It security engineer

Position Description

IT Security Engineer III ($10,390 - $14,191 / Monthly)

IT Security Engineer II ($8,946 - $12,218 / Monthly)

Final Filing Deadline: January 26, 2026

Exam #: 26/16E25/01SP

The County of Monterey is committed to honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans and eligible military spouses and awards veterans' preference points for this recruitment. To learn more about the eligibility requirements and the process, be sure to read the Hiring Preference for Veterans and Eligible Military Spouses section located towards the end of this job flier.


Be part of a team that is committed to promoting innovative technology that transforms government and its ability to service constituents. The County of Monterey Information Technology Department (ITD), a team of diverse and skilled professionals, is at the forefront of delivering essential technology solutions that are vital to meeting the County's evolving and complex business needs.


ITD’s mission is to keep the County seamlessly connected, by managing and optimizing the County's critical technology framework while pioneering resilient, secure, reliable and competitive solutions. View ITD services here.


The ITD Information Security Division plays a pivotal role in ensuring the availability and integrity of County data. Our dedicated team vigilantly monitors information assets for any signs of compromise, employing state-of-the-art techniques and technologies, to detect and respond to potential threats. In the event of security incidents, we employ robust strategies to restore assets promptly, minimizing disruptions to County operations and ensuring continuity of essential services. Through collaborative partnerships and continuous education initiatives, we empower County departments to stay ahead of evolving threats and effectively manage security risks.


The ITD Information Security Division is seeking a collaborative and dependable IT Security Engineer II/III who demonstrates integrity, confidentiality, trustworthiness, professionalism, and a strong work ethic, supported by effective interpersonal and communication skills. The successful candidate will possess a solid foundation in information security principles and practices, including intrusion detection, threat hunting, incident response, digital forensic investigations, vulnerability management, and compliance auditing, along with a broad understanding of rapidly changing security threats, vulnerabilities, safeguards, and countermeasures.


The ideal candidate will also demonstrate experience implementing, managing, and supporting next-generation Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools and Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) platforms to enhance threat detection, investigation, and response capabilities, as well as experience securing cloud and hybrid environments. The successful candidate will also have knowledge of key information technology domains, including applications, systems, networks, data platforms, and voice communication protocols in order to effectively assess risk, collaborate with technical teams, and support enterprise security operations.


The Eligible List established by this recruitment may be used to fill current and future vacancies on a regular full-time, part-time, or temporary basis.


This classification is part of a flexible series. Incumbents appointed at the lower level of the career series may be promoted up to the higher level of the career series subject to their meeting the employment standards for the higher class and a recommendation for their promotion by the appointing authority.

Examples of Duties

Paramount duties include:

IT Security Engineer II

• Performs threat hunting activities including intrusion detection, log analysis, SIEM and malware analysis.
• Performs security forensic investigations at the direction of the Chief Security Officer and/or the County Counsel's Office.
• Performs security incident response activities including containment, eradication and recovery of affected systems.
• Provides technical consultation, guidance, and assistance to management and system users to ensure the protection of systems and networks by providing controls, processes and procedures.
• Provides technical consultation and management in identifying, evaluating, and documenting us of systems and other related equipment to ensure compliance with security requirements.

IT Security Engineer I II
The IT Security Engineer III performs the above listed duties at the highest level of difficulty and complexity. Additionally, the IT Security Engineer III, performs the following duties:

• Collaborates with the Chief Security Officer on optimization of the security footprint.
• Serves as a technical resource and functional leader in areas of expertise.
• Performs difficult and complex forensic investigations at the direction of the Chief Security Officer and/or the County Counsel's Office.
• Administers and performs difficult and complex information security tests and evaluation programs to ensure that the applicable systems are operating in accordance with Information Security requirements.
• Provides advanced technical consultation, guidance, and assistance to management and systems users and ensure the protection of information security software systems by providing controls, processes, and procedures.
• Provides advanced technical consultation, guidance, and assistance in the security and architectural design of the network.
• Participates in the design and implementation of complex security solutions for intrusion detection and notification, security auditing, alerting and response, and protection.
• Participates in the development of original techniques, procedures, and utilities for conducting Information Security risk assessments.

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE
Will have a proven track record demonstrating the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:



IT Security Engineer II

Working Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of Information Security theory and methods.
• Technical evaluation and testing of hardware and software related to systems security "hardening" and risk mitigation.
• Information Security analysis process and procedures.
• Security systems, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, anti-virus software, and authentication systems.
• Baseline security configurations for operating systems, applications, networking, and telecommunications equipment.
• User access control processes and documentation using technical access software.
• Effective customer service techniques.

Skill and Ability to:

• Implement security solutions.
• Review audit trails to detect potential security violations.
• Analyze, identify, and resolve problems.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing, with technical non-technical audiences, when making presentations and creating documents such as user guidelines.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships.
• Exercise good judgment, decisiveness, and creativity.
• Read, understand, and interpret documents of complex technical and hardware and software security subject matter.
• Follow oral and written instructions.
• Work independently under limited supervision, exercise initiative within established procedural guidelines, and organize and prioritize work to meet established deadlines.

In addition, the IT Security Engineer III must possess thorough knowledge of the above as well as the knowledge, skill and abilities listed below:

Thorough Knowledge of:

• Enterprise security technologies that enhance the security of systems such as vulnerability assessment, attack-surface analysis, and centralized logging with security event monitoring.

Working Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of training, leading, and mentoring.

Skill and Ability to:

• Develop, test, and deliver security solutions.
• Lead the design and implementation of security solutions.
• Keep current with changing technologies.

Examples of Experience/Education/Training

Any combination of training, education, and/or experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities and required conditions of employment is qualifying. An example of a way these requirements might be acquired is:

IT Security Engineer II:

Education: Possession of a bachelor's degree in Information Security, Computer Science, or a closely related field from an accredited four-year college or university; AND


Experience: Two (2) years of professional experience performing information security administration or systems management within an information technology environment; or two (2) years of experience performing work equivalent to an IT Security Engineer I in the County of Monterey.

Desirable certifications: Possession of a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certificate.

IT Security Engineer III:

Education: Possession of a bachelor's degree in Information Security, Computer Science, or a closely related field from an accredited four-year college or university; AND


Experience: Four (4) years of progressively responsible professional experience performing information security administration or systems management within and information technology environment; or two (2) years of experience performing work equivalent to an IT Security Engineer II int he County of Monterey.

Desirable certifications: Possession of a CISSP certificate and/or Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) certificate.

Additional Information

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
The required conditions of employment include, but are not limited to the following:

• Successfully pass a background investigation including but not limited to a fingerprint clearance from the Department of Justice.
• Possess a valid California Class "C" driver's license with a satisfactory driving record or be able to provide suitable transportation that is approved by the appointing authority.
• Be available to work outside of normal business hours as needed, including on-call, evenings, weekends, holiday and during times of emergency and/or disaster.

BENEFITS:

The County of Monterey offers and excellent benefits package. Please visit our website to view the "J" Unit Benefit Summary Sheet. This information is not legally binding, nor does it serve as a contract. The benefits listed in the Monterey County Personnel Policies and Practices Resolution or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) prevail over this listing.

NOTES:

• As a condition of employment, prospective employees will be required to submit to a background review which may include a review of information concerning present and/or prior employment, driving record, and record of criminal convictions.
• Employment is contingent upon acceptable documentation verifying identify and authorization for employment in the U.S.; a list of acceptable documents is available on the USCIS Form I-9.
• If you are hired into this classification in a temporary position, your rate of pay will be hourly, and you will not be eligible for the benefits listed in the summary.

Application and Selection Procedures

Apply On-Line at
by Monday, January 26, 2026, 11:59PM (PST)

Hard copy applications may be obtained from and submitted during normal business hours

Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM by contacting:

Information Technology Department

Attn: Suzanne Paluck, Senior Human Resources Analyst

1590 Moffett Street
Salinas, CA 93905

Phone: (831) 759-6984 | Email: [email protected]

Our website:

The selection process is tentative, and applicants will be notified if changes are made. To assess applicants' possession of required qualifications, the examination process may include an oral examination, pre-examination exercises, performance examination, and/or written examination. The competitive examination process includes submittal fo required application materials. A complete application package will include:

• 
  A completed Monterey County employment application; and
• Responses to the supplemental questions

Applicants who fail to provide all required materials by the application filing deadline will not be considered. Resumes, cover letters, letters of interest and other correspondence will not be accepted as a substitute for required application materials. All required application materials will be competitively evaluated. Those applicants that are determined to be the most appropriately qualified will be invited to participate further in the selection process.

HIRING PREFERENCE FOR VETERANS AND ELIGIBLE MILITARY SPOUSES
The County of Monterey is committed to honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans and eligible military spouses (i.e., surviving spouses of veterans, spouses of totally disabled veterans, and spouses of active-duty service members) and awards veterans' preference points for this recruitment. To obtain a Veterans and Eligible Military Spouse Preference Application, please visit the Human Resources website or click on the following link: Click Here to View the Veterans and Eligible Military Spouse Preference Application


To apply for veterans' preference points, veterans or eligible military spouses must complete and email a Veterans and Eligible Military Spouse Preference Application with supporting documentation of their eligibility by the final filing deadline to [email protected]



EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION :
Monterey County is a drug-free workplace and an equal opportunity employer. The County seeks candidates who can make contributions in an environment of cultural and ethnic diversity. Monterey County is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact Suzanne Paluck, Senior Human Resources Analyst, at (831) 759-6984 or [email protected].