Telecommunications Technician I

Minimum Pay Rate: $66.26 per hour

Maximum Pay Rate: $66.26 per hour

Apply by Date: 11/16/2026

Posting Type: Open

The intent of this posting is to fill one regular full-time position and create an eligibility list which may be used to fill permanent vacancies for the next two (2) years.

Please note: We are posting this opportunity for a Telecommunications Technician I along with a Telecommunications Technician Advanced Apprentice position. The department will only be filling one position at either level. If you are interested in also being considered for Telecommunications Technician Advanced Apprentice, you will need to apply to that requisition separately.

SMUD is seeking an experienced individual with a Telecommunications background to join our Telecom Operations and Maintenance team at the Advanced Apprentice level. Telecommunications Technicians are the backbone of SMUD's smart grid, installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting advanced communication, control, and monitoring systems to ensure reliable and resilient power delivery. Reporting to a Senior Telecommunications Technician or the Manager, Telecommunications Operations and Maintenance, advanced apprentices will learn the critical tasks and theories needed to maintain critical infrastructure. In this highly dynamic team, advanced apprentices will gain expertise in legacy telecom circuits, modern networks, and electrical systems, and will learn to enable real-time physical security and electrical grid monitoring and automation while minimizing service disruptions. This is a highly dynamic position that includes both in-office system administration and extensive field work in varying environments including mountainous terrain, substations, power lines and other remote locations year-round.

Employee Benefits:

• Competitive Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage
• Retirement through Public Employees Retirement System
• 457 and 401(k) plans available
• Flexible Savings Account
• Short and Long Term Disability
• Employee and Spouse Life Insurance

Application Preparation: As part of the application process, candidates will be required to answer four (4) supplemental questions when submitting their application. Please be advised, "Refer to resume" responses will not be accepted.

Purpose

Telecommunications Technicians safely and effectively construct, modify, install, test, repair, adjust and operate telephone, telecommunications, control, and monitoring systems and equipment at the journey level. Telecommunication Technicians report to a Senior Telecommunication Technician or as directed by the Supervisor. Telecommunications Employees in this classification develop and maintain a detailed knowledge of SMUD telephone and telecommunication systems and sub-systems in order to analyze system problems and take prompt remedial action with minimum service disturbance. These positions reside in Telecommunications and Telephone Services.

Nature and Scope

Performs the work at a journey level and does not act in a lead capacity. Technicians may work independently under broad guidelines and are given wide latitude in making decisions.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Properly handles hazardous material such as lead solder, paint, cleaning fluids, etc.
• Secures authorization before working on vital equipment.Verifies factory specifications.
• Constructs and installs new telecommunications systems and equipment.
• Operates, monitors, investigates, tests and assures proper performance of telecommunications systems and equipment, including test equipment.
• Performs preventive and repair maintenance on telecommunications systems and equipment.
• Thoroughly documents the work performed.
• Keeps Senior Telecommunications Technicians and the Supervisor informed of work progress, schedule changes, project scope changes and other issues affecting the outcome or cost of assigned tasks.
• Recommends system refinements to improve reliability.
• Provides technical support to the users of telecommunications systems and equipment.
• Participates in evaluating existing and prospective telecommunications systems and test equipment for safety, reliability, operability and maintainability.
• Fosters a positive and harmonious working relationship with staff and customers.
• Trains apprentices.

Required Education

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Two (2) years of formal schooling in electronics or equivalent demonstrable experience.

Required Experience Qualifications

Four (4) years of experience as an Apprentice Telecommunications Technician, Telecommunications Technician or equal to be considered for the Journeyman position.

Required Licenses/Certificates

Newly hired Telecommunications Technicians must possess and maintain a current FCC General Class Radiotelephone license or equivalent certificate or acquire one of these within one (1) year of hire.

Knowledge Of

State and Federal safety rules and regulations. Advanced electronic and telecommunications theory; AC and DC electrical theory; electrical and electronic components such as microprocessors, transistors, relays, transformers, optical isolators, linear and non-linear devices, synchronous and non-synchronous devices, etc. Telecommunications systems and equipment including telephone, leased circuits, microwave radio, wireless mesh networks, fiber optics, multiplex, two-way radio, SCADA, telemetry, power-line carrier, personal computers, cabling/wiring systems including copper, fiber optics, coax, etc., and local/wide area networks. Telecommunications standard industry practices for construction, operation, performance monitoring, maintenance and troubleshooting Standard SMUD Procedures and department procedures. Design Change Notice (DCN) or equivalent drawing and configuration control processes. FCC rules and regulations. National Electric Code, National Electric Safety Code and Natural gas Safety. Locations of SMUDs facilities and equipment.

Skills To

Work safely and effectively. Construct, configure, operate, monitor, troubleshoot and maintain telecommunications equipment. Proficiency is initially required in at least one of the four categories listed below at the time of hire. Two-way radio systems including conventional analog/digital radio (VHF/UHF) and/or 900 MHz simulcast trunked radio and paging systems. Wide band communication systems including analog, spread spectrum and digital microwave radio; DTL, SSBSC, digital and SONET multiplex systems; T1 and T3 systems; single and multi-mode fiber optic communications systems; local/wide area networks and digital access cross connect systems (DACS). Control and monitoring systems including equipment and systems for stream flow, cloud seeding, remote wireless metering systems, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition; AM/SSB power line carrier analog and digital protective relaying schemes (including check back schemes), FSK and digital telemetry systems, security systems, load management control systems and personal computers. Telephone systems and equipment including CBX, KEY telephone systems, trunking, voice response systems, voice mail, local exchange carriers, long distance carriers, bypass carriers, analog and digital circuits, FAX machines and Cellular telephones. Ability to perform basic maintenance to restore equipment to service in all four of the above areas is strongly desired. As time progresses, Telecommunications Technicians are expected to gain knowledge and ability in all four areas through training classes, on-the-job training, reading product literature, review of maintenance manuals, etc. Construct, operate, monitor and maintain miscellaneous support systems and equipment including back-up generation, solar power, DC power, GPS/network timing, UPS, chart recorders and lightning and ground fault protection. Operate specialized telecommunications test equipment such as transmission line test sets, frequency selective level meters, service monitors, spectrum analyzers, interference analyzers, communications system analyzers, SINAD meters, optical time domain reflectometers, pair scanners, network link analyzers, power meters, arc fusion splicers, wiring analyzers, data circuit analyzers, earth ground evaluation equipment and SWR meters. Operate general test equipment, such as oscilloscopes, multi-meters, tone/signal generators, oscillators, Watt-meters, frequency counters, dummy loads, variable power supplies, personal computers with applicable software, plotters and chart recorders; utilize specialized tools, such as crimpers, strippers, pin insertion and extraction devices, fiber optics cleavers and other applicable hand tools. Write complex operating and testing procedures related to telecommunications, telephone control and monitoring systems. Perform mathematical calculations including algebra, geometry and trigonometry. Read, interpret and apply technical information related to electronic, mechanical and electrical equipment and circuitry. Interpret schematics, wiring, diagrams and blueprints to troubleshoot telecommunications problems. Conduct field and lab repair of printed circuit boards and modules. Handle electronic components properly. Use accepted soldering techniques and/or highly specialized soldering equipment, such as soldering irons, the Ungar SMR 1000 and the Chipmaster SMD 1000 workstation for surface mount components as used in modern telecommunications equipment. Climb communications radio towers; install, adjust and maintain antenna/transmission systems, weather monitoring equipment, video cameras and tower lights does not apply to Telecommunications Technicians assigned to the telephone systems. Effectively handle multiple tasks and priorities. Communicate effectively both verbally and in written form.

Desirable Qualifications

• Certifications such as Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), CompTIA Network+, Certified Fiber Optic Technician (CFOT), NERC CIP training, SCADA system certification.
• Current or past experience related to the telecommunications field.
• Experience as a utility-scale Telecommunications Technician or Telecommunications Technician Apprentice.

Physical Requirements

Applicants must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.

On-site Work

This role will be an on-site role that will require being in person at one of SMUD's campuses daily to complete work tasks.

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