After graduating, Sultangali worked as an architect of the Kazgorstroyproekt Institute, then the Oktyabrsky District of GlavUAGA. In 1984, he became the senior inspector and assistant to the chairman of the Almaty City Executive Committee. From 1989, Sultangali was the chairman of the Alatau village council until becoming the head of the City Executive Committee and the Department of Housing of the Almaty City Administration in 1990.
