Electronics Technician

DC Department of Human Resources; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

DC Department of Human Resources is seeking a Radio Technician to maintain complex two-way land mobile radio (LMR) systems for public safety and public service agencies in the District of Columbia. The role covers operation and support of PSCC and UCC radio facilities, with onsite field work across multiple locations.

Responsibilities include radio programming, equipment installation, encryption key management, and preventive maintenance.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience: at least 1 year equivalent to CS-09 grade level in DC government service.
• Valid driver’s license required for travel to install, upgrade, and maintain radio equipment.

Responsibilities

• Completes subscriber radio programming tasks such as radio hardware refreshes and updating code plugs.
• Maintains and repairs radio equipment including repeaters, antennas, base stations, and handheld radios.
• Refreshes encryption keys on subscriber radios per security standards to minimize user disruption.
• Travels to job sites to install, upgrade, and maintain radio communication equipment.
• Drives to sites to troubleshoot connectivity and ensure optimal system performance.
• Supports radio site maintenance and ensures compliance with agency protocols and safety guidelines.
• Transports tools and components following safety policies and travel rules.
• Coordinates with team members and external partners to minimize disruption to networks.
• Operates spectrum analyzers, battery management systems, and alignment tools for preventive maintenance.
• Monitors, creates, and closes service tickets in ServiceNow or similar systems.
• Maintains inventory of equipment in asset management systems.
• Supports MDC program configurations and related hardware and software installations.

Job description

This position is located in the Office of Unified Communications (OUC), Information Technology Division. The mission of the Office of Unified Communications (OUC) is to provide accurate, professional, and expedited service to the citizens and visitors of the District of Columbia. This service is performed by a team that handles emergency and non-emergency calls that are received when individuals dial 911 and 311 in Washington, DC. OUC also provides centralized, District-wide coordination and management of public safety voice radio technology and other public safety communication systems and resources to District government agencies and several local, state, and federal partners.

Job Summary

The incumbent is responsible for maintaining complex two-way land mobile radio (LMR) communication systems, working with public safety, and public service agencies to ensure reliable radio communication networks, and the operation and support of the OUC's radio communication facilities to include the Public Safety Communications Center (PSCC) and Unified Communications Center (UCC).

Duties & Responsibilities

Completes subscriber radio programming tasks such as participating in radio hardware refreshes, programming subscriber radios, creating and updating code plugs, and subscriber radio battery maintenance.

Maintains, monitors, aligns, troubleshoots, repairs, installs radio equipment, including repeaters, tuners, antennas, base stations, vehicle radios, handheld radios, digital vehicular repeater systems, and other ancillary components necessary for a functional radio network.

Refreshes encryption keys on individual subscriber radios in accordance with security standards, minimizing user disruption.

Travels to various locations to install, upgrade, and maintain radio communication equipment.

Drives to job sites as needed to troubleshoot connectivity issues, perform repairs, and ensure optimal system performance.

Provides support for radio site maintenance including escorting vendors to radio sites, ensuring compliance with agency protocols and security guidelines and conducts regular checks to ensure functionality and compliance with operational standards.

Transports and handles specialized tools, test equipment, and replacement components while adhering to safety protocols and organizational travel policies.

Coordinates with team members, site personnel, and external partners to execute work at different locations while minimizing disruptions to communication networks.

Operates equipment such as spectrum analyzers, battery management systems, and subscriber radio alignment tools to conduct preventive maintenance and ensure optimal performance of subscriber radios.

Monitors, creates, and closes service tickets in ServiceNow or other ticketing systems to ensure timely resolution of technical issues.

Maintains and updates equipment inventory in the asset management system to track assets and ensures availability of necessary components.

Supports the mobile data computer MDC program, performs mobile router configurations, MDC, docking stations, mobile router installations, and supporting MDC software.

Ensures the functionality and reliability of electronic communication systems by performing maintenance on systems utilized on the 911 Operations Floor and within agency’s mobile 911 command center.

Supports technical projects for internal departments and external agencies.

Maintains cache radio equipment (a set of radio equipment for emergency deployment) in a state of readiness for deployment.

Assists and supports continuity of emergency communications services as required.

Qualification & Education

Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least (1) year of specialized experience, one year of which must be equivalent to the CS-09 grade level in the District of Columbia government service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Licenses and Certifications

Valid driver’s license is required for travel across the District to install, upgrade, and maintain radio communication equipment at public safety radio sites and agencies.

Working Conditions/Environment

Work is primarily in an office setting with some trips to operating facilities, which involves potential radiation or contamination exposure. The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts; the incumbent must wear protective clothing and follow standard safety procedures. Work is also performed outdoors in emergency mobile units during varying weather conditions. The technician might be required to lift up to 30lbs in equipment.

Other Significant Factors

Tour of Duty: Various Shifts

Pay Plan, Series and Grade: CS-0856-11

Promotion Potential: No known Promotion Potential

Duration of Appointment: Career Service (Permanent)

Collective Bargaining Unit (Union): This position is in the collective bargaining unit, and you may be required to pay an agency service fee through an automatic payroll deduction.

Residency Preference:

When claiming residency preference, you are required, and must agree in writing, to maintain bona fide District residency for a period of seven (7) consecutive years from the effective date of employment. You will be required to present documents (proofs) to show District residency and failure to maintain bona-fide District residency for the seven-year (7-year) period will result in forfeiture of employment.

Position Designation:

This position has been designated as Security Sensitive therefore the incumbent of this position will be subject to enhanced suitability screening pursuant to Chapter 4 of DC Personnel Regulations, Suitability and as such, incumbents of this position shall be subject to criminal background checks, background investigations, and mandatory drug and alcohol testing, as applicable.

Essential Designation

This position is designated as Essential pursuant to Chapter 12 of the D.C. personnel regulations, Hours of Work, Legal Holidays, and Leave. The incumbent may be required to work nights, weekends, and holidays to meet the needs of the agency. As an Essential employee, you will be required to report to work or stay at work during a declared emergency.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

The District of Columbia Government does not discriminate or retaliate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender identity and expression, national origin, family responsibilities, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, homeless status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, participation in a legally protected activity, parental status, matriculation, personal appearance, credit information, status as a victim or family member of a victim of domestic violence, sexual offense, or stalking, military service, or other non-merit factor.