any acceptable equivalent combination of education, experience, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to satisfactorily perform job duties and functions.

Interested applicants must submit the following to be considered:

• A complete online application (resume and other support materials will not be accepted in lieu of a completed online application)
• Current resume (attached to the online application)

Review of applications will begin immediately, so prompt application is highly encouraged. The position will remain open until filled; recruitment will close without notice when a sufficient number of qualified applications are identified or all hiring decisions have been made.
This is a full-time salaried "exempt" positions requiring a minimum of 40 hours per week (not eligible for overtime compensation under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the City's personnel regulations). Direct deposit of paychecks is a condition of employment for all City of Gaithersburg employees.
The Department Director has sole discretion on a case-by-case basis in determining whether a position is suitable for and may be authorized for remote work, and whether an employee in the position is eligible to work remotely.

The successful candidate will be subject to two pre-employment background investigations - a general background check and a Police Department background investigation required for the duties/responsibilities of the position. The City has established an alcohol-free, drug-free, and smoke-free workplace which applies to any person employed by, conducting business with, or applying for a position with the City. Each employee, as a condition of their employment, may be required to participate in pre-employment and reasonable suspicion testing. Employees classified as safety sensitive are also subject to immediate post accident and random testing.
For more information about the position, please contact Network Operations & Security Services Division Manager Guy Goodenough at Guy.Goodenough@gaithersburgmd.gov or 240-805-1055. Questions regarding the online application process may be directed to the Department of Human Resources athr@gaithersburgmd.gov or 301.258.6327.

This recruitment will establish an eligibility list which will be used to fill current vacancies and may be used to fill other openings in this classification which occur in the next 12 months.