Communications Technician

    Position Summary:   The Communications Technician is responsible for maintaining central office, carrier, special service circuits, and any other special equipment; must operate vehicle (sedan/truck/van) and perform other duties as assigned.   Qualifications: 1. Associates degree in electronics, communications or a related field or the equivalent in training and experience. 2. Five years of current experience in a related telephony field or the equivalent in training and experience. 3. Incumbent must be technically proficient in order to perform the specific work requirements of the job in the particular location. 4. Ability to analyze the performance of switching and peripheral data systems and initiate corrective action. 5. Effective oral and written communication skills, particularly in detailing technical information. 6. Ability to maintain an excellent attendance record.  7. Must possess a valid driver’s license, be able to safely operate company vehicles and equipment, and maintain a safe driving record.  8. Heavy lifting as required. 9. Ability to identify and distinguish audible tones/levels. 10. Must have capability to distinguish colors on facilities. 11. Knowledge of transmission and supervision characteristics.  12. Must be able to perform basic computer operational tasks. 13. Must be able to respond to after hour call-outs, work overtime, shift, weekends, and holidays as required.  14. Ability to work outside in all weather conditions and at various hours of the day/night. 15. Ability to quickly adapt to new technology/equipment/platforms. 16. Ability to achieve required certifications and to successfully complete any required training or coursework. 17. May be required to reside within certain proximity of a reporting location. 18. Travel as required to assist in other work locations or to attend out-of-town training. 19. Ability to safely climb towers, ladders, and/or poles to inspect antennas and transmission lines, as required. 20. Ability to maintain neat and accurate records.   Preferred Qualifications: 1. SONET Fiber Optic transport experience. 2. Network+, A+, CCNA Certifications.  3. Certification in CISCO, Microsoft, or other related network/data systems. 4. Certification or equivalent training in inter-networking technology and LAN/WAN equipment such as Ethernet switches, routers, ATM, frame relay, IP, and routing protocols. 5. Current experience with NGDLC Systems, GTD-5, Siemens MXU 914A and 914E, or Nortel DMS family switches. 6. AFC experience.  Certification or equivalent training in the maintenance and operation of AFC (DLC), Calix DSL systems, Adtran (DLC), Fujitsu (FO Transport), and Alcatel DSL systems. 7. Installation and configuration of network enabling CPE hardware and software for connection to strategic network services to include frame relay, HiCap, xDSL, and other systems utilized by CenturyTel. 8. Experience in configuring and troubleshooting LAN/WAN systems to include routers, switches, hubs, transceivers, servers, and DSL, as well as, programming ATM based services (i.e. ADSL). 9. Knowledge of SS7 networks in theory. 10. Experience and/or training in copper transmission systems, fiber optics transmission systems, installation, testing and troubleshooting (DSO, DS2, DS3, SONET, PON, etc.). 11. Certification or equivalent training in the maintenance and operation of Voice Mail systems. 12. Experience installing and troubleshooting T1 and DS3 circuits, microwave radios, single channel radios and BETS=RS (point to multi-point) radios, digital loop carrier, high-speed internet, voice mail systems, E911 equipment (CML) and services, installation and repair experience. 13. DMS-10 or DMS-100 experience.   Responsibilities: 1. Maintain central office and remotes; monitor, install, maintain and repair all digital/analog equipment such as switching, carrier systems, high-speed internet, ISDN, voice mail systems, span lines, mobile telephone, pager terminals, Hi-Caps, fiber optics, data circuits, microwave systems, etc.  2. Analyze and repair digital equipment using technical meters such as transmission test sets, volt/ohm meters, oscilloscope, TDR’s, OTDR’s (optical meters), BER testers, laptop computers, frequency meters, error rates, and synchronization meters.  3. Use a variety of test equipment to isolate, identify, and analyze equipment trouble and take appropriate maintenance action. 4. Comprehend and relate complex circuit descriptions of both analog and digital fields. 5. Must have the ability to understand flow charts, equipment manuals, technical documentation, and/or computer printouts for the purpose of trouble shooting and maintaining digital and analog systems. 6. Must be able to relate with customers and employees, and other department personnel for the purpose of resolving technical problems. 7. Advise the Departmental Supervisor of all changes and/or problems on a continuing basis. 8. Perform service orders, trouble resolution, provisioning, and work order routines.  9. Operate and maintain computer systems and support devices; install and test system upgrades.  10. Respond to emergency service-affecting situations.  Assist in trouble isolation of network and subscriber loop problems. 11. Maintain and correct records in all related databases. 12. Participate and perform to minimum standards in the “Take the Lead” program. 13. Observe all safety rules and regulations. 14. Assume all other duties as assigned.   All internal applications should be submitted to the Human Resources Department - Gypsum, CO.    It is the responsibility of the respondent to prove his/her qualifications for the position for which they are responding. CenturyTel requires pre-employment drug testing.   CenturyTelIS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER