IT Network System Architect - Wireless Communications

City of Mes; Mesa (AZ); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Mesa is seeking an experienced IT System Architect to lead architectural efforts for the wireless and IT infrastructure supporting the City and the TRWC members. Responsibilities include planning, design, installation, maintenance, and optimization of the City’s wireless infrastructure and related subscriber equipment.

The ideal candidate will have strong experience with Public Safety LMR systems, strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills, and must be prepared to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Quantitative Systems, MIS, or related field (Engineering or Geography by assignment).
• Extensive (5+ years) IT design and implementation experience with deep knowledge in one of: network design, application development, middleware, servers/storage, database management, or security.
• Exposure to multiple technical configurations, technologies, and processing environments.

Responsibilities

• Provide architectural leadership and design for Mesa's information systems; develop roadmaps and transition plans.
• Define and document standards and technology for the assigned discipline; communicate with internal customers and IT teams.
• Lead analysis of current technology environment to identify deficiencies and recommend improvements.
• Oversee plan migrations to bridge current and future states; align with budgeting and capital planning.

Skills

Public Safety LMR systems

Radio network design

Propagation modeling

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science

Job description

This classification has been designated as a non-classified, non-merit system, at-will position.

An Information Technology (IT) System Architect is responsible for the architectural leadership, facilitation, analysis, and design tasks required to ensure that assigned information systems at Mesa are evolving appropriately; and ensuring that underlying infrastructure supports existing needs as well as evolving to meet changing application requirements. Primary responsibilities include: following the architecture development methodology established by Enterprise Architecture, example: develop documentation of current and future state, roadmaps, and transition plans that support system initiatives; defining, communicating, and documenting the standards and technology for the assigned discipline; soliciting regular feedback from internal customers and IT teams to understand how well each information system is serving its customers, and recommend improvements; understanding and communicating how the assigned discipline architectures interact, support, and integrate with other technologies and information systems in concert with other system architects; leading the analysis of the current technology environment to detect critical deficiencies and recommend solutions for improvement; and leading the analysis of the technology industry and market trends to determine their potential impact on the assigned discipline. Additional primary responsibilities include: defining high-level migration plans to address the gaps between the current and future state, typically in sync with the IT budgeting or other capital planning processes; overseeing, directing, or consulting on technology implementations, both project and operations, particularly where shared technology solutions span multiple technology verticals; consulting on projects to harmonize systems or infrastructure, and identify when it is necessary to modify the enterprise roadmap related to assigned discipline to accommodate immediate or future project needs; overseeing and facilitating the research, evaluation, and selection of hardware and software technology and product standards, as well as the design of standard configurations; documenting necessary architecture design and analysis work, possibly including project postmortem documentation and metric collection; and leading the communication activities needed to ensure architecture success and use. Responsibilities may include supervising and coordinating day-to-day activities of technical staff (by assignment).

Position Assignment:

The City of Mesa is seeking an experienced and technically skilled IT System Architect to support the Wireless Communications Team within the DoIT. This position is responsible for performing the planning, forecasting, design, installation, maintenance, and optimization of the City’s wireless communications infrastructure and related subscriber equipment for both the city and the Members of the TOPAZ Regional Wireless Cooperative (TRWC).

About the ideal candidate:

The ideal candidate has strong experience with Public Safety Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems, including supporting infrastructure, backhaul networks, radio site hardening, propagation modeling, coverage analysis, and ERCES standards. Experience with professional-level system design, procurement, installation, and quality control is required, along with the ability to translate operational needs into technical solutions. Candidates should have solid project management skills and experience delivering LMR system growth and upgrade projects, with a strong focus on network reliability and resiliency. Familiarity with public safety communications cooperatives (such as TRWC), contracts, and budget support is preferred. Strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills are essential. Industry certifications are preferred, including an FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License (required within six months of hire).

Employee Values:

All employees of the City of Mesa are expected to uphold and exhibit the City’s shared employee values of Knowledge, Respect, and Integrity.

Minimum Qualifications Required.

Any combination of training, education, and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Quantitative Systems, Management Information Systems, or a related field (such as Engineering or Geography (by assignment). Extensive (5+ years) design and implementation experience in IT, with a deep knowledge in one of the following technical disciplines: network design, application development, middleware, servers and storage, database management, and security. Exposure to multiple, diverse technical configurations, technologies, and processing environments.

Special Requirements

Must possess a valid Class D Arizona Driver’s License by hire or promotion date (by assignment). Because of the confidential, sensitive nature of information handled, successful completion of a background investigation is required (by assignment). For this position, an individual receiving a conditional offer of employment from the City of Mesa must pass a background investigation through the City of Mesa Police Department, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and Federal Bureau of Investigation prior to commencing employment with the City of Mesa (by assignment).

Preferred/Desirable Qualifications.

Considerable (3 - 5 years) technical, project leadership, and/or project management experience is highly desirable and may be required by assignment. Customer service experience is highly desirable. Teamwork is highly desirable. Supervisory experience may be preferred (by assignment).

https://apps.mesaaz.gov/JobDescriptions/Documents/JobDescriptions/cs5613.pdf