Sr. Telecommunications Engineer

CAREER DESCRIPTION

SR. TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENGINEER

In addition to performance-based merit increases, this position is scheduled to receive salary range increases on the following dates:

Effective June 27, 2025 - 4.00% increase

Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

This recruitment is open to the public and will remain open on a continuous basis for a minimum of five (5) business days, until the needs of the Department are met. Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately.

RECRUITMENT/POSITION INFORMATION
This recruitment is being held to establish an Open Eligible List to fill a vacancy in this class until the next recruitment. The eligible list established may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications.

THE DIVISION
The Sheriff-Coroner/Technology Division consists of approximately 150 personnel organized in six areas that specialize in specific operational and technical units, including Administration/Operations, Special Projects, Radio Communications, Applications, Infrastructure, and Security. Each section maintains a staff of Managers, Engineers, Technicians, and support staff to provide a high level of operational and technical expertise to various public safety functions including Law Enforcement, Fire Services, Emergency Medical Services, Lifeguard, Park Rangers, Public Works, Local Government, Courts, County and City jails, and Probation facilities. The Division provides centralized countywide coordinated communications systems for all local public safety agencies; installation and maintenance of communications and electronic equipment (microwave equipment, 9-1-1 dispatch equipment, mobile and portable radios, closed circuit television, surveillance, security electronic systems within the jail system, sound and video systems); operational and maintenance support to the coordinated communications systems; engineering and frequency management; and serves as the central coordinator/program manager for the operation and maintenance of the 800 MHz Countywide Coordinated Communications System (CCCS) and 900 MHz paging system. The Division is also responsible for all Information Technology operations across the entire Sheriff's Department. This includes application development and support, help desk support, desktop support, mobile and MDC support, storage and server support, network and CCTV support, and network security operations.

GENERAL DUTIES

Analyze system requirements, perform cost analyses and feasibility studies, develop technical specifications for complex telecommunications systems. Design and implement technical solutions for communications networks, providing leadership and training for staff, supervise and manage the operations of a team within the technology division. Prepare and oversee complex telecommunications project documentation, specifications, and implementation plans. Supervise installation/modification of systems and provide technical guidance to field technicians and contractors. Review and approve County telecommunications system designs and provide engineering oversight. Coordinate with vendors, consultants and other agencies on major projects.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & CORE COMPETENCIES
The ideal candidate will possess a bachelor's degree in electrical/electronic engineering; professional engineer registration or ability to obtain within specified timeframe; possess extensive knowledge of telecommunications systems, understanding of public safety communication; project management experience, three (3+) years supervising experience managing technical teams; possess strong background in radio systems and telecommunications; experience with dispatch center technologies, proven project managements skills, demonstrate success in team leadership and personnel development; experience with performance management and employee development; strong understanding of HR policies and procedures .

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Thorough knowledge of one and general knowledge of at least one more of the following:

• Radio and microwave communications systems design and operation, including fixed, mobile, station and related systems and equipment, for the transmission of voice, data and video information
  
• Data communications system design and operation, operation of store-and-forward message switching systems, and protocols used in data communications systems
  
• Telephone system design and operation, including transmission engineering, PABX and switching systems, signaling methods, network analysis techniques and PSN interface requirements
  
• Design of Public Safety dispatch centers including console equipment, CAD systems, logging recorders, and other related equipment

AND

Knowledge of:

• Engineering economics, mathematics, statistics and physics
  
• Application of microcomputers to engineering tasks and a working knowledge of commonly used microcomputer programming languages
  
• Analog and digital multiplexing techniques used in wire or cable, microwave, optical and fiber optic communications links
  
• Radio frequency spectrum allocations, electromagnetic wave propagation and radio field strength measurements and tolerances
  
• Equipment and materials currently available for new and revised telecommunications installations
  
• Queuing theory, Erlang formulas and other traffic engineering techniques applicable to network analysis
  
• Contract administration and the legal relationships between the agency, architectural and engineering consultants, contractors, subcontractors and vendors
  
• FCC and/or PUC regulations applicable to governmental communications (may be required for some assignments
  

Ability to:

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others
  
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing on technical subjects to technical and non-technical people
  
• Conduct surveys of existing telecommunications installations, evaluate their effectiveness and efficiency, and recommend design modifications to systems or equipment, as necessary
  
• Assimilate and analyze data, and prepare accurate and concise engineering reports and studies
  
• Perform the mathematical calculations required in the design and planning of telecommunications networks, systems and equipment
  
• Analyze technical problems accurately and recommend or take an effective course of action
  
• Use a County-approved means of transportation to travel to work sites
  
• Design or modify a variety of telecommunications and electronic systems and equipment, including microwave, for analog and digital voice, data and video transmission
  
• Analyze responses to bids or proposals for compliance to specifications
  
• Understand, interpret and enforce compliance with plans, specifications, schedules and provisions of contractual documents
  
• Instruct professional and technical staff concerning new equipment, techniques and new or revised FCC and PUC regulations
  
• Act as telecommunications engineering consultant to County agencies/departments and cities
  
• Plan and organize large projects requiring coordination with several agencies/departments
  
• Act as team leader on major projects making assignments, reviewing work and maintaining quality control
  
• Train other staff in principles of telecommunications engineering and operating principles for County equipment
  
• Make system programming changes to telecommunications switching systems and program minor microcomputers in Basic, Assembler, COBOL, Pascal, C or other commonly used languages (maybe required for some assignments)
  

License and Certification

Possession of a valid General Radiotelephone Operator License issued by the Federal Communications Commission may be required for some positions. When required, license must be obtained within six months of date of appointment.

Education and Experience

Registration as a professional Electrical Engineer in the State of California and one (1) year of experience subsequent to registration which would have applied or developed the knowledge and abilities listed above.

OR

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree and major course work in electronic or electrical engineering or a closely related field and two (2) years' experience which would have applied or developed the knowledge and abilities listed above.

OR

Five (5) years of experience in electronic engineering, design or systems troubleshooting which would have applied or developed the knowledge and abilities listed above.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL, ENVIRONMENTAL and WORKING CONDITIONS
Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be willing to perform duties commensurate with the position. Must be able to lift over 50 lbs. with frequent lifting or carrying objects weighing over 25 lbs.; climb ladders, scaffolding and poles, crawl in attics or under vehicles and work in cramped spaces such as under automobile dash and trunk, stoop, bend, or twist your back, kneel, squat and work with arms above shoulder level; operate power tools or other like machinery that are potentially hazardous. Vision must be sufficient to perform the necessary functions of the positions.

Environmental Conditions: Must be willing to work in various environments such as jails, county hospitals and dispatch centers and drive-in-all-weather conditions and potentially difficult terrain dependent upon the facility.

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants must not have been convicted of a felony or be on any form of probation and must pass an extensive background investigation to the satisfaction of the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner.

Background screening includes completing of a Personal History Form, interview with a background investigator, fingerprinting and may include a polygraph test. Some of the areas considered in the background screening include prior convictions, traffic violations, drug use and credit problems, employment history, professional references and education verification (i.e. degree, license, or official transcripts. Foreign degrees require an evaluation of U.S. equivalency by an agency that is a member of the National Association of Credentials Evaluation Services (N.A.C.E.S.).

Human Resources | Minimum Qualifications
Sheriff Human Resources screens all applications to identify the most qualified candidates for the position based on the skills required to meet the needs of the Department. After the initial screening, the qualified candidates will be referred to the next step and notified of all further procedures applicable to their status in the competition.

SELECTION PROCEDURES
Structured Oral Panel Interview (Weighted 100% ): Candidates will be interviewed and rated by a panel of job knowledge experts. Each candidate's rating will be based on responses to a series of questions designed to elicit the candidate's qualifications for the job. Only the most successful candidates will be placed on the eligible list.

Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedure.

ELIGIBLE LIST
After all procedures have been completed, Sheriff Human Resources will establish an eligible list of qualified candidates.

Veterans Employment Preference
The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings.

Please click here to review the policy.

HOW TO APPLY
Only on-line applications will be accepted. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of on-line applications. Application information must be current, succinct, concise, descriptive and related to the requirements in this job announcement. Your application should demonstrate your professional experience and education related to the specific qualifications/duties listed in this bulletin, including areas which you have developed expertise. For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, contact Mary Cortez-Valadez at (714) 834-5834 or email at mcortez-valadez@ocsheriff.gov .

Please click here for tips to complete your application.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account. NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply. Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com .

EEO INFORMATION

Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Non-Management Benefits
In addition to the County's standard suite of benefits, such as a variety of health plan options, annual leave and paid holidays--we also offer an excellent array of benefits such as a Health Care Reimbursement Account, 457 Defined Contribution Plan and Annual Education and Professional Reimbursement. Employees are provided a Retirement Plan through the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS).

Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.
http://www.ocers.org/active-member-information

Click here for information about benefits offered to County of Orange employees.

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

• 

• County of Orange

• 714.834.5315

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