Communications Technician

The City of San José, the Capital of Silicon Valley, is one of the nation's best managed cities and one of the top cities in which to live, work, and do business. Moreover, San José is the center of cultural, government and economic activity for the region.

The employees of the City of San José have embraced the following values: Integrity, Innovation, Excellence, Collaboration, Respect, and Celebration. The City's Public Works Department is seeking an individual whose values align with the values of the City's employees.

The Department of Public Works is responsible for delivering capital improvement projects for a wide variety of City facilities and infrastructure, maintaining City facilities and fleet assets, facilitating and regulating development activities, and providing animal care and services.  The Department is committed to high-quality service, customer service and partnering with the stakeholders and clients to provide facilities for the City of San Jose residents. community, and providing an excellent environment in which to work.

The salary range for Communications Technician classification is $99,109.92 - $120,600.48. All ranges include an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable pay. Actual salary shall be determined by the final candidate's qualifications and experience.

The Department of Public Works is currently recruiting to fill a Communications Technician position for the Radio Communications Shop. The Radio Communications shop maintains the communication system for the City of San José that is used by multiple departments, such as: Police, Fire, Department of Transportation, Parks Recreation Neighborhood Services (Park Rangers), and Public Works (Animal Care & Services).

The City of San José public safety and city services depend upon the use of commercial radio communications equipment. For police officers and firefighters, radio communications are the primary means of communicating with the 9-1-1 dispatch center in performing their duties. These vast stand-alone radio systems with fault-tolerant designs are essential to providing the public with reliable emergency response services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with demand for system survivability through any catastrophic event.

The key responsibilities of the Communications Technician may include:

• Installation, maintenance and repair of mobile and portable radios, base and control stations, microwave systems, dispatch consoles, voting receivers and comparators, digital Microwave system and P25 LMR systems.

• Respond to trouble reports, perform preventative maintenance and project assignments. Update technical documentation including wiring block assignments, CEB programming and configurations, as-built drawings of installed equipment at City radio sites, specialized vehicular installations, and diagrams of the City's various communications systems.

• Provide recommendations for process improvement changes with the input of technical staff.

• Construct and/or modify communications equipment and perform research on new equipment.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Successful completion of a two-year college curriculum in electronics communications or electronics engineering from an accredited college or university.

Experience: At least one (1) year of experience in the installation, maintenance, and repair of land mobile communications equipment.

Required licenses & Certifications:

• Possession of a valid driver's license authorizing operation of a motor vehicle in the State of California. Out of State licenses may be acceptable.

• For the land mobile radio function, possession of a valid General Class Radiotelephone Operators license, issued by the Federal Communications Commission, or an equivalent Communications Technician Certification, issued after examination by a recognized two-way radio professional organization is required within 6 months of the hire date.

Desired Certifications Include:

• Possession of a Radiotelephone Technician Certificate issued by the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO)
• Possession of a Technician Certificate issued by National Association of Radio and Television Engineers (NARTE)
• Possession of a General Radiotelephone Operators License issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Other Requirements

This position requires clearance of a Police Department preliminary background check within 6 months of employment.

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history. Desirable competencies for this position include:

Job Expertise: Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices; Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations. Experience in the area of public safety communications is desired.

Computer Skills: Experience with common business computer applications including but not limited to MS Outlook, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Excel.

Customer Service: Approaches problem-solving by focusing on customers first; advocates for customer results point of view; demonstrates the ability to anticipate customers' needs and deliver services effectively and efficiently in a timely, accurate, respectful, and friendly manner.

Initiative: Exhibits resourceful behaviors toward meeting job objectives; anticipates problems, is proactive, and avoids difficulties by planning ahead; displays willingness to assume extra responsibility and challenges; pursues continuing education opportunities that promotes job performance.

Problem Solving: Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem; collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.

Project Management: Ensures support for projects and implements agency goals and strategic objectives.

Communication Skills: Communicates and listens effectively and responds in an timely, effective, positive and respectful manner; written reports and correspondence are accurate, complete, current, well-organized, legible, concise, neat, and in proper grammatical form.

This position is open until filled with the next review date of May 24, 2024.

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. You must answer all questions to be considered or your application may be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration.

Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Jennifer Macias at Jennifer.Macias1@sanjoseca.gov.