Communications Helper - Assistant Technician (Alaska Railroad)

PURPOSE OF POSITION: To provide assistance to Communications Technicians and perform basic maintenance, installation, and repair of ARRC communications and support systems traversing backbone nodes and the distribution of communications to user locations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Assists Communications Technicians who will provide written and oral instruction regarding work methods, procedures, safe use of tools and test equipment.  Performs a variety of communications tasks that include installation, maintenance, and repair of telephone systems, category-5 and telephone cabling, microwave systems, voice and data radios, alarm systems, battery plants, generators, and antennas.  Completes work on repetitive tasks that are routine incidental or preparatory work.

Installs and maintains cables to include inside and outside telephone cables up to 300 pairs and overhead, buried and underground plant systems. Establishes new routes for cables, cross connect blocks, positions, patch panels, patch cords, and terminating jacks from central office and communications nodes to end equipment.  Completes fiber optic cable repair and terminations. Installs analog, digital and VOIP telephones and fax machines.  Utilizes cable locators and testers for troubleshooting, documentation and analysis.

Installs, maintains and monitors transport equipment to include microwave radio systems, point-to-point wireless links, and associated antenna systems, multiplexers, CSU/DSUs, modems, terminal switch gear, network hardware, and security camera equipment. Utilizes analog and digital test equipment for troubleshooting, documentation, and analysis.

Installs, maintains and monitors multi-frequency base station, mobile, data and handheld radios, antenna leads and various waveform array configurations on communication towers, locomotives, and mobile vehicles.  Installs and maintains radio communications controllers. Utilizes service monitor, watt, power, and SWR meters to perform troubleshooting, documentation, and analysis.

Installs, maintains, and makes repairs as needed on buildings, standby generators, fuel systems, transfer switchers, electrical load banks, batteries, charging systems, wind and solar power generators, PLCs, weather station equipment, and alarm systems.  Installs and maintains grounding for communication towers, huts, and facilities.

Researches vendors’ technical documents in order to replace defective electronic components and mechanical equipment.

FACTOR 1:  Skill and Knowledge

 Incumbent will be required to work with common hand tools and heavy power tools.   Must have a basic understanding of digital and analog electronic principals.  Must be familiar with the fundamental use of communication test equipment that includes voltmeters, circuit line analyzers, T-1 span analyzers, signal generators, tone detectors, oscilloscopes, and radio frequency watt meters.   Must be able to follow simple schematic diagrams, block diagrams, and troubleshooting principles.  Must have a basic understanding of radio, microwave, multiplexing, and telephone theory of operation.  Must have an understanding of Electromagnetic Static Discharge (ESD) precautions.  Must have a valid driver’s license.

 FACTOR 2:  Responsibility

 Works under close supervision of a Communications Technician who makes verbal work assignments, providing specific and detailed instructions on all but routine and repetitive tasks.  Work is reviewed in progress to ensure compliance with instructions and for overall adequacy.  Performs simpler tasks alone, or with minimal direction.

 FACTOR 3:  Physical Effort

Some installations, maintenance and repairs require work in hard-to-reach places.   This requires standing on ladders, stooping, bending, kneeling, climbing 200 ft. towers using safety harness equipment 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

Employee is required to perform communication work inside and outdoors.  Is sometimes required to make necessary installations and repairs outside in adverse weather conditions such as rain, snow, and extreme cold conditions.  Required to climb 200 foot towers.  Is occasionally required to climb in and out of confined spaces.  Usually performs work in a heated, well lit, and ventilated area.

The full position description and example of duties for this position is located under Class Specifications (enter position title in Search): https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/Alaska/classspecs

For Communications Helper:

 High school diploma or GED required. Basic understanding of digital and analog electronic principles required.  Ability to work with common hand tools and heavy power tools required.  Must be able to follow simple schematic diagrams, block diagrams, and troubleshooting principles.  Must be familiar with the basic use of communication test equipment that includes voltmeters, circuit line analyzers, T-1 span analyzers, signal generators, tone detectors, oscilloscopes, and radio frequency watt meters.   Must have a basic understanding of radio, microwave, multiplexing, and telephone theory of operation.  Must understand Electromagnetic Static Discharge (ESD) precautions.  Must be able to lift and carry tools, equipment, etc. weighing up to 60 pounds.   Must be able to climb 200 ft. towers and use safety harness equipment.   Must be able to operate motor vehicles and must possess a valid driver’s license.

 

For Communications Assistant Technician:

 In addition to the above, must have successfully demonstrated their ability to independently perform the more technically advanced aspects of the job.

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: https://online.dmv.alaska.gov/onlinedrivingrecords
 
WORKPLACE ALASKA APPLICATION QUESTIONS & ASSISTANCE
Questions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll free) or (907) 465-4095 if you are located in the Juneau area. Requests for information may also be emailed to recruitment.services@alaska.gov.

For applicant password assistance please visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/OnlineApplication/User/ResetPassword

Salary : $27