Communications Radio Technician (Alaska Railroad)

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

To repair, overhaul, rebuild, align and adjust ARRC radio communications equipment. Monitors frequency emissions by licensed stations and addresses issues identified. Directs the installation of complex radio systems including the associated activities of site selection and construction. Analyzes equipment failure and malfunctions and, based on extensive practical knowledge of electronics, suggests changes to improve operation.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Installs, configures, maintains, monitors, troubleshoots, aligns, adjusts frequencies, and repairs all types of multi-frequency base station, mobile, data and handheld radios, antenna leads and various waveform array configurations on communication towers, locomotives, and mobile vehicles. Performs in-shop and field repairs, alignment, and modifications. Installs, configures, and maintains radio amplifiers, repeaters, combiners, duplexers, batteries, trunking radio telephones, and communications controllers. Utilizes service monitor, watt, power, and SWR meters to perform troubleshooting, documentation, and analysis.

Installs and maintains cables to include inside and outside plant for radio antennas, radios and data communications. Interfaces radio communications with network/switch equipment and determines analog or digital interface needs. Installs, inspects and maintains grounding for communication towers, huts, and facilities.

Provides oversight for link, data, and voice base station radios. Ensures interoperability between systems, sites and agencies. Recommends site locations and RF equipment selection for coverage, availability, and access. Determines RF power levels between adjacent facilities for optimal communications and minimized interference. Specifies frequency combining and isolation equipment for site antenna efficiency and placement. Selects frequency and channel plans to meet system design specifications.

Determines mobile and portable radio equipment selection based upon expected performance, reliability, operability, and safety criteria. Creates channel plans to meet operational requirements by department. Determines and standardizes vehicle and track equipment radio installations to include placement, electrical power requirements, and antenna selection and mounting.

Analyzes RF system configuration, performance, and impairments to identify capabilities and limitations. Recommends system changes to improve radio communications, reliability, and redundancy. Identifies, isolates and provides solutions for radio impairments at the system, site, and user level. Plans and coordinates changes to system, equipment, and frequency plans. Schedules and performs periodic maintenance inspections at communication sites to include circuit analysis, power systems, radio performance testing, radio frequency leak detection, proper antenna mounting and alignment.

Maintains accurate records and updates changes on microwave and circuit drawings, cable records, and building floor wiring plans, blueprints, property management and inventory. Researches replacement parts, orders, and documents repairs.

Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

Factor 1 - Skill and Knowledge

Must possess and maintain a current FCC General Radio Telephone Operator License (GROL). Ability to repair, overhaul, rebuild, align and adjust complete multi-systems used in the end to end radio communication systems. Able to determine proper sequence of operations and start point in sequential operations in order to pinpoint areas of malfunction. Extensive practical knowledge of the theories and practices of electromagnetic propagation, electronic circuits, and power systems, and many other areas covering a wide range of system applications. Must have an understanding of mathematics, including trigonometry, to calculate power relationships, signal phasing, etc. and operation of logic circuits. Broad knowledge of the interactions among a number of closely integrated complex systems. Highly skilled in using electronic test equipment and analyzing the results. Ability to interpret drawings, instructions, specifications, and electronic schematics for multisystem complexes. Basic knowledge of other trades such as electrical, sheet metal, carpentry, etc. Must have a good memory, ability to show ingenuity in servicing equipment, and exercise independent judgment as skills are developed in work. Must be able to work with minimal supervision. Must have a valid Alaska drivers license. Must attend track car operator training within one year of hire and obtain track car operator license within 30 months of hire.

Factor 2 Responsibility

Works under general supervision of the Manager, Communications & Signal Engineering. The Manager will provide only broad general instructions covering the scope of the task assigned. The incumbent is responsible for setting and adhering to own work schedule with only minor supervision, and must be flexible to change schedule without notice. The employee is considered to be a highly qualified expert in the trade and is responsible for advising engineering personnel on the operation and maintenance effects of proposed modifications and new equipment. Will provide technical assistance to lower grade employees and coordinate the work of employees assigned on a task basis to assist them. The work is reviewed in terms of overall results achieved. The incumbent is expected to maintain knowledge of state of the art technologies, as well as to stay abreast of new and emerging state of the market technologies.

Factor 3 - Physical Effort

Some installation, maintenance and repairs require work in hard to reach places. This requires standing on ladders, stooping, bending, kneeling, climbing 200 ft. towers and working in uncomfortable positions for extended periods of time. Frequently lifts, carries, and positions heavy tools, parts, and equipment weighing up to 60 pounds.

Factor 4 - Working Conditions

Work is performed in a well ventilated warm area 50% of the time. Requires occasional exposure to adverse weather conditions when working out of doors in low temperatures of -60 degrees. May be subjected to creosote, dirt, grime, electrical shock, battery acid on self or clothing while performing some tasks. Required to wear personal protective equipment when needed.

The full position description and example of duties for this position is located under Class Specifications (enter position title in Search): href=" style="color: inherit; text-decoration: underline"> classspecs

Communications Radio Technician I

High school graduation or GED equivalent is required. Must possess and maintain a current FCC General Radio Telephone Operator License. Associate's degree in electronics is preferred. Five years of experience as an electronics mechanic, communications technician or closely related experience is required. May substitute or combine college education and experience to meet the 5 year requirement. Two years of the required experience must have involved the repairing, overhauling, rebuilding, aligning and adjusting of radio communications equipment. Must have a valid driver's license and be able to obtain an Alaska Railroad track car operator's license within 30 months of hire.

Communications Radio Technician II

Two years of experience as a Radio Technician I and demonstrated ability to perform at a fully functional level on all aspects of the job. Must have a valid driver's license and an Alaska Railroad Track Car License.

The above reflects only the more significant details for the performance of the job and is not intended to be all inclusive.

This position is subject to the federal Hours of Service Act and the employee is responsible for complying with all of its requirements. In addition, an employee holding a safety-sensitive position, such as this, is subject to FRA drug testing regulations (i.e. random drug testing) and the ARRC drug and alcohol policy.

Please include any REQUIRED AND DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS in your APPLICANT PROFILE and/or RESUME . If using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer name, your job title, dates of employment and whether full- or part-time. Your application will be closely reviewed to determine if the responses are supported and minimum qualifications are clearly met. If they are not, the applicant will not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment.

IF you are selected for an interview, then you MUST be able to submit a copy of a current driving record that reflects the past three (3) years of driving history .

The State of Alaska DMV Driving Records are available online: alt="" src=" style="height: 260px; width: 260px" class="fr-fic fr-dii">

Alaska Railroad Human Resources Department E-Mail: ... Phone: ... Mailing Address: P.O. Box 107500, Anchorage, AK 99510-7500
Street Address: 327 West Ship Creek, Anchorage, AK
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