Job Summary: Systems Programmer 2/3 (System Architect)

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) is seeking a System Architect to join the Division of Statewide Services in Anchorage, AK. This is a mission-critical role responsible for the technological backbone of Alaska’s law enforcement infrastructure. The incumbent will design and oversee complex systems that support over 5,000 users statewide, including the Alaska Public Safety Information Network (APSIN). This position is “flexibly staffed,” meaning it can be filled at the level 2 or 3 depending on experience, with a clear path for advancement.

Please Note: This recruitment is currently open only to Department of Public Safety employees or those with transfer/rehire rights to this classification.

Key Responsibilities

System Architecture: Define principles and standards for critical law enforcement applications; create architecture artifacts like diagrams and models to communicate designs to technical teams and leadership.
Cloud Strategy: Lead the migration of enterprise systems to Azure PaaS and IaaS; manage Azure DevOps and Continuous Integration (CI) pipelines for both on-premises and cloud environments.
Software Development: Act as a technical lead in a C#/.NET environment, creating proof-of-concept prototypes and conducting code reviews to mentor junior programmers.
Compliance & Standards: Review vendor proposals to ensure strict alignment with Alaska CJIS and FBI CJIS security policies.
Modernization: Analyze legacy systems to identify deficiencies and research new frameworks or design patterns for adoption within DPS.

Required Qualifications & Skills

Systems Programmer 2

Experience: Professional experience in database, network, or system administration.
Competencies: Knowledge of hardware specifications, infrastructure design (LAN/WAN), and operating systems.
Integration: Proven ability to install and optimize information system components.

Systems Programmer 3 (Advanced)

Experience: Progressively responsible professional experience in system analysis and administration.
Competencies: Advanced knowledge of Configuration Management and the implementation of complex system updates.
Testing: Expertise in developing systems testing and evaluation procedures for critical operational issues.

Special Requirements

Security Clearance: Must pass a thorough fingerprint-based criminal history background check. Convictions for felonies or misdemeanors will disqualify applicants due to required APSIN access.
Confidentiality: Must sign an agreement concerning the sensitive nature of law enforcement data.

About the Organization: DPS Statewide Services

The Division of Statewide Services provides the technical “nervous system” for Alaska’s law enforcement. Their work reaches the furthest corners of the state, managing everything from vehicle-based systems for State Troopers to the Alaska Record Management System (ARMS). The culture is one of high dedication, where technical excellence directly translates to public safety and the protection of Alaskan lives and property.

Market & Industry Context: Law Enforcement Tech

Public safety technology in 2026 is increasingly defined by the transition from monolithic legacy databases to Cloud-Native architectures. In Alaska, this is complicated by the “geographical digital divide.”

The Azure Shift: The move to Azure PaaS allows DPS to scale resources during high-demand events (like state-wide emergencies) without the overhead of physical server maintenance in remote locations.
CJIS Compliance: FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) standards are the “Gold Standard” for data security. An architect in this role must balance modern ease-of-use with the most stringent encryption and access controls in the IT industry.

Benefits & Professional Development

The State of Alaska offers a comprehensive “Total Rewards” package for the General Government bargaining unit:

Salary: $46.55 – $49.80 per hour.
Training: Access to Pluralsight and MSDN subscriptions; specialized training in Microsoft Azure and 3rd-party toolkits.
Work-Life Balance: 12 paid holidays, personal leave accrual, and hybrid telework options (following the probationary period).
Retirement: Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) and the Alaska Supplemental Annuity Plan.

Interview Preparation Insights

Since a cover letter is not required, your Workplace Alaska application must be exhaustive.

Showcase your .NET/C# experience: Be prepared to discuss specific architecture patterns you have implemented.
Azure DevOps: Have examples ready regarding how you have managed CI/CD pipelines or automated deployments.

Architecture Models: You may be asked how you translate complex infrastructure needs into visual models for non-technical leadership.

Category	Details & Specifications
Employer	State of Alaska – Department of Public Safety (DPS)
Location	Anchorage, AK (Headquarters at 5700 Tudor Road)
Salary Range	$46.55 – $49.80 Hourly (Range 22/23)
Job Type	Full Time, Remote Optional (Hybrid options available)
Eligibility	Internal Only (Current DPS employees or rehire rights)

Core Responsibilities: The System Architect Role

This position functions as the high-level System Architect for the Department of Public Safety. You will be responsible for the structural integrity and modernization of critical law enforcement infrastructure.

Functional Area	Actionable Tasks
Infrastructure	Define and apply system principles for critical law enforcement enterprise applications.
Cloud Migration	Assess and migrate legacy systems to Azure PaaS and IaaS environments.
Software Dev	Develop in C#/.NET; create proof-of-concept prototypes and system models.
DevOps	Manage Azure DevOps and CI/CD pipelines for on-premises and cloud systems.
Compliance	Ensure all vendor proposals and system designs align with Alaska CJIS and FBI CJIS policies.

Mission-Critical Systems Under Oversight

You will provide architectural guidance for systems that support over 5,000 users statewide, including:

APSIN: Alaska Public Safety Information Network.
ABIS: Automated Biometric Identification System.
ARMS: Alaska Record Management System.
TraCS: Traffic and Collision System.
CAD: Computer Aided Dispatch.

Mandatory Qualifications & Competencies

Classification: This is a flexibly staffed position. Level 2 hires can promote to Level 3 upon completion of probation and training.
Education/Experience: Training in Computer Science or IT plus professional experience in database, network, or system administration.
Technical Mastery:
- Thorough knowledge of Infrastructure Design (LAN/WAN/Protocols).
- Mastery of Software Engineering life cycles and reliability metrics.
- Experience with Azure cloud platforms and C#/.NET environments.
Clearance: Must pass a fingerprint-based background check and obtain APSIN security clearance. Convictions for felonies or certain misdemeanors are disqualifying.

Total Rewards & Working Conditions

Hybrid Work: Remote options are available subject to HR approval following the probationary period.
Training: Access to Pluralsight, MSDN, and specialized Microsoft Azure cloud training.
Retirement: Membership in PERS (Public Employees Retirement System) with matching employer contributions.
Benefits: General Government bargaining unit health trust; 12 paid holidays and increasing personal leave accrual.

Comparison: State of Alaska Technical Tiers

Metric	Systems Programmer 2	Systems Programmer 3	Data Processing Mgr 3
Salary (Hourly)	Starting $46.55	Up to $49.80	Senior Management
Focus	Integration & Testing	Configuration & Analysis	Personnel & Strategy
Staffing	Flexibly Staffed	Flexibly Staffed	Management
Unit	General Government	General Government	Exempt/Supervisory

To apply for this job please visit www.alaska.gov.