Telecommunications engineering technician

Telecommunications engineering technicians deploy, maintain and monitor a telecommunication system that provides interactions between data and voice communications, such as telephone, video conferencing, computer, and voicemail systems. They are also involved in the design, manufacturing, construction, maintenance and repair of telecommunication systems. Telecommunications engineering technicians provide technical assistance in the research and development of telecommunication equipment.

The duties of a telecommunications engineering technician include, but are not limited to:

• providing technical assistance connected with research and the development of electronic and telecommunications equipment, or testing prototypes
• designing and preparing blueprints of electronic circuitry according to the specifications given
• preparing detailed estimates of quantities and costs of materials and labour required for the manufacture and installation of electronic and telecommunications equipment, according to the specifications given
• providing technical supervision of the manufacture, utilisation, maintenance and repair of electronic equipment and telecommunications systems to ensure satisfactory performance and compliance with specifications and regulations
• applying technical knowledge of electronic and telecommunications engineering principles and practices in order to identify and solve problems arising in the course of their work
• performing related tasks
• supervising other workers.

The following job titles also refer to telecommunications engineering technician:

communications administrator
communication administrator
telecom administrator
telecommunications administrators
telecommunications administrator
telecoms administrator
telecommunication administrator

Telecommunications engineering technicians typically need postsecondary education in electronics, telecommunications, or computer networking. Generally, postsecondary programs include classes such as data transmission systems, data communication, AC/DC electrical circuits, and computer programming.

Most programs lead to a certificate or an associate’s degree in telecommunications or related subjects.

Some employers prefer to hire candidates with an associate’s degree.

Because technology in this field constantly changes, telecommunications engineering technicians must continue learning about new equipment over the course of their careers.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Telecommunications engineering technician is a Skill level 3 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to telecommunications engineering technician.

ICT security technician
ICT technician
webmaster
computer hardware engineering technician
computer-aided design operator

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of telecommunications engineering technician. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of telecommunications engineering technician with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

telecommunications engineer
ICT network administrator
numerical tool and process control programmer
ICT system architect
3D modeller

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of telecommunications engineering technician.

• Microwave principles: The technologies used in transmission of information or energy via electromagnetic waves between 1000 and 100,000 MHz.
• Organisational policies: The policies to achieve set of goals and targets regarding the development and maintenance of an organisation.
• Electromagnetism: The study of electromagnetic forces and the interaction between electric and magnetic fields. The interaction between electrically charged particles can create magnetic fields with a certain range or frequency and electricity can be produced by the changing of these magnetic fields.
• Electronics principles: The study of electric energy, more specifically electron, control and its prominent principles regarding integrated circuits and electrical systems.
• ICT communications protocols: The system of rules which allow the exchange of information between computers or other devices via computer networks.
• Direct inward dialing: The telecommunication service that provides a company with a series of telephone numbers for internal use, such as individual telephone numbers for each employee or every workstation. Using Direct Inward Dialing (DID), a company does not need another line for every connection.
• Quality assurance methodologies: Quality assurance principles, standard requirements, and the set of processes and activities used for measuring, controlling and ensuring the quality of products and processes.
• ICT system user requirements: The process intended to match user and organisation’s needs with system components and services, by taking into consideration the available technologies and the techniques required to elicit and specify requirements, interrogating users to establish symptoms of problem and analysing symptoms.
• Analog electronics theory: The theory based on analogue circuits in which volumes (voltage or current) continuously vary over time.

These skills are necessary for the role of telecommunications engineering technician.

• Apply system organisational policies: Implement internal policies related to the development, internal and external usage of technological systems, such as software systems, network systems and telecommunications systems, in order to achieve a set of goals and targets regarding the efficient operations and growth of an organisation.
• Manage changes in ICT system: Plan, realise and monitor system changes and upgrades. Maintain earlier system versions. Revert, if necessary, to a safe older system version.
• Manage system security: Analyse the critical assets of a company and identify weaknesses and vulnerabilities that lead to intrusion or attack. Apply security detection techniques. Understand cyber attack techniques and implement effective countermeasures.
• Upgrade firmware: Update basic or integrated software included in devices, network components and embedded systems.
• Use scripting programming: Utilise specialised ICT tools to create computer code that is interpreted by the corresponding run-time environments in order to extend applications and automate common computer operations. Use programming languages which support this method such as Unix Shell scripts, JavaScript, Python and Ruby.
• Interpret technical texts: Read and understand technical texts that provide information on how to perform a task, usually explained in steps.
• Calibrate electronic instruments: Correct and adjust the reliability of an electronic instrument by measuring output and comparing results with the data of a reference device or a set of standardised results. This is done in regular intervals which are set by the manufacturer and using calibration devices.
• Apply ICT system usage policies: Follow written and ethical laws and policies regarding proper ICT system usage and administration.
• Operate electronic measuring instruments: Tend a wide variety of devices for measuring electronic characteristics of system components, such as optical power meter, fibre power meter, digital power meter and multimeter.
• Install monitors for process control: Plan and deploy a system of monitors for controlling specific processes in an organisation or a system.
• Manage system testing: Select, perform and track testings on software or hardware to detect system defects both within the integrated system units, the inter-assemblages and the system as a whole. Organise testings such as installation testing, security testing and graphical user interface testing.
• Support ICT system users: Communicate with end users, instruct them on how to progress with tasks, use ICT support tools and methods to solve problems and identify possible side effects and provide solutions.
• Use session border controller: Manage calls during a given VoIP session and ensure security and quality of service by operating a session border controller (SBC).
• Integrate system components: Select and use integration techniques and tools to plan and implement integration of hardware and software modules and components in a system. Apply specific testing techniques to ensure integrity during system integration.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of telecommunications engineering technician. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

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• Procurement of ICT network equipment: The products available from network equipment providers and methods for selecting and procuring the equipment.
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These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of telecommunications engineering technician. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Provide technical documentation: Prepare documentation for existing and upcoming products or services, describing their functionality and composition in such a way that it is understandable for a wide audience without technical background and compliant with defined requirements and standards. Keep documentation up to date.
• Solder electronics: Operate and use soldering tools and soldering iron, which supply high temperatures to melt the solder and to join electronic components.
• Provide cost benefit analysis reports: Prepare, compile and communicate reports with broken down cost analysis on the proposal and budget plans of the company. Analyse the financial or social costs and benefits of a project or investment in advance over a given period of time.
• Operate private branch exchange: Handle Private Branch Exchange (PBX), a telecommunication system within an organisation that switches calls between users on local lines. At the same time the system allows all users to share external phone lines.
• Execute ICT audits: Organise and execute audits in order to evaluate ICT systems, compliance of components of systems, information processing systems and information security. Identify and collect potential critical issues and recommend solutions based on required standards and solutions.
• Meet deadlines: Ensure operative processes are finished at a previously agreed-upon time.
• Solve ICT system problems: Identify potential component malfunctions. Monitor, document and communicate about incidents. Deploy appropriate resources with minimal outage and deploy appropriate diagnostic tools.
• Maintain telephony system: Prevent telephone faults. Report to the electricians for changing of the equipment and manage telephone installations and moves. Maintain voice-mail system which includes adding, deleting mailboxes and managing security codes and provide voicemail instruction for staff.

3522 – Telecommunications engineering technicians

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References

1. Telecommunications engineering technician – ESCO
2. Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers : Occupational Outlook Handbook – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
3. Featured image: Photo by Brett Sayles