2025 Communications Electronic Technician (Columbia, SC)

Requisition 38495: 2025 Communications Electronic Technician (Columbia, SC)

Job Description

Norfolk Southern is looking for qualified candidates that possess recent experience in the testing installing, repairing, and maintaining telecommunications equipment including, but not limited to: Radios, Digital Microwave (MW), and Radio Frequency (RF) Data Link Equipment.

Principal Duties

• Ensure compliance with all railroad rules and regulations for safety, operations, and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
• Install, maintain, replace, and check communication equipment including cables, computers, printers, monitors, radios, telephones, modems, wireless components, security cameras, batteries, connectors, various parts, and testing equipment.
• Install, maintain, replace, and check VHF radios, data circuits, automatic equipment identification, closed circuit television, radar, speaker systems and other communication facilities
• Cut, splice, and pull cable on ground, poles, and towers
• Use trenching equipment to bury equipment and cables in ground
• Receive and record inventory delivery
• Retrieve parts from inventory to install and maintain equipment
• Transport tools and equipment to jobsite by truck
• Install wiring in offices and field locations
  
  

Pay Rate

Pay rate information is subject to change based on Collective Bargaining Agreement and, if applicable, may vary by location.

• During Training – 75% of CET Hourly Rate. Current CET rate is $29.35/hr
• Promoted to CET – Approximately $8,632.87/month
  
  

Training

OJT for up to 1 year to qualify as a Communications Electronic Technician (CET). Possibility to promote sooner based on job performance and qualifications.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School diploma/GED
• Valid Driver's License
• 18 years of age or older
• Ability to obtain and maintain an FCC license or NABOR certificate once hired.
• Ability to work a 6-day work schedule with one scheduled rest day (5 on and 1 stand-by day)
• Ability to obtain a Class A CDL once hired.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License
• Experience operating heavy equipment
• Two-year technical degree or equivalent experience in network management
  
  

Medical Benefits

• Company Benefits - Eligible 1st day of second month after hire (during training)
• 80/20 plan for employee, spouse, and eligible dependents
• Union Benefits available after mark-up from Trainee status
• Medical (Managed or 85/15 Plan)
• $20K Life Insurance
• 401 (K) First Day of Employment
• After 1st year of service: Eligible for Dental / Vision
  
  

Skills And Abilities

• Time Management
• Prioritizing Work Demands
• Communication Skills
• Multi-tasking
• Planning and Organizing
• MS Excel/Spreadsheets, MS Outlook, and MS Word/Word Processing
  
  

Career Path

Predecessor Jobs: None

Future Jobs: Supervisor C&S

Environment: Outdoor/Field

Shift Work: No

On-Call: Yes

Weekend Work: Yes

Travel Required: Yes

Company Overview

Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a customer-centric and operations-driven freight transportation network. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver more than 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods, and is the largest rail shipper of auto products and metals in North America. Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern U.S., serving a majority of the country’s population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as the Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes. Learn more by visiting www.NorfolkSouthern.com.

At Norfolk Southern, we believe in celebrating our individuality. By leveraging the unique backgrounds and viewpoints of our employees, we can create a culture of innovation, respect, and inclusion. We know that employees thrive in a workplace where differing viewpoints, ideas, and experiences are freely shared and valued. As such, we encourage all employees to contribute their distinctive skills and capabilities to our organization.

Equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Together, we power progress.