Telecommunications Specialist (RF)

Federal Emergency Management Agency; Bothell (WA); Hybrid; USD 101,000 - 131,000; Full time

Job summary

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Bothell, Washington, is seeking a Telecommunications Specialist (RF) to deploy, install, and maintain mobile radio and satellite transmission systems in support of disaster response and recovery operations. Ideal candidates will have extensive operational, maintenance, and diagnostic troubleshooting experience with RF communications and related equipment.

The role requires readiness for emergency deployments, occasional irregular hours, and

Qualifications

• No Educational Substitution: there is no educational substitution for this position, and you must meet the qualifications listed in the requirements section of this announcement.
• DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays.
• Other benefits may include flexible work schedules; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers.
• DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities.
• For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select Benefits.
• This position is with Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
• Salary posted: $100,602 – $130,786/yr.
• This position is eligible for telework.
• This position requires a Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance.
• Applications close on 2026-09-25.
• There are 2 openings for this position.
• Open under the Public hiring path.

Responsibilities

• Deploy, install, and maintain a wide array of mobile wide and narrow band radio and satellite transmission systems such as HF, VHF, and UHF and 5G networks with associated support equipment.
• Research, test, and recommend new technologies to improve communications capabilities and develop SOPs for MERS operations.
• Monitor, test, calibrate, and repair radio equipment to meet operational criteria and deployment requirements.
• Fabricate, modify, perform preventative maintenance and upgrades to mobile command and control communications platforms and transmissions systems.
• Coordinate with FEMA and other agencies to establish, maintain, and restore voice, video, and data services.
• Work with FEMA frequency management to establish frequency allocation and deconflict spectrum issues.
• Travel in support of emergency operations may be extensive and require deployment to emergency sites.

Job description

• Department: Department of Homeland Security
• Location: Bothell, Washington
• Hiring Path: Public
• Number of Openings: 2
• Security Clearance: Sensitive Compartmented Information

This position is located with the Disaster Emergency Communication Division in Bothell, WA. The ideal candidate for this position will have extensive operational, maintenance, and diagnostic troubleshooting experience of satellite and Radio Frequency (RF) electronic and mechanical communications systems.

Key Responsibilities

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is calling on those who want to help protect American interests and secure our Nation. DHS Components work collectively to prevent terrorism; secure borders and our transportation systems; protect the President and other dignitaries; enforce and administer immigration laws; safeguard cyberspace; and ensure resilience to disasters. We achieve these vital missions through a workforce spanning hundreds of occupations.

Make an impact; join DHS. When disaster strikes, America looks to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Now FEMA looks to you. Join our team and use your talent to support Americans in their times of greatest need. FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages Federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident.

We foster innovation, reward performance and creativity, and provide challenges on a routine basis with a well-skilled, knowledgeable, high performance workforce. Please visit www.fema.gov for additional information. EXCEPTED SERVICE: This is a full-time position in the Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS) Detachment. MERS positions are in the excepted service. Employees will not acquire civil service status but will have standard and optional benefits.

EMERGENCY ASSIGNMENT: Every FEMA employee has regular and recurring emergency management responsibilities, though not every position requires routine deployment to disaster sites. All positions are subject to recall around the clock for emergency management operations, which may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the official duty station, and may include duties other than those specified in the employee's official position description.

Travel requirements in support of emergency operations may be extensive in nature (weeks to months), with little advance notice, and may require employees to relocate to emergency sites with physically austere and operationally challenging conditions. In this position, you will perform duties as a team member, or Team lead/trainer when assigned to direct and evaluate the work of employees assigned to deploy, operate, and maintain radio frequency and communications systems.

Typical duties include: Deploy, install, and maintain a wide array of mobile wide and narrow band radio and satellite transmission systems such as High Frequency (HF), Very High Frequency (VHF), Ultra High Frequency (UHF), all the way up to commercial satellite frequency bands and 5G network systems with their associated support equipment that provide voice, video, or data services to be employed in the field and in potentially austere environments.

Research, test, and recommend new technologies to improve communications capabilities; develop standard operating procedures and checklists to incorporate them into MERS operations. Monitor, test, calibrate, and repair radio equipment and systems with specialized test equipment to ensure they meet strict operational criteria and satisfy the mission readiness and deployment requirements of the unit.

Fabricate, modify, perform preventative maintenance and technology upgrades to mobile command and control communications platforms and transmissions systems. Troubleshoot failed systems and networks to perform repairs to the lowest replaceable units and restore system functionality. Coordinate with FEMA and other federal and outside agencies to establish, maintain, and restore voice, video, and data services.

Work with FEMA frequency management and civilian agencies to establish frequency allocation and deconflict spectrum issues. At FEMA, our mission is to help people before, during and after disasters, and every employee at FEMA has a role in emergency management. Every FEMA employee has regular and recurring emergency management responsibilities, though not every position requires routine deployment to disaster sites.

All positions are subject to recall around the clock for emergency management operations, which may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the official duty station, and may include duties other than those specified in the employee's official position description.

Travel requirements in support of emergency operations may be extensive in nature (weeks to months), with little advance notice, and may require employees to relocate to emergency sites with physically austere and operationally challenging conditions.

Requirements & Education

No Educational Substitution: There is no educational substitution for this position, and you must meet the qualifications listed in the "requirements" section of this announcement.

DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include flexible work schedules; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers.

DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select "Benefits." Disabled veteran leave will be available to any federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service- connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $100602 – $130786/yr.

Is this position remote or telework eligible?

This position is eligible for telework.

What security clearance is required?

This position requires a Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-09-25.

How many openings are available?

There are 2 openings for this position.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.

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Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government