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Three state departments are looking for high-level technical talent to run their IT operations.
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During the first six months of 2024, tech companies disclosed plans to slash more than 13,000 jobs in the Bay Area, or an average of about 500 a week. So far, during the final six months of 2024, tech companies have revealed decisions to cut about 3,600 jobs in the region, an average of 210 a week.
“We were impressed by the innovative solutions presented by the teams,” said DMV Director Steve Gordon. “Their efforts underscore the mDL’s potential to empower Californians to verify their identity in a safe and privacy-conscious way.”
The positions include Azure administrator, IT specialist and test automation specialist.
“While contracting can be a strategic and cost-effective approach, it is not a panacea. It remains constrained by the IT department’s limited capacity. ... Simply adding more contractors does not resolve fundamental issues related to demand management," writes Steve Monaghan, director of Nevada County’s Information and General Services Agency.
The most recent meeting of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors was chock-full of IT contract approvals. They ranged from cybersecurity support and maintenance to more than $10 million in police training tech.
The office is seeking a one-year software-as-a-service subscription renewal from a contractor that’s a certified reseller of Esri products, plus software maintenance. The company specializes in geographic information systems technology.
In 2022, 2023 and 2024 — covering the period when tech companies began to elevate their job cutting in the Bay Area — the technology industry has slashed well over 47,800 jobs.
“A computer somewhere just said, ‘You have a fire.’ That’s pretty impressive to me, and it speaks to where we’re headed with technology.”
The California Department of Justice has spent more than $18 million on software licensing, networking and maintenance contracts this year.
“This project is a testament to California’s culture of innovation where government, private industry and community organizations come together to solve complex problems,” says Amy Tong, secretary of the California Government Operations Agency.
The positions are in the Department of Child Support Services, the Employment Development Department and the Department of Social Services.
By late 2027 and into 2028, a new communications-based system, which employs Wi-Fi and cell signals to precisely track the locations of trains, will be installed by Hitachi, which will provide support services for 20 years under the agreement.
Californians have begun to chafe at the industry’s influence. A recent poll by the Bay Area News Group and Joint Venture Silicon Valley revealed that a hefty majority of surveyed voters believe the tech industry is too powerful and has lost its moral compass.
Two lifetime members were recognized for their behind-the-scenes work with member municipalities, and three other members were lauded for their technology leadership on behalf of their cities.
The California Department of Technology’s Office of Professional Development will accept applications until 5 p.m. Oct. 28 for the popular career training program for those working in the public sector.
The majority of the cuts would be made by the end of 2024. The layoffs in Folsom and San Jose will take effect in late November. The company offered voluntary buyouts earlier this year.
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency said it plans to roll out the cameras in February, more than a year after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation allowing San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and three other cities to pilot the program for five years.
The Department of Motor Vehicles, the California State University system and San Bernardino County have all put out recent IT solicitations that are worth a look for the right vendors.
The county is opting to freeze new positions funded through the General Fund as a $20 million deficit looms. The move will likely increase department workloads and could increase reliance on IT solutions.
Amit Biswas brings 25 years of IT experience to the department and is an experienced technology manager, architect and engineer. Prior to joining FI$Cal, Amit worked in the private sector in the San Francisco Bay Area, Texas, Canada and India. During that time, he managed profit and cost centers, technology businesses and large teams.
Notable openings include deputy agency information security officer, geospatial engineer, and senior cybersecurity and fraud engineer.
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The story you are about to read is true; the names have been withheld to protect the innocent.
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