GRADE: 15

SALARY: $54,340- $85,150

POSITION TITLE: Communications Service Center Engineer

DEPARTMENT: Communications

REPORTS TO: Communications Supervisor

Position Summary

Performs duties to install, maintain and repair radio and microwave communications, and telecommunications equipment for St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the City of St. Louis.

FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB

Essential Functions

• Install, maintain and repair fixed-end radio, microwave, audio logging recorders, and telecommunications equipment.
• Evaluate diagnostic reports regarding the trunked radio system, phone system, voicemail system, microwave link, and the communications infrastructure network and take any appropriate action based on those reports.
• Install, maintain and repair cable, to include fiber optic cable and associated electronics.
• Install, maintain and repair city agencies’ subscriber radio equipment.
• Install, maintain and repair police department communications equipment. Install, maintain and repair recording devices for the police department.
• Evaluate radio frequency spectrum to locate external radio frequency carriers interfering with the radio communications system.
• Assist in training Specialist II’s and installers.
• Install, maintain and administer computer networks and components associated with radio, recording and telecommunications systems.
• Assist the Communications Service Center Specialist II’s and the Radio/Communication Equipment Installers when needed.
• Understand and maintain microwave data radio systems.
• Ability to work without direct supervision and manage projects.
• Confer with, and make recommendations to management, relating to policies and administration of the various networks and systems.
• Comply with revisions from time to time after mutual consultation.
• Regular, punctual attendance is required.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Knowledge:

• Bachelor Degree in Electronics, Electrical Engineering or equivalent experience.  Advanced working knowledge of electronics, computer networking and radio frequency propagation.
• Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA) certification or equivalent, such as various COMPTIA certifications. Will be provided one year to obtain after employment.
• Federal Communications Commission General Radio/Telephone Operator License or Equivalent. Will be provided one year to obtain after employment.

Experience: 

• Minimum of four years experience in electronics or equivalent with at least three years in radio frequency trunking or equivalent.

Skills and Abilities:

• Data Utilization: Requires the ability to process, calculate, compute, summate, and/or tabulate data and/or information. Includes the ability to perform subsequent action in relation to these computational operations.
• Human Interaction: Requires the ability to provide guidance, assistance and/or interpretation to co-workers, other city departments, businesses and the public, on how to apply policies, procedures and standards to specific situations
• Equipment, Machinery, Tools and Materials Use: Requires the ability to operate a variety of office equipment such as computer terminal, typewriter, telephone, fax machine, two-way radio, calculator/adding machine, computer printer and photocopier. Some positions may utilize a two-way radio.
• Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference and descriptive data and information such as regulations, requests for service, various forms, work orders, permit applications, receipts, account activity records, schedules, directories, maps, correspondence and general operating manuals.
• Mathematical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; calculate decimals and percentage.
• Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form. Involves semi-routine standardized work, with some latitude for independent judgment regarding choices of action.
• Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving a variety of generally pre-defined duties that may be subject to frequent change.
• Environmental Factors: Work is normally performed in an office environment under generally safe and comfortable conditions where exposure to irate individuals poses a very limited risk of injury.
• Physical Requirements: Sitting, Standing, Walking, Climbing, Stooping, Kneeling, Reaching, Pushing, Pulling, Grasping, Hearing, Talking. Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less and 20 feet or more with the ability to adjust the eye to bring objects into sharp focus, to judge distance and space relationships and to distinguish colors.  Employee required to exert 25 to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force continuously to lift, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
• Sensory Requirements: Requires the ability to recognize and identify individual characteristics of colors and shapes to read maps, and sounds to communicate with others. Ability to sustain prolonged visual concentration.
• Ability to apply knowledge under extreme pressure and responsibility.
• Apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written or oral form.
• Ability to communicate effectively both written and oral.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to work with various levels of employees.
• Ability to troubleshoot and solve problems.
• Ability to document modifications to original system designs or the design of a system.
• Ability to manage projects.
• Perform miscellaneous tasks as directed.

Working Environment:

• Normal office environment with attending outside functions when required.
• Employee exposed to noise, heat, cold, chemicals, electrical current, gases and fumes.

Machines, Tools, Equipment and Work Aids: 

• Personal Computer
• Power Tools,
• Hand Tools,
• Computer
• Digital Volt Meter
• Diagnostic Equipment
• Communications Monitor
• Oscilloscope
• Fiber Optic Light Source
• Spectrum Analyzer.
• Telephone
• Copier/Fax Machine

PHYSICAL/VISUAL ACTIVITIES OR DEMANDS

Sitting, Standing, Walking, Climbing, Stooping, Kneeling, Reaching, Pushing, Pulling, Grasping, Hearing, Talking.

Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less and 20 feet or more with the ability to adjust the eye to bring objects into sharp focus, to judge distance and space relationships and to distinguish colors. 

Employee required to exert 25 to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force continuously to lift, push, pull or otherwise move objects.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The job description does not necessarily contain all of the actual or essential duties of this position.  All job offers are contingent upon passing a medical evaluation/drug screen and criminal background check.

Certain job functions described herein may be subject to possible modification in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.  

“Commonly associated” is not intended to mean always or only. There are different experiences that suggest other ways or circumstances where reasonable changes or accommodations are appropriate.