Electric Utility Network Administrator
City of Santa Clara Santa Clara, California, United States
- Location: Santa Clara, California, United States
- Categories: Engineering, Information Technology and Communication Services, Utilities
- Job Type: Full Time
- Posted: Jul 23, 2025
Job Description:
Electric Utility Network Administrator
Description
DescriptionThe Department:
As a community owned, not-for-profit municipal electric utility, Silicon Valley Power (SVP) has been providing dependable electric service to the City of Santa Clara residents and businesses since 1896. SVP is the only full service, vertically integrated publicly owned utility in Silicon Valley owning generation, transmission and distribution assets. Silicon Valley Power is not driven by profits, as reflected in its significantly lower utility rates when compared to other private sector utilities. Silicon Valley Power is dedicated to our community, customers, and employees. SVP provides safe reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy services with exceptional customer focus.
Today, SVP owns, operates, and participates in more than 2,000 MW of electric generating resources delivering 4,800 GWh of electricity. SVP is growing due to data center expansion, high density developments and electrification initiatives. SVP’s peak load will be increasing from 700 MW to 1300 MW in the next 5-10 years. To accommodate the future growth, SVP is in the process of implementing a $400 million system expansion and aging infrastructure replacement plan.
The Position:
This is a professional position in the classified service assigned to the City of Santa Clara’s Electric Utility Department, Silicon Valley Power (SVP). This position works directly for SVP’s Systems Support Group (SSG) which is the technology backbone of SVP. SSG is a growing division, we directly support a large range of technology projects and modernization efforts within SVP, including activities in support of the unprecedented load growth of the Utility.
We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Network Administrator to design, implement, and support both enterprise and utility-specific network infrastructure, with a strong emphasis on Cisco technologies. The incumbent plays a critical role in ensuring the availability, performance, and security of the organization’s overall network environment, including SVP’s utility communication and control systems.
In this role, the Network Administrator is responsible for administering and monitoring network services, managing a variety of advanced network and security products—including Cisco firewalls and intrusion prevention systems- and maintaining compliance with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) requirements as well as applicable state and local mandates. This position involves supporting and maintaining complex infrastructure components such as enterprise-grade Cisco firewalls, routers, switches, wireless controllers, such as HP Aruba switches, and RSA Authentication Manager, while also managing secure VPN access and routing protocols and future state zero trust network access initiatives.
The incumbent will oversee DNS infrastructure, support VoIP systems to ensure call quality and reliability, and proactively monitor network performance to detect and resolve issues related to
connectivity, latency, or system failures. The role also requires accurate documentation of network configurations and changes, collaboration with internal teams on infrastructure projects and upgrades, and participation in organizational capacity planning.
In addition, this position supports business continuity by ensuring high availability and disaster recovery capabilities across all network components, investigates and reports on security incidents in accordance with departmental policy or direction from senior management, and provides technical leadership and mentorship to others.
Additional Information:
Applications must be filled out completely (e.g. do not write “see resume, NA, or personnel file.”). To receive consideration for the screening process, candidates must submit a 1) Cover Letter and 2) Resume. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Application packets may be submitted online through the “Apply Now” feature on the job announcement at www.santaclaraca.gov . This position is continuous: Applications will be reviewed on a bi-weekly basis for consideration to the position. If you are interested in applying you are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, before the position is closed.
THIS RECRUITMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE POSITIONS IN THIS, OR OTHER DIVISIONS OR DEPARTMENTS BESIDES THE POSITIONS LISTED BELOW. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN EMPLOYMENT IN THIS CLASSIFICATION, YOU SHOULD APPLY TO ENSURE YOU ARE CONSIDERED FOR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY UTILIZE THE APPLICANTS FROM THIS RECRUITMENT. MEETING THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMITTANCE INTO THE EXAMINATION PROCESS. ONLY THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WHO DEMONSTRATE THE BEST COMBINATION OF QUALIFICATIONS IN RELATION TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES OF THE POSITION WILL BE INVITED TO TEST OR INTERVIEW.
The annual salary range for this position is $145 058.04 - $184 915.44. This position may be filled at or near the minimum of the salary range.
Minimum Qualifications
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Minimum Education Requirements:
Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with coursework in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related field.
Minimum Experience Requirements:
- Five (5) years of network operations and administration experience in Utility Operations and/or Electric Scheduling or the equivalent, including experience in utility cyber security and facility security.
- Three (3) years of the required experience must have been in a lead position; and
- Three (3) years of the required experience must include operations and maintenance level experience with Synchronous Optical Networking (SONET) equipment installed in utility applications.
Acceptable Substitution:
Additional qualifying experience may be substituted on a year for year basis for the required education, up to a maximum of four (4) years.
License/Certifications:
Possession of a valid California Class C driver’s license is required at time of appointment and for the duration of employment.
Desirable Qualifications:
- A bachelor’s degree in either Computer Science or Engineering is highly desirable;
- Training in electric utility substation safety standards is highly desirable;
- Specific experience with the General Electric JungleMUX product is highly desirable;
- Experience with any of the following systems is highly desirable:
Other Requirements:
- On call for 24/7 support of all critical networking structures, perform troubleshooting and maintenance in active electric substations and taking action to insure the Electric Utility meets the CIP Reliability Standards in its communication and control systems at all times;
- Incumbents will have to pass an initial and periodic comprehensive background checks, which may include fingerprinting, to meet Federal, State and/or industry security requirements;
- Incumbents will be required to obtain and maintain any license or certification mandated by Federal or State requirements; and
- Must be able to perform all of the essential functions of the job assignment.
Follow this link to view the entire Class Specification, which includes more information on Typical Duties and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
Candidates must attain a passing score on each phase of the examination process to qualify for the Eligible List. A department interview may be required prior to appointment.
Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of Santa Clara will not sponsor, represent, or sign documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.
VETERAN’S PREFERENCE POINTS: This position qualifies for Veteran’s Preference Points. Applicants who have separated from service (Active Duty Status) must submit proof of honorable discharge (Form DD214) with their application at time of filing or will be ineligible to have points added to their final score.
The City of Santa Clara is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of Santa Clara is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at (408) 615-2080 or HumanResources@santaclaraca.gov .
City of Santa Clara Benefit Summary Overview for Bargaining Unit #5, 7, & 8
Employees Association
This summary provides a brief overview of the City of Santa Clara's benefits available to Bargaining Unit #5, 7, & 8 employees in 2025. In the event of any conflict between the information in this summary and the applicable official plan documents, City Manager's Directives (CMDs), Personnel and Salary Resolution, or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the applicable official plan documents, CMDs, Personnel and Salary Resolution, or MOU will prevail over this summary. Benefits are subject to change.
Retirement:
- Membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS)
- Classic Employees: 2.7% @ age 55 formula - employee pays 8.00% of gross pay, minus $61 bi-weekly
- New Employees: 2.0% @ age 62 formula - employee pays 7.00% of gross pay
- Medicare and Social Security (FICA)
- Employee pays 6.20% up to $10,918.20 (Social Security) and 1.45% (Medicare) of gross pay
- The City contributes up to 100% of the premium of the Kaiser (Region 1) plan for Employee Only and Employee + 1 Dependent plans, and up to 90% of the premium of the Kaiser (Region 1) plan of the Employee + 2 or More Dependents plan
- Employees electing health coverage with premiums above the City health contribution will pay additional premium costs from salary on a pre-tax basis
- No cash difference is paid if an employee elects a plan cheaper than the max City contribution
- To be eligible for the City’s contribution toward health, employees must be on a paid status for at least 80 hours in the month prior to the month of coverage
- The City’s contribution is prorated based on scheduled hours for part time employees
- Coverage is effective as early as the first day of the month after date of hire
- Employees hired on or after 1/1/2022 who opt-out of City-offered health insurance and provide annual attestation and acceptable proof of alternative required coverage for themselves and their tax family, if applicable, are eligible for a cash-in-lieu amount of $250/month. Contact Human Resources for more details
- Choice of two Delta Dental plans; enrollment is mandatory
- City pays lowest cost employee only plan; additional cost is paid by employee
- Coverage is effective as early as the first day of the month after date of hire
- Choice of two VSP plans
- City pays lowest cost employee only plan; additional cost is paid by employee
- Coverage is effective as early as the first day of the month after date of hire
- City contributes $50.00 a month toward employee's VEBA account
- Account funds may be used to pay for qualified medical expenses after separation from the City and after age 50 (pre-tax)
- City pays for $15,000 of Basic Life Insurance coverage
- Coverage is effective the first of the month after one calendar month of employment
- Additional optional insurance may be purchased by the employee for the employee, spouse, domestic partner, and/or dependent children
- Employee pays 1.2% of gross pay (includes Paid Family Leave)
- 7 day waiting period. Weekly paid leave for absences due to non-work related injuries/illnesses. Benefit is based on past earnings. Refer to edd.ca.gov for more information
- Up to 8 weeks of benefits within a 12-month period to care for a family member or to bond with a new child
- No waiting period. Weekly paid leave benefit. Benefit is based on past earnings. Refer to edd.ca.gov for more information
Long Term Disability (LTD) Insurance:
- Benefit is 2/3 of basic wage up to $7,500; max of $5,000/month
- City pays $.558/$100 of insured earnings
- 30 calendar day waiting period
- Coverage is effective the first of the month after one calendar month of employment
- Voluntary plan through Nationwide Retirement Solutions
- Employee may contribute up to the lesser of the IRS maximum or 100% of gross compensation into a pre-tax 457(b) account or a post-tax Roth 457(b) account (or a combination of the two accounts) subject to IRS rules
- Employee may contribute up to $3,300 per year in pre-tax dollars to a health care spending account
- Employee may contribute up to $5,000 per year in pre-tax dollars to a dependent care spending account
- Employee may contribute up to $325 per month in pre-tax dollars to a commuter benefit plan
- Vacation is accrued bi-weekly, cannot use vacation during first 6 months of City service
- For 1 - 4 years of service: 10 days (80 hours)/year
- For 5 - 9 years of service: 15 days (120 hours)/year
- For 10 - 15 years of service: 21 days (168 hours)/year
- For 16 - 20 years of service: 22 days (176 hours)/year
- For 21+ years of service: 24 days (192 hours)/year
- Maximum vacation accrual is 420 hours
- Once per year, employees can elect to convert up to 40 hours of accrued vacation to cash to be paid out the following calendar year
- Sick leave is accrued bi-weekly for equivalent of 96 hours per calendar year with no maximum accrual
- Up to 48 hours/year of accumulated sick leave may be used for family illness
- Up to 40 hours/year of accumulated sick leave may be used for personal leave
- Employee may convert sick leave to vacation once per calendar year (annual maximum conversion is 96 hours sick to 48 hours vacation)
- Partial sick leave payoff provision on retirement depending on years of service
- 40hours of non-management leave credited to employees each January 1st
- New employees hired between January 1st and June 30th receive 40 hours of non-management leave their first year
- New employees hired between July 1st and December 31st receive 20 hours of non-management leave their first year
- Unused non-management leave may not be carried over from one calendar year to the next
- Employees may accrue CTO in lieu of overtime hours (maximum accrual is set by department)
- 16 hours of CTO is credited to employees each January 1st (prorated if hired after January 1st)
- Seventeen paid eight-hour holidays per year (13 & 4 holidays between 12/25 to 1/1 of following year)
Reimbursements/Allowances (for specific classifications):
- Raingear: $150 per fiscal year for eligible classifications
- Safety Boots: $275 per fiscal year for eligible classifications
- Walking Shoes: $120 per fiscal year for eligible classifications (See MOU for details)
- Tools: $500 per fiscal year reimbursement for Auto Foreperson classification
- Phone allowance of $80/month for Senior Key Customer Representative(s) and Key Customer Representative(s) job classifications
- Certified bilingual employees are eligible for $55/bi-weekly bilingual pay
- Librarians and library support employees whose regular assignments are to City libraries are eligible for 5.0% night differential pay for all hours worked between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. so long as they work a minimum of 2 consecutive hours between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m.
- All other employees are eligible for 5.0% night differential pay for all hours worked between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. so long as they work a minimum of 2 consecutive hours between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.
- Employees in the classification of Electric Utility Programmer Analyst, Electric Utility Network Administrator, and Senior Energy Systems Analyst are eligible for standby pay of $100/week when assigned to work standby
- Up to $2,000 per fiscal year for tuition reimbursement
- Confidential counseling to employees and dependents. Up to maximum of five (5) consultations per family member per incident per year
- City paid benefit
- Employees who retire from the City with at least ten (10) years of service shall receive reimbursement to help cover retiree single health insurance premiums. The reimbursement maximum includes the PEMHCA minimum.
- Up to age 65, retirees are eligible for reimbursement up to $425/month in 2025 (amount adjusted annually)
- After age 65, retirees are eligible for reimbursement up to $254/month in 2025 (amount adjusted annually)
Closing Date/Time: Continuous