Description
Research, design, develop, and optimize wired and wireless communications networks and RF systems for commercial, industrial, public safety, or military use, applying communications theory, signal processing, and propagation. Design and test RF circuits, antennas, protocols, and network architectures for applications such as cellular/5G, microwave and satellite links, fiber optics, and IoT.
- • Design communications systems, RF hardware, protocols, and network architectures for cellular, microwave, satellite, fiber, or IoT applications.
- • Inspect and verify telecom equipment, antennas, cabling, and network nodes for compliance with specifications, safety codes, and regulatory standards.
- • Prepare technical documentation, link budgets, coverage maps, bills of materials, test reports, and performance analyses.
- • Direct or coordinate installation, integration, commissioning, maintenance, and upgrades of communications infrastructure and radio networks.
- • Develop and execute test plans, drive tests, and acceptance procedures for radios, base stations, backhaul, and core networks.
- • Plan or implement system optimizations—modulation, coding, power control, handover, and QoS—to improve capacity and reliability.
- • Produce engineering drawings, site plans, RF layouts, and specifications for towers, antenna systems, shelters, and network equipment.
- • Create and maintain network configurations, change records, maintenance windows, and operational dashboards.
- • Prepare project plans, site readiness criteria, methods of procedure, quality assurance checklists, and cutover plans.
- • Represent the organization in spectrum coordination meetings, vendor reviews, standards groups, or customer design reviews.
- • Evaluate and recommend energy-efficient telecom solutions such as low-power radios, sleep modes, or smart power systems for sites.
- • Research or develop green communications technologies, including efficient power amplifiers, beamforming, or energy-aware routing.
- • Determine material and equipment needs—antennas, radios, fiber, power systems, enclosures, and test instruments.
- • Review project deliverables to ensure technical adequacy, KPI attainment, interoperability, and regulatory compliance.
- • Analyze system requirements, traffic models, coverage, interference, and cost to assess network feasibility and capacity.
- • Collaborate with RF, network, cybersecurity, field teams, vendors, and clients on communications projects and deployments.
- • Use RF planning, CAD, and simulation tools and spectrum or network analyzers to perform engineering tasks.
- • Recommend repairs, parameter changes, or redesign of RF links, antennas, filters, or network configurations based on performance and environment.
- • Provide technical training and support on telecom standards, equipment configuration, and best practices to staff or customers.
- • Prepare budgets and cost estimates for sites, spectrum licensing, equipment procurement, construction, and operations.
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
