SYSTEM TECHNICIAN

Role is based primarily on self-directed configuration, maintenance, repair, application, training, installation, learning, growth, leadership, teaching, and training.

System tech 100% performance level is defined as:

• Has seen all SA systems and knows all the customers and where most of the skeletons are, is trained in all items necessary for these accounts. Is familiar with the multi-level account (law, fire, etc) and can work appropriately within and across disciplines as needed. Has taken primary responsibility for at least one county.
• Can independently handle on-call shifts and be an accessible sounding board for less-experienced technicians who are on call.
• Is factory-trained on ARMER-level equipment fixed equipment; consoles, GTR/ESS/ARMER sites, MCC7500 consoles and all related equipment.
• Has taken the Common Practices training and has ARMER site access.
• Is a certified CET in at least one (preferably more) journeyman category.

Personal and Professional Qualifications:

System Technicians are the “do it all” technical people.

• 5 YEARS EXPERIENCE.
• Characterized by knowledge, experience, attitude, capability, curiosity, insatiable desire to learn and become better, independence, responsibility, detail, quality, reliability, and constancy, primary on call response, “whatever it takes” attitude.
• Essential qualities: self-reliance, confidence, proven capability, political (customer) awareness, integrity beyond question, customer intimacy, experience, knowledge, ability to shift gears on the fly as situations warrant, creativity, think-on-your-feet, focus, drive, commitment to the role. Always “on-the-job”; owning one’s occupation and customers. This is a “career position”, and not a “job”. Customers don’t know how they would get along without you.
• Awareness of, but not necessarily limited by, time (work until you get it right).
• Curiosity, need to know, learn, sense of “constructive dissatisfaction” (“everything can be improved upon”)
• Teaching/mentoring and training others to reach this level.
• Knowledge Base; assumes mastery of an item. A person can go and do that work with the information and resources they have on hand independently and routinely.

All the Field Technician items listed in the next section, plus:

• Technical writing, proposals, job pricing and planning, customer communication.
• Project Management development, planning, execution, verification, monitoring, closing. Large and small system planning, development, training, and problem mitigation.
• Site surveys and documentation, from both the high-level and the detailed viewpoint, with a practiced eye towards potential problems, obstacles, and design flaws large and small.
• Will understand systems from a “big picture” point of view, how certain actions might affect unrelated other subsystems, while still retaining a knowledge of the small items.
• Interfacing with other technical people as needed, cooperation, teamwork, etc.
• Certifications:
  
  • PLT (Minnesota)
  • ETA journeyman (minimum of one)
  • MNDOT
  • Motorola R56 plus those as may be required for specific customers or product families.
• Participate in the on-call rotation; able to independently communicate with customers to determine possible problem and act accordingly.
• Timely and accurate billing information, able to keep documents and files in an organized and useful manner for self and others.
• Basic building construction techniques; awareness of cabling types and standards.
• Applicable laws and regulatory rules regarding installation and siting specifics.
• Ability to determine with minimal involvement of others: go/no-go testing on whether a device may be suspect or not for a certain failure.
• Ability to use typical common test equipment without a great deal of training.
• FTP/TFTP/ASCII/Serial protocols
• Site research, planning, installation
• Building and electrical code awareness as it applies to particular projects.
• Ability to use whatever test equipment may be on hand to determine problems- think on feet.
• Very good mechanical ability and ability to use tools as needed.
• Ability to look at unfamiliar systems and derive their general application and purpose.
• Excellent situational and experiential awareness of surroundings, avoidance of potential issues and solving same

Independently plan, configure, install, troubleshoot, advise upon, customer train (when needed), and maintain the following systems:

• P25 ASTRO implementation (MN ARMER), (IA ISCS)
• BDA systems; install, troubleshooting and operational verification.
• IP-based camera system configuration, installation, and testing.
• Camera systems; IP, analog, basic photography (lenses, lighting, etc)
• POE in common forms
• MCC7500; PM, console programming, paging, op position programming, backups, specialized networking, training, troubleshooting,
• Simulcast and multicast paging.
• Mobile equipment operating in a 12/24VDC environment; programming and testing.
• Portable communication devices and accessories; programming and testing
• Point-to-Point and multipoint microwave and data transport systems
• Tower work processes, safety, knowledge, and awareness (not necessarily tower work), towers, lighting,
• Equipment interfacing; audio, DC contacts, IP, RS232, DC power,
• Fiber awareness and go-no go testing.
• Battery plants, DC power supply and distribution, backup power, design and specification, diagnosis, maintenance, and repair
• HVAC knowledge and familiarity, (go/no go)
• Grounding and bonding; towers, building, power systems, multi-room facilities, Motorola R56
• Two-Way communications; mobiles, portables, base stations, sites, repeaters, adjunct facilities, and devices, ASTRO/P25 systems, DMR (TRBO) systems and topologies, in-depth troubleshooting.
• Radio programming, bench and field, cloning, archiving, system template creation, detailed parameter knowledge and application, codeplug creation, debugging and issue analysis.
• RF Interference and intermodulation identification and mitigation, diagnosis, testing processes, test equipment, calculation, avoidance
• Cloud-based PTT communication
• PC (personal computer); detailed understanding, repair, configuration, setup, use as a testing tool, programming software (new and old), DOS, numerous system utilities, general business applications.
• Equipment construction and staging
• Data communications of all types: RS232(yes, it still exists), IP.
• Sites; construction, towers, tower construction (familiarity), telco, power systems and derived power systems, grounding, physical site construction and accommodations,
• RF; antenna theory, types, mounting, transmission line characteristics, testing methods, termination, attachment, grounding, attachment, combiners, lightning protection, rx multicouplers, attenuators, applicable test equipment
• Applicable knowledge and skills in basic electronics, voltage, dB, resistance, current, ability to understand and apply without looking it up in a book, DC and AC wiring, termination, generation, battery sizing, testing and capability,
• GPS receivers, antennas, applications
• Audio applications, single ended and balanced
• PA systems; operation and simple installations
• IP-networked communication systems, LAN and WLAN, switches, routers, POE (and , , etc)
• Termination of any type of cabling
• Able to use all types of test equipment independently.
• Able to understand basic automotive systems and how to work around them effectively and safely.
• Intimately familiar with PCs, operating systems, configuration, philosophy, operation, troubleshooting and repair.
• IP: able to use basic testing techniques to isolate faults and failures, understand and adjust/debug routers, switches, cabling, endpoint devices,
• Carriers: T1 configuration, diagnosis, modification, testing and troubleshooting and repair, phone lines, point-to-point, microwave, dial-up, DSL,
• High degree of organization, detail, and accuracy, able to independently research, dig out and obtain needed troubleshooting information for the system in question (system details, manufacturer manuals, documents from systems done before, site photos, internet research, historical repair information, bulletins,

Tools and Test Equipment

Service monitors (intimate with one, basic operational with any), Spectrum analysis, RF sweeping equipment, time-domain reflectometry, hand tools, crimpers, oscilloscopes, DC and AC test equipment and metering, audio levels measurement and adjustment, mechanical ability sufficient to use whatever is available at the time to get the job done.

If you would like to learn more about this opportunity or other opportunities in the automotive industry please contact Kala Shipley at

All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations.
GPAC (Growing People and Companies) is an award-winning search firm specializing in placing quality professionals within multiple industries across the United States since 1990. We are extremely competitive, client-focused and realize that our value is in our ability to deliver the right solutions at the right time.