Automation Specialist/Programmer in San Diego, California at United States Probation Office, Southern District of California (CA)

Total Compensation
The maximum starting salary for this CL 27 position is $76,770. The full salary range for the position is $68,233 - $110,917.

The Automation Specialist/Programmer is part of the Information Technology team responsible for the implementation and coordination of specifically assigned automation projects for the probation office. The Automation Specialist/Programmer administers the day-to-day operations and supports agency applications, such as PACTS (Probation/Pretrial Case Tracking System), Office 365, and SharePoint Online, to ensure reliable and effective operations. The position performs work related to designing, modifying, and adapting existing and acquired software. The position is responsible for writing code; and under the direction of the IT Manager may meet with end users to analyze their needs to implement software solutions and perform moderately complex troubleshooting for hardware and software systems.

Representative duties include but are not limited to:

• Proactively identifies opportunities to advance court programming capabilities and the automation of manual processes; prepare and present analysis and recommendations to the IT Manager and/or CUEs on application strategies, emerging tools, and automation improvements throughout the probation office.
• Lead the design and architecture of enterprise software solutions for the court; deliver development services using C#, VBA, .Net languages, as well as JSON data format(s); set the technical direction for all custom application development within the IT Unit.
• Spearhead programming and automation strategy development for the agency in coordination with office management and the user community; define application and system requirements that support the mission of the agency and submit software solution recommendations to the IT Manager for approval.
• Maintain contact with other automation probation/pretrial personnel at different locations and levels for the purpose of remaining knowledgeable of developments, techniques, and user programs.
• Develop, configure and support SharePoint environments including site collections, web applications, and service applications
• Provide SharePoint support to end users, coordinating with different departments to understand their requirements and develop solutions
• Build and maintain SharePoint web parts, Power Automate applications and Power Automate flows to facilitate the automation of business processes.
• Design, test, implement, and manage Microsoft Word Templates, to be used by staff for purpose of producing formal documents/reports related to various cases
• Make technical decisions in the absence of the IT Manager in order to maintain automation systems and resolve any problems or failures of these systems
• Serve as the IT Unit’s subject-matter expert for SharePoint Online, Office 365, and Enterprise Windows environments; evaluate technical configurations, infrastructure changes, and platform options, and present findings and recommendations to IT Manager for approval.
• Provide technical assistance for various issues for end-users, as needed; technical backup to support team.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Must possess strong customer service skills; the ability to work cooperatively with clients, team members, and managers; the ability to handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment; and the ability to follow an assigned project through to completion.

Personal Characteristics
A successful candidate must be professional, responsible, organized, and meticulous. Must also possess strong analytical skills, tact, good judgment, initiative, and the ability to work with a wide variety of people with diverse backgrounds.
To qualify for the position of Automation Specialist/Programmer, a candidate must possess at least two years of specialized experience (as defined below).

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE
Progressively responsible experience related to the technical aspects of data processing, office automation, and data communications and their applications, terminology and methodology, including the accomplishment of computer project assignments that involved systems analysis, design programming, implementation, integration and management.

Preferred Qualifications

• Office 365 and VBA integration
• SharePoint Online (Site development/management)
• Microsoft Power Automate

Position is open until filled, applications preferred by August 10, 2026.

• Applicants must be United States Citizens.
• A background investigation including fingerprinting and criminal history and credit checks will be conducted as a condition of employment.
• All application information is subject to verification.
• Court employees are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Federal Judicial Employees.
• The court is not authorized to reimburse travel expenses for interviews or relocation.
• This position is subject to mandatory electronic funds transfer for payroll direct deposit.

U.S. Probation reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement, or to withdraw the announcement, without prior written or other notice. Only qualified applicants will be considered for this position.

U.S. Probation employees serve under “Excepted Appointments” and are considered “at will” employees with the exception of U.S. Probation Officers who are “for cause.” The U.S. Probation Office is a part of the Judicial Branch of the United States government. Although comparable to the Executive Branch (civil service) in salary, leave accrual, health benefits, life insurance benefits, and retirement benefits, generally court employees are not subject to the many statutory and regulatory provisions that govern civil service employment.

All information provided by applicants is subject to verification and background investigation. Applicants are advised that false statements or omission of information on any application materials may be grounds for non-selection, withdrawal of an offer of employment, or dismissal after being employed.

UNITED STATES PROBATION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER