Telecommunications Specialist

This Telecommunications Specialist position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Information and Technology, Field Support Directorate, Southwest Region, located in Ajo, AZ.

Joining the Customs and Border Protection Office of Information and Technology will enable you to use your communication skills to design, develop, and monitor voice, data, and video surveillance systems. You’ll receive a great starting salary, opportunity for promotions and the Federal Government’s outstanding employment benefit package.

This position starts at a salary of $67,109.00 (GS-11, Step 1) to $104,570.00 (GS-12, Step 10) with promotion potential to $104,570.00 (GS-12 Step 10).

In this Telecommunications Specialist position, you will coordinate and conduct performance measurements on new and advanced wireless telecommunication equipment and techniques.

Typical work assignments include:

• Installing, troubleshooting, repairing, redesigning, and maintaining telecommunications systems.
• Configuring and maintaining telecommunication networks and applications, such as intrusion detection systems, land, mobile radio communication, and video surveillance.
• Resolving telecommunication equipment failure and unsatisfactory performance problems.
• Providing recommendations and proposals on new and advance equipment and techniques based on performance capabilities, limitations, and cost.

Qualifications

Experience: You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Maintaining telecommunication system performance through use of established tools and instructions.
• Installing, configuring, troubleshooting, repairing, maintaining and operational testing of telecommunications systems including, but not limited to: voice communications, telecommunications, stationary and mobile video and radar surveillance systems, microwave systems, fiber optic equipment, wide area network (WAN), local area network (LAN), switched equipment, intrusion detection and access control systems.
• Assisting with the installation of permanent and temporary tower related equipment, i.e., antennas, transmission lines, emergency generators, RF/Wireline and AC polyphaser (lightening protection) grounding rods and other peripheral site equipment as required.
• Monitoring and alerting telecommunication managers regarding deterioration in system performance.

Experience: You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Inspecting newly installed telecommunication equipment for conformance to performance requirements.
• Revolving telecommunications equipment failure or unsatisfactory performance problems.
• Installing, configuring, troubleshooting, repairing, maintaining and operational testing of telecommunications systems including, but not limited to: voice communications, telecommunications, stationary and mobile video and radar surveillance systems, microwave systems, fiber optic equipment, wide area network (WAN), local area network (LAN), switched equipment, intrusion detection and access control systems.
• Configuring and maintaining the telecommunications network to service applications such as intrusion detection systems, encrypted voice land/mobile radio communication systems, and the local area network (LAN).
• Overseeing the installation of permanent and temporary tower related equipment, i.e., Antennas, transmission lines, emergency generators, RF/Wireline and AC polyphaser (lightening protection) grounding rods and other peripheral site equipment as required.

Education Substitution for the GS-11 level:

GS-11: Successful completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent Doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in an accredited college or university, or an LL.M. (if related), may be substituted for experience at this grade level. Major study must be in electrical or electronic engineering, mathematics, physics, public utilities, statistics, computer science, telecommunications management, information systems management, business administration, industrial management, or other fields related to the position.

Combining Experience and Education (GS-11): To combine your education and experience, you must convert each to a percentage, and then add the percentages.

There is no education substitution at the GS-12 grade level for this position.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. You must meet all qualification requirements subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 07/25/2022.

The competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job are:

• Ability to communicate orally to deliver and present reports
• Skill in resolving difficult and complex telecommunication problems
• Skill in resolving telecommunications equipment failure
• Knowledge of a wide range of communications concepts, principles, procedures, and practices

The closing date for this employment opportunity is July 25, 2022.

Location of Employment Opportunity: Ajo, Arizona

Law enforcement positions are expected to report to their duty station daily. However, due to COVID-19, some positions in CBP are currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, and you are given an entrance on duty date you will be provided additional information on the reporting requirements of your position.

How to Apply

Click this site’s APPLY link to access the official Job Opportunity Announcement for this Telecommunications Specialist position found on USAJobs.gov, the Federal Government’s official employment site.

At that site you will be able to learn about what documents you will need to submit, along with your resume and an online assessment questionnaire.

Your resume will be reviewed and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, the assessment questionnaire will be used to place you in one of three categories based on your experience, education, and training: Best Qualified; Well-Qualified; Qualified.

The closing date for this employment opportunity is July 25, 2022.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $67,000.00 – $104,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Overtime

Work Location: Multiple Locations