Sr. Communications Engineer

Be a part of transit history! WMATAs Communications and Signaling team is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Communication Engineer with expertise in Public Address, Intercom, CCTV, Fire Life Safety, and Access Control systems to join our dynamic team. The successful candidate will be responsible for designing, implementing, configuring, maintaining, and troubleshooting critical communication and security systems across diverse environments. This role requires a deep understanding of networking, system integration, and industry standards to ensure seamless operation and interoperability of equipment. Key responsibilities include conducting site assessments, developing technical solutions, overseeing installations, and providing technical support to clients and internal teams. The ideal candidate will hold a degree (not required) in Electronics, Communication, or a related field and have hands-on experience in audio-visual systems, security infrastructure, and low-voltage technologies. Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively are essential. If you are up for the challenge, we are excited to talk to you!

Minimum Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical, Electronics, Communications, Computer / Network / Systems Engineering or Technology or a directly related field, with graduate course work in systems engineering is highly desirable.
  • Bachelor Degree with a minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional communications engineering and analysis experience, particularly in the utilization of a wide range of communications and telecommunications systems.

Experience

• In lieu of a Bachelor Degree, a minimum of eleven (11) years of combined directly related certification / accreditation and progressively responsible professional communications engineering and analysis experience, particularly in the utilization of a wide range of communications and telecommunications systems.

Certification/Licensure

N/A

Preferred (What are the preferred formal, vocational school or other education requirements of the job; however, these are not mandatory to perform the essential functions of the job)

N/A

Medical Group :

Ability to satisfactorily complete the medical examination for this position. The incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of this position either with or without reasonable accommodations.

Job Summary:

This senior engineering position is responsible for communications engineering work and serves as the principal design engineering expert on Communication Systems for the Authority. This position is responsible for analyzing requirements, developing systems to satisfy requirements, contributing to and supporting procurement activities, and reviewing and approving technical details. This position exercises provides guidance and mentoring as a subject matter expert and technical lead and collaborates closely internal and external stakeholders on assigned projects.

As a subject matter expert for communications and telecommunications systems engineering and design, this position may be responsible for one or more of the following disciplines: audio, telephony, microwave radio, land mobile radio systems with leaky line coaxial antennas in tunnels and large computer controlled bus fleet and police dispatch facilities, vehicle location, data networks, fiber optic cable transmission, inside and outside plant cable, data transmission, public address systems, closed circuit television, video surveillance, computer data interfaces, electrical fire and intrusion alarm systems, electronic security systems and miscellaneous associated systems

Essential Functions

• Collaborates with team members and stakeholders to develop and maintain design criteria, plans, procedures and methods and ensures conformance with WMATA and stakeholder requirements to be utilized for Authority communications and low voltage special system engineering activities.
• Analyzes, evaluates and documents stakeholder / end-user requirements; as a subject matter expert for communications and low voltage special systems and equipment, contributes to planning and development of programs and projects as assigned.
• Develops and prepares or directs the preparation of effective, high-quality specifications for design, custom manufacture, procurement and installation of systems and equipment. May conduct site visits to inspect proposed equipment and verify that requirements will be met by final product. Fully supports factory acceptance and field testing of components and systems.
• Collaborates with Construction, Maintenance and IT and other stakeholder teams to support the resolution of requests for information, design documents and submittals, constructability reviews, and issues that may arise during testing and commissioning.
• May conduct site visits and support installation / decommission of system components.
• Initiates reports and recommendations for improvements to the Authority's systems when appropriate.
• Fully supports the development of special engineering programs in partnership with stakeholders, in instances where custom designed and fabricated equipment is required but not available from standard industry sources. Collaborates on development of effective, original designs to meet unique or highly unusual system requirements.

Reviews and fully supports others in developing proposed changes to existing Authority communications and low voltage special systems, equipment and installations .

• Collaborates on the development and review of technical specifications, engineering reports, bills of materials, project plans, cost studies, and quality assurance items to ensure compliance with stakeholder requirements including industry and WMATA standards.
• Conducts site surveys and develops field studies to validate and verify as built documents; and develops preliminary recommendations for system design and / or design changes.
• Prepares or reviews, when requested, detailed responses to resolve a wide range of communications and telecommunications related technical issues arising from WMATA operating and maintenance departments.
• Provides technical leadership to Authority communication and low voltage special systems engineers and technicians as required.

OTHER FUNCTIONS (List other functions of the job that need to be accomplished but can be performed by another job, employee or done in an alternative way).

• Represents the Authority with local, regional, and federal agencies.
• May be called upon to provide expert testimony or depositions and statements during investigations.
• Depending on team assignment within the department, may be engaged with developing and analyzing propagation models and provide solutions to mitigate coverage issues.
• May participate in industry conferences as time and funding permit.
• Coordinates and collaborates frequently with WMATA internal customers.

Consideration will be given to applicants whose resumes demonstrate the required education and experience. Applicants should include all relevant education and work experience.

Evaluation criteria may include one or more of the following:

• Skills and/or behavioral assessment
• Personal interview
• Verification of education and experience (including certifications and licenses)
• Criminal Background Check (a criminal conviction is not an automatic bar to employment)
• Medical examination including a drug and alcohol screening (for safety sensitive positions)
• Review of a current motor vehicle report

Closing

WMATA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by applicable federal law.

This posting is an announcement of a vacant position under recruitment. It is not intended to replace the official job description. Job descriptions are available upon confirmation of an interview.

Employers have access to artificial intelligence language tools (“AI”) that help generate and enhance job descriptions and AI may have been used to create this description. The position description has been reviewed for accuracy and Dice believes it to correctly reflect the job opportunity.