Senior Radio Systems Analyst

City of Santa Maria; Santa Maria (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Santa Maria is seeking a Senior Radio Systems Analyst to lead design, installation and maintenance of the City’s RF communications infrastructure. You will oversee two-way radios, simulcast networks, microwave links, and related control systems, with ongoing collaboration with Public Safety and City departments.

This middle-management role includes mentoring staff, reviewing contractor work, ensuring FCC compliance, and planning for aging equipment upgrades while staying within

Qualifications

• Experience in support of first responders and municipal departments preferred.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in information systems, computer science, or related field.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex RF and radio communications systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, installation and maintenance of two-way radios and related equipment.
• Support and optimize the 7/800MHz radio system and related components.
• Supervise staff and review the work of contractors to ensure FCC compliance and quality.
• Participate in training lower-level staff in diagnostics, programming, and safety standards.
• Document activity and progress in work-order systems and manage inventory.

Skills

RF Communications

Two-way Radio

FCC Licensing

Network & Server

Tower Climbing

Vendor Coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in information systems or related field

Tools

Anritsu

Locution

Motorola radio equipment

GPS devices

Windows Server

Job description

WHO WE ARE:

The City of Santa Maria is a full-service city with a City Council/City Manager form of government, over 700 employees, an annual budget of approximately $367 million, and serves approximately 113,041 constituents. Santa Maria is located on the beautiful central coast of California and covers over 23 square miles. The City harmoniously balances maintaining coastal and agricultural lands while promoting business. The City of Santa Maria has been recognized nationally as an All-America City by the National Civic League and offers community festivals, reasonably priced housing, and quality schools. Santa Maria is in proximity to a local airport, beaches, cultural arts, institutions of higher education, and wineries.

WHAT WE DO:

The Information Technology Division provides comprehensive technology services to all City departments which include defining technology needs; assisting operating departments in planning, prioritizing, and managing the installation of new systems and applications, and; establishing long-range plans, policies, and standards for acquiring, maintaining, and achieving information technology resources.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

Our ideal candidate will possess a strong technical and analytical background with experience in a broad range of digital and analog radio systems infrastructures. Radio communications for the City of Santa Maria consists of a two-site simulcast Motorola P25 Astro-trunked M-core, TDMA digital radio system on the 7/800MHz band. In addition, 3 more radio sites of conventional repeaters; 4 digital-UHF for PD backup, 4 Fire analog-VHF and other city departments standalone repeaters. The city supports 1000 APX radio subscribers, including the City of Guadalupe and Alan Hancock College Police. Radios supported are the Motorola (portables); APX4000, APX7000, APX7000XE, APX8000, APX8000XE, APX-NEXT, (mobiles); APX4500, APX7500, APX8500LP, APX8500HP and Bendix King. The Radio Team also supports an LTE-connect system called Wave that allows city departments to communicate on P25 channels from their smart phones anywhere there’s cell service.

The Senior Radio Analyst, under the direction of the Public Safety IT Manager, will oversee and perform highly skilled work involving the design, installation, maintenance, and repair of various complex RF Communications systems equipment and applications. This advanced journey-level position will ensure ongoing planning with city leadership to evaluate and optimize radio communications and infrastructure.

The Senior Radio Analyst position is a middle-management role that provides technical support, supervision, and mentoring. Their role enables City of Santa Maria employees “to provide the highest quality of service in the most efficient, cost-effective, and courteous manner possible” by means of a reliable radio system.

Job Description: Senior Radio Systems Analyst, Senior Systems Analyst

Required Submittal:

• Resume

In addition to the broad duties and responsibilities of the Senior System Analyst classification, the Senior Radio System Analyst shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

• Lead and participate in the design, installation and maintenance of various communications equipment including two-way radios, repeater equipment, simulcast equipment, licensed and unlicensed microwave links, support Access Control systems, CCTV systems, and all other city-related electronic equipment.
• Supports the 7/800MHz radio system and its components, including network and server equipment, security patching, and leveraging Motorola support when needed to troubleshoot and remedy issues.
• Support City Fire Department for annual communication plan revisions of statewide mutual aid changes on all fire radios. Identify, isolate, and correct intermittent issues reported. Maintain Locution automated station alerting equipment and Locution dispatch console.
• Use of Anritsu and RF site communications test equipment for testing and aligning radios and radio system components. Perform annual preventive maintenance on all RF sites to meet operational compliance with FCC regulations as well as make recommendations and assist in installation of aging andor failing equipment, (may require additional training and assistance from Motorola).
• Administration of FCC licenses, capital equipment inventory and system support contracts.
• Participate in training lower-level staff in areas of service, electronic diagnostic procedures, programming software and safety standards.
• Report daily activity in the Team Dynamix work-order system, log time and details of repairs and project progress.
• Review and supervise the work of electronic service contractors hired by the City.
• Make recommendations on equipment replacement for projected end-of-life expectations and new technologies as needed.
• Operate a personal computer using various programming software and databases.
• Support and install GPS connected devices.
• Installation, testing and maintenance of UPS power systems.
• May be required to climb towers, pending certification.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by leadership.

Support first responders and other municipal divisions. Understanding of simulcast and supporting network devices. This includes installation, upgrading, troubleshooting, and programming of mobiles, portables, repeaters, microwave links, antenna systems and base station radios under FCC regulations.

Desired Qualifications, Licenses and/or Certificates:

• Experience in support of first responders and other municipal departments is preferred.
• Testing and maintenance of analog and digital repeater systems, related antennas and feedlines, and understanding alignment of tunable duplexer and notch filters for best receive and transmit isolation. Terminate RF Connectors, tower climbing certification would be a big plus.
• Operating specialized electronic and computerized test equipment, diagnostic programs to test, install, maintain, and repair radio communication systems, microwave systems, and audio equipment.
• Antenna testing, replacement, and preventive maintenance. Heliax and coax testing and termination of RF connectors.
• Soldering electronic circuits to component level and various cable connectors as needed.
• Following schematics, discrete components, various power sources, cabling infrastructures, single and multi-mode fiber optic devices.
• Familiar with encryption loading into Law Enforcement radios with secure channels.
• Upgrading radio features using FlashPort uploads, and firmware update procedures.
• MCC7500 dispatch consoles and their related applications such as logging recorders, radio “IDs” and “alias’” for CAD system, and maintain capital equipment inventory.
• Prioritizes projects, repairs and user equipment service to minimize downtime.
• Perform inspections on two-way radio systems and devices to meet FCC requirements.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. Understand and follow oral and written directions.
• Basic networking and systems understanding. The ability to set IP’s and default gateways on radio systems and point-to-point equipment.
• Basic understanding of Windows Server operating systems.
• Possession of a valid California driver's license.
• Possession of a valid General Radio-telephone Operator License (GROL)
• Motorola IV&D Systems Administration, Basic Networking, M-core courses.
• Tower Climbing Certification a plus.

• Ideally, three-five years of increasingly responsible experience in similar role and responsibility.
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in information systems, computer science, applied technology, public administration or related field.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.
• Willingness and ability to respond to after-normal workday or irregular and on-call emergency requests on nights, weekends and holidays.
• Experience in a public sector setting and familiarity working in a union environment is desired.
• Current technical/professional knowledge of complex principles, methods, standards and techniques associated with the scope of work of a recognized profession, such as:
  • Local area networking, wide area networking, server administration, workstation maintenance and support, wired/wireless communications, database management, business intelligence and related technologies.
  • Project management principles.
  • Effective verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
  • Microsoft Office Suite (or equivalent), and office productivity software.
  • Use computer and other office equipment effectively.
• Desired licenses and/or certifications associated with the assignment, such as:
  • VMware Certified Professional (VCP)
  • Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)
  • Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
  • Juniper Networks Certification Program (JNCP) – Enterprise Routing and Switching
  • ITIL v3 or 4 Foundation – IT Service Management

Middle Manager:

Incumbents should have a solid foundation of Individual Contributor and Front-line Supervisor core competencies identified by the organization, as well as the following core competencies identified as essential for Middle Manager (click the hyper link to see the full definition Middle Manager Competencies):

• Talent Development - Effective performers keep a continual eye on the talent pool to monitor skills and needs of team members. They expand staff skills through training, coaching, and development. They evaluate and articulate present performance and future potential.
• Organizing & Planning - Effective performers have strong organizing and planning skills that allow them to be highly productive and efficient, manage time wisely, and effectively prioritize multiple competing tasks.
• Organization Knowledge - Effective performers understand the workings of a municipal organization, formal and informal policies and structures, and know "how the place works."
• Relationship Building- Effective performers understand that a primary factor in success is establishing and maintaining productive relationships. They interact with people and are good at it. They devote appropriate time and energy to establishing and maintaining networks.
• Results Orientation- Effective performers maintain appropriate focus on outcomes and accomplishments, are motivated by achievement, and persist until the goal is reached.
• Industry Knowledge- Effective performers understand the general workings of local government within which the organization functions, and maintain a current knowledge base.
• Written Communication - Effective performers write clearly and concisely, composing informative and convincing documents. They use written language to convey substance and intent with simplicity, accuracy and clarity.
• FinancialAcumen - Effective performers understand the financial framework of the organization. They are cost conscious and fiscally responsible, and use financial data to make informed business decisions.
• Change Agility- Effective performers are adaptable, are effective in the face of ambiguity, and support an orientation for change.
• Technology Savvy - Effective performers use technology to be successful in their organizational role. They value technology and leverage existing and new technology to achieve efficiency.

Prior to an offer of employment, the selected candidate may undergo a background check to the satisfaction of the City.