Field Service Technician I

Spectraforce Technologies; Town of Florida (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Spectraforce Technologies is seeking a Field Service Technician I for an 11+ month onsite role in Sarasota, FL. The technician will program, install, and maintain LMR radios and related hardware, ensure secure daily operations, and support preventative maintenance.

The position involves using CPS, Radio Management, and RadioCentral tools; installing radios and antennas; performing diagnostics and servicing, with potential OT and shift considerations.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2+ years of hands-on experience in LMR, RF systems, radio communications, public safety communications, network administration, or electronics.
• High School Diploma or equivalent required; technical degree or vocational certification preferred.
• U.S. citizenship is required, with the ability to obtain a DHS Public Trust or other government-contract security clearance if required.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and maintain a clean driving record.
• Associate CET from ETA required within 6 months of assignment begining; CCNA/CompTIA networks preferred for all FTEs.

Responsibilities

• Subscriber Programming & Provisioning: develop, modify and implement custom programming and codeplugs using CPS, Radio Management, and RadioCentral.
• ID & IP Administration: manage unit IDs, AID/UID, and unit IP addresses.
• Astro Core Management: update subscriber information in ASTRO Core Provisioning Manager; prevent data duplication.
• Security & Encryption: use KVL to load encryption keys and clear keys when devices are retired; manage OTAR keys.
• Mobile Installations: assist with installation of mobile systems; bolt equipment racks and follow rack diagrams.
• Cabling & Connectors: build/test RF cables and data cables; install RF connectors.
• Ancillary Hardware Support: install in-vehicle accessories; swap modems as needed.
• Routine Fleet Audits: perform preventative maintenance and frequency tuning for portables/mobile.
• Tier 1 & 2 Diagnostics: basic troubleshooting on APX radios.
• Test Equipment Utilization: operate service monitors, wattmeters, multimeters to verify RF performance.
• RMA & Defect Management: diagnose defects and process RMAs.
• Asset Tracking: maintain asset tracker for units, antennas, chargers, batteries.
• Incident Management: open/update/close tickets in ServiceNow.
• Change Control Compliance: follow formal change management procedures.

Skills

Problem-Solving

Collaboration & Communication

Self-Management

IT Literacy

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Technical degree or vocational certification in electronics/telecommunications preferred

Tools

MSI CPS

Radio Management

RadioCentral

ServiceNow

RF test equipment

Wattmeters

Multimeters

Sierra Wireless modems

Job description

Job Title: Field Service Technician I

Duration: 11+ months

Location: Sarasota, FL 34240

Worksite: Onsite | Monday - Friday | 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (May include some OT)

Job Description

The Radio Subscriber Programming & Installation Technician (Field Service Technician I / FST I) is a hands-on technical role responsible for the configuration, programming, deployment, installation assistance, and preventative maintenance of mission-critical Land Mobile Radio (LMR) subscriber fleets and related communication hardware. Acting as a key technical resource, this individual ensures that all portable and mobile radios operate at peak performance to support secure, reliable daily operations.

Key Responsibilities

1. Subscriber Programming & Provisioning

• Custom Codeplug Development: Work with team leads and customer representatives to develop, modify, and implement custom programming and codeplugs using Client's Customer Programming Software (CPS), Radio Management, and cloud-based provisioning tools (such as RadioCentral).
• ID & IP Administration: Manage and configure individual unit IDs, radio set identifiers (such as AID, UID), and unit IP addresses.
• Astro Core Management: Systematically update subscriber information in the ASTRO Core Provisioning Manager to maintain accurate databases and prevent data duplication.
• Security & Encryption: Use Key Variable Loaders (KVL) to load and manage encryption keys (including OTAR - Over-the-Air Re-keying) and clear keys when devices are retired or serviced.

2. Radio Installation & Hardware Support

• Mobile Installations: Assist with the installation of mobile communication systems, including bolting equipment racks to floors and following rack diagrams for proper placement.
• Cabling & Connectors: Build, route, and test RF coaxial cables, choosing appropriate coax types and terminations (installing RF connectors). Build and test data cables as required.
• Ancillary Hardware Support: Install and configure in-vehicle subscriber accessories (such as sirens, control heads, external speaker microphones, antennas, and chargers). Run configuration updates and physically swap out vehicular modems (such as Sierra Wireless modems).

3. Diagnostics, Repair, & Preventative Maintenance

• Routine Fleet Audits: Coordinate and perform scheduled preventative maintenance, including physical inspections, software and firmware updates, and frequency tuning for portables, mobiles, and accessories.
• Tier 1 & 2 Diagnostics: Perform basic troubleshooting and triage on handheld and mobile radios (such as APX Next, APX6000/8000, and APX6500/8500 series).
• Test Equipment Utilization: Operate basic test equipment and service monitors (e.g., Viavi/Anritsu/Aeroflex service monitors, digital multimeters, wattmeters, power supplies) to verify RF power, alignment, and performance.
• RMA & Defect Management: Diagnose physical or external defects, manage the Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) process, and leverage spare pools to minimize equipment downtime.

4. Administrative Support & Change Control

• Asset Tracking: Maintain a comprehensive and accurate asset tracker of all subscriber units, antennas, chargers, and batteries to monitor their active service life and replacement eligibility.
• Incident Management: Open, update, track, and close service request and trouble tickets using enterprise ticketing platforms (such as ServiceNow).
• Change Control Compliance: Strictly adhere to the organization's formal change management procedures before executing configuration or database changes.

Required Skills & Qualifications

Technical Competencies

• Radio Programming Tools: Proven experience with MSI CPS, Radio Management, or RadioCentral.
• LMR & RF Foundations: Strong understanding of Land Mobile Radio (LMR) concepts, P25 digital and analog systems, RF cabling, connectors, and antennas.
• Test Instrumentation: Familiarity with RF test equipment, including wattmeters, service monitors, and multimeters.
• Hardware Assembly: Proficiency with basic hand tools and the mechanics of physical mounting, rack installation, and cable building.
• IT Literacy: Strong computer literacy, including proficiency with MS Office, Google Suite applications, and ticketing databases.

Professional Skills

• Problem-Solving: Strong critical thinking skills and the ability to diagnose issues under high-pressure, mission-critical environments.
• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, sales, engineering, and end-users.
• Self-Management: Highly organized, self-motivated, and capable of working independently or with minimal direct supervision.

Experience & Education Requirements

• Experience: Minimum of 2+ years of hands-on experience in LMR, RF systems, radio communications, public safety communications, network administration, or electronics.
• Education: High School Diploma or equivalent required. A technical degree or vocational certification in electronics or telecommunications is preferred.
• Licensing: Must possess a valid driver's license and maintain a clean driving record.

Certifications & Clearances

• Certifications: Associate CET obtained through ETA (Electronics Technicians Association) certification is required within 6 months of assignment begining.
• CompTIA Network+ or Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certifications are highly preferred and required for all FTE's
• Background Check: Must be able to successfully pass a CJIS (Criminal Justice Information Services) fingerprint-based background check to access high-security public safety and corrections environments.
• Citizenship & Clearance: U.S. citizenship is required, with the ability to obtain a DHS Public Trust or other government-contract security clearance if required.

Position is offered by a no fee agency.