Senior Field & Infrastructure Specialist

Citi-Tech South Africa; Upington; On-site; ZAR 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

A telecommunications infrastructure company in Upington seeks a Senior Field & Infrastructure Technician to lead a team responsible for the construction and maintenance of wireless and fibre network infrastructures. The ideal candidate will have 2 to 4 years of industry experience, a strong focus on safety, and be physically fit for demanding tasks like climbing towers. The role requires effective communication skills and a hands-on approach to mentoring team members.

Qualifications

• 2 to 4 years of industry experience required.
• Possession of a driver's license, off-road driving experience is advantageous.
• Completed Working at Heights and Tower Rescue Training.
• Ability to work at heights and in confined spaces.
• Physically fit for climbing towers and carrying equipment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the team in construction and maintenance of network infrastructure.
• Analyze situations and identify potential risks.
• Perform installations and repairs on communication equipment.
• Travel extensively for site work.
• Mentor less experienced technicians.

Skills

Climbing skills

Communication

Fault-finding and problem-solving

Team leadership

Safety awareness

Education

Grade 12 (Maths and science)

OSHA Certification

Tools

Hand tools

Climbing equipment

Job description

The Senior Field & Infrastructure Technician is responsible for the construction and maintenance of wireless and fibre network infrastructure and takes the lead in overseeing their team. This includes equipment installation, configuration, and the construction of physical structures to house the equipment. The role aims to contribute to building and maintaining the business's wireless and fibre infrastructure, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity and adhering to high safety standards.

Requirements

Key Performance Areas would include, but are not limited to:

• Assist in the construction, installation, and maintenance of communication towers, fibre networks, and support structures such as data centres.
• Meet project deadlines and respond to network outages, including highsite outages and fibre network breaks.
• Perform daily climbs on tall structures (50 meters or more) while carrying loads up to 20kg.
• Accurately analyse situations, identify potential future risk factors that may impact infrastructure performance, and maintain a safe working environment. Take appropriate action when risks become apparent.
• Climb and work on communication towers to install, replace, and repair antenna systems/equipment, and perform tower maintenance.
• Build and repair fibre network infrastructure to maintain and expand the existing network, addressing damages and small expansions.
• Install and maintain various cable and connector types.
• Weatherproof installations effectively.
• Install, maintain, and repair power equipment and data routers.
• Follow instructions accurately based on the work schedule. Escalate any issues to the infrastructure team leader that may hinder successful completion of work orders.
• Identify safety hazards and prioritize safety in all duties.
• Communicate verbally and in writing with team members and management.
• Work with and maintain basic hand tools and mechanical equipment.
• Travel extensively, sometimes at short notice.
• Erect self-supporting and stayed masts.
• Lead a team and mentor less experienced tower technicians.
• Plan the construction of future infrastructure needs.
• Perform any additional tasks as required by the manager.
  
  

Required Skills And Experience

• 2 to 4 years of industry experience.
• Possession of a driver's license (Off-road driving experience is advantageous).
• Meet medical certification requirements and hold an up-to-date medical certificate.
• Successfully completed Working at Heights and Tower Rescue Training.
• Technically inclined.
• Experience in manual labour, site preparation, and equipment setup. Knowledge in both fibre and RF fields is beneficial.
• Proficient in using hand tools and mechanical equipment.
• Hands-on approach in leading and demonstrating to the team.
• Experience with relevant planning and monitoring tools/software.
• Ability to work at heights and in confined spaces.
• Proficient in safe climbing practices.
• Good understanding of municipal regulations and/or by-laws.
• Proficient in using safety equipment, harnesses, and climbing gear.
• Familiarity with tower climbing hazards, construction equipment, and working near energized lines and equipment.
• Physically fit for climbing towers, carrying equipment, and working in various environmental conditions.
• Accurate analysis of situations, completion of assigned tasks, recognition of safety hazards, ability to work under pressure without supervision.
• Combined weight of employee and tools must not exceed 125 kg weight limit specified by safety equipment manufacturers.
• Employee's waist circumference must not exceed 150 cm measured at the navel as specified by safety equipment manufacturers.
• Intermediate computer skills.
• Intermediate understanding of electricity (AC/DC), solar energy, power, and battery equipment.
• Intermediate knowledge of network and RF principles, troubleshooting, hardware, software, routing, and RF protocols.
• Adequate knowledge of cable and trunking techniques.
• Effective communication skills within the team.
• Advanced fault-finding and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize tasks based on importance and urgency.
  
  

Educational Requirements

• Grade 12 (Maths and science are advantageous).
• OSHA Certification is beneficial.