Outdoor Wireless Network Engineer: RF & Cisco Expert

Jobtailor; Annapolis (MD); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor seeks an experienced field wireless engineer to design, install, and maintain outdoor Cisco wireless networks across challenging sites. You will perform site surveys, configure access points, manage VLANs, and ensure secure, high-availability connectivity.

Responsibilities include RF planning, spectrum analysis, grounding and weatherproofing outdoor gear, and coordinating with managers and technicians to meet project timelines.

Qualifications

• Three or more years of experience installing, configuring, or supporting enterprise wireless networks.
• Hands-on experience with Cisco wireless access points, wireless LAN controllers, switches, and management platforms.
• Demonstrated experience installing and troubleshooting outdoor wireless systems.
• Working knowledge of 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz wireless technologies.
• Experience with TCP/IP, subnetting, DHCP, DNS, VLANs, trunking, routing, switching, PoE, and network security.
• Ability to read construction drawings, network diagrams, riser diagrams, site plans, equipment schedules, and technical specifications.
• Experience terminating and testing Category 5/6/6A copper cabling and working with fiber-optic cabling.
• Experience with grounding, bonding, lightning protection, and National Electrical Code requirements.

Responsibilities

• Perform site surveys to evaluate wireless coverage, capacity, interference, installation requirements, power availability, connectivity, and antenna placement.
• Design and implement outdoor Cisco Wi-Fi, mesh, point-to-point, and point-to-multipoint networks.
• Install, configure, test, commission, maintain, and troubleshoot Cisco outdoor wireless equipment and related infrastructure.
• Configure access points, wireless LAN controllers, VLANs, authentication, encryption, RF profiles, channel assignments, power levels, mesh and bridge connections, QoS, redundancy, and high availability.
• Conduct predictive and active wireless surveys and spectrum analysis.
• Calculate link budgets, Fresnel-zone clearance, antenna gain, cable loss, signal strength, and expected throughput.
• Install and align antennas, outdoor-rated copper and fiber cabling, conduit, mounting hardware, surge protection, and PoE equipment.
• Ground, bond, seal, weatherproof, and protect outdoor equipment against lightning and environmental exposure.
• Perform installations on rooftops, poles, towers, buildings, lifts, and elevated platforms.
• Troubleshoot coverage, signal, roaming, interference, packet loss, latency, authentication, and connectivity issues.
• Integrate wireless systems with routers, switches, firewalls, network-management systems, cybersecurity platforms, and enterprise networks.
• Perform firmware updates, configuration backups, equipment replacement, preventive maintenance, and system-health assessments.
• Develop installation drawings, heat maps, equipment schedules, test reports, inventories, configuration records, and as-built documentation.
• Conduct acceptance testing and document compliance with project specifications and customer requirements.
• Coordinate field activities with project managers, engineers, electricians, contractors, security technicians, customers, and stakeholders.
• Provide technical support and training to customers and junior technicians.
• Complete daily field reports, deficiency lists, test records, photographs, and project closeout documentation.
• Follow safety, cybersecurity, configuration-management, quality-control, and change-management procedures.
• Protect customer information and controlled documentation; report cybersecurity incidents, safety concerns, deficiencies, and unauthorized changes.
• Deliver reliable coverage, complete installations safely and on schedule, minimize rework, diagnose field problems, and produce accurate commissioning and as-built documentation.

Skills

Wireless Network Design

Installation and Configuration

Spectrum Analysis

Link Budget Calculation

VLAN Configuration

Network Diagnostic Equipment

Technical Documentation Preparation

Troubleshooting Connectivity Issues

Predictive Wireless Surveys

RF Propagation

Strong Communication Skills

Education

Cisco Certified Network Associate

Cisco Certified Network Professional

Certified Wireless Network Administrator

CompTIA Security+

Tools

Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series

Cisco Prime Infrastructure

Wireless Survey Tools

Network Management Systems

Power Tools

Job description

Jobtailor seeks an experienced field wireless engineer to design, install, and maintain outdoor Cisco wireless networks across challenging sites. You will perform site surveys, configure access points, manage VLANs, and ensure secure, high-availability connectivity.

Responsibilities include RF planning, spectrum analysis, grounding and weatherproofing outdoor gear, and coordinating with managers and technicians to meet project timelines.