-
Job Description
Description
The City of Palo Alto is seeking a Technologist to support the Data Analysis and Technology Applications (DATA) group within the Planning and Development Services Department. Talented individuals who are passionate about leveraging technology to enhance accessibility in local government are encouraged to apply. The ideal candidate has experience with administering online permitting software such as Accela and will be able to demonstrate expertise.
The Technologist is responsible for managing permitting and related department software, systems analysis, programming, and implementing solutions. This position receives general supervision from an assigned manager, may exercise technical and functional direction and provide training to staff on a project basis.
The Planning and Development Services Department provides guidance for land use development, long range planning, housing, and environmental policies. The department also processes permit and entitlement applications and ensures conformance with applicable codes and regulations, responds to Planning, Zoning, Building, and Code Enforcement related questions, and implements the Historic Resources Preservation Program. For more information about the City of Palo Alto's Planning and Development Services Department, click HERE.
Ideal Candidates
Ideal candidates will possess the following:- Experience administering and providing technical support for Accela and other cloud-based permitting software.
- An understanding and familiarity with the Planning, Building, and other development services permitting workflow processes.
- Effective project management and coordination skills with the ability to maintain effective working relationships with various departments and stakeholders.
- Strong ability to learn new systems quickly with excellent troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
- Front-end development experience using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, and Microsoft Power Apps.
- Database development and management experience using SQL, and report writing and management with Power BI, Crystal Reports, and SSRS.
Essential Duties
Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:- Provides technical expertise to department staff and ongoing technical support for the Accela Civic Platform, Accela CRM, DigEplan, and other integrations as adopted.
- Manages record types, workflows, reports, users, and other technical aspects of the permitting software which requires hand-on support or consultant and vendor management as needed.
- Meets with development services teams regularly to understand issues and improvements needed and project manages requests from determining requirements through implementation, including quality checks.
- Trains staff on new system functionalities and updates.
- Assists in identification of systems software bugs or modification needs, formulates proper resolution request to system representatives, monitors resolution, and ensure all stakeholders are apprised.
- Creates and publishes training documentation or videos to assist staff and stakeholders who use the permitting software.
- Identifies areas where change or increased use of existing or new systems would provide increased speed, accuracy, or efficacy in Planning & Development Services operations.
Minimum Qualifications
Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities which would typically be acquired through:- Bachelor's degree in Computer Information Systems (CIS), or related field with specialization in electronic data processing, programming, systems analysis, and system design, or equivalent.
and- Depending upon area of assignment, three to four years of increasingly responsible experience in information technology.
For the full Technologist job description, click HERE
Supplemental Information
More than one position may be filled through this posting.
The City of Palo Alto offers a fantastic benefits package. For all full-time employees:- 80 hours of vacation, hours increase with years of service.
- Affordable health plans with a choice between HMO and PPO.
- Up to 6 weeks paid parental leave
- Generous retirement pension program administered by CalPERS
- Commuter incentives for qualifying staff
and more....
This position is represented by Service Employee International Union (SEIU).
The Selection Process:- Applicants will receive recruitment status notifications via email. Governmentjobs.com account also has notification status updates.
- Applicants will be screened throughout the posting process and highly qualified candidates may be invited to interview at any time.
- The screening process for this position typically may include a virtual recorded interview and/or panel interviews preceding final interviews with the hiring manager or their designee.
Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday.
The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
See our Benefits at a Glance Bookletfor more details.
Learn more about our Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the City and its bargaining units, by clicking HERE.
Closing Date/Time: 3/12/2026 11:59 PM Pacific -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
-
-
City of Palo Alto
Show moreThe Community
The birthplace of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, is a community of approximately 68,000 residents and nearly 100,000 jobs. Located on the mid-Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose, Palo Alto is recognized worldwide as a leader in cutting-edge technology, medicine, and green innovation. The community's treelined streets and historic buildings reflect its California heritage, and, at the same time, many world-class businesses maintain or started offices here, such as Stanford Health Care and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Amazon, Broadcom, Hewlett-Packard, Houzz, Rivian, SAP and SAP Ariba, Tesla, and Varian Medical Systems. Numerous start-ups are also at home in Palo Alto, arguably making it the start-up capital of the world. Stanford University is foundational to the history and prestige of Palo Alto, reflected in the community's dedication to lifelong learning. Stanford's cultural and educational offerings are integral to the vibrancy and charm of Palo Alto, while the City's exceptional K-12 school district ranks among the top public-school systems in the country. With more than 50% of adult residents holding a graduate degree or higher, Palo Alto is frequently listed as one of the most educated cities in the nation. Palo Alto boasts a genuine sense of community and an active citizenry with strong environmental values. Beautiful neighborhoods are complemented by vibrant commercial corridors and a bustling economy featuring premium shopping and dining options. Excellent healthcare facilities, performing arts, and diverse recreational opportunities are some of the community's incredibly desirable and cherished amenities. To learn more, visit https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/City-Manager/Latest-NewsCity Government
Palo Alto is a full-service charter city with a council-manager form of government. The seven-member City Council is elected at large, and the City Council annually selects the Mayor and Vice Mayor from among its members. The Mayor and City Council appoint the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and City Auditor. The City Manager is responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the City. Palo Alto is organized into 15 departments/offices with 1,093.10 authorized positions in FY 2025. There is also a FY 2025 capital budget of $316.2 million. Palo Alto owns and operates its own utilities, including electricity (carbon-neutral), gas, water, wastewater, and an expanding fiber network. This dynamic municipal environment ensures an ever-engaging platform for unique problem-solving and advances new initiatives, including sustainability, broadband, and effective service delivery. Community assets also include five libraries, 36 parks, five community centers, a museum and zoo, youth centers, a general aviation airport, an 18-hole golf course, a regional water treatment plant, and wildland open space preserves at the San Francisco Bay and in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains offering 41 miles of walking/biking trails in addition to its police, fire, and ambulance services. Palo Alto has long been a leader in sustainability, and the City's ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals are part of what sets it apart. Since the City's first Climate Protection Plan was passed in 2007, Palo Alto has set goals that exceed State and Federal targets. Today, the City's goal to reduce emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2030 (the "80x30" goal) and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 guides sustainability efforts. An award-winning City, Palo Alto is recognized nationally as innovative and well-managed. City services and performance also receive impressive marks from community members in the Palo Alto Community Survey.
Many of those ratings put City programs and services in the highest percentiles among the hundreds of benchmark cities. Palo Alto makes decisions through comprehensive processes and proactively seeks to involve its extremely informed, educated, and engaged residents. Projects are naturally a cooperative effort among the City Council, Boards, Commissions, Committees, engaged residents, neighborhoods, businesses, property owners, and staff.
Join an Award Winning Team
Palo Alto is an award-winning City recognized nationwide as innovative and well-managed. Palo Alto is one of a small number of California cities with a AAA bond rating. Recently, Palo Alto became one of the most livable cities in the U.S. by Livability.com. It's the only city to receive the Platinum Beacon Award in sustainability best practices by California’s Institute for Local Government. We offer a variety of career paths that relate to building and improving communities. The City has fourteen departments employing 1,000 full-time staff. Police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and building inspectors keep us safe. Engineers and public works staff build and re-build the physical infrastructure. City planners help envision and shape future community growth. Recreation, arts and library professionals enhance community life. Utilities provides electric, gas, water, sewer and other services. Internal services departments help manage, staff, and protect the City.
Want to learn more about our benefits? Learn more by reviewing our "Benefits at a Glance Booklet."
Contact Us
Phone: 650-329-2376
Email: Recruit@paloalto.gov
Location: City Hall, 1st Floor | 250 Hamilton Ave 94301 | View Map
-