What are the responsibilities and job description for the OSP Combination Technician (Supporting Concepcion/Encino Area) position at Valley Telephone?
*** While the primary focus of this role will be directly supporting our Concepcion and Encino areas, you may be required to provide support in neighboring counties as needed.
SUMMARY
Performs the installation, maintenance, testing, troubleshooting, splicing, and repair of outside plant copper, fiber optic, and Fixed Wireless broadband facilities. Responsible for Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) service installations, customer premise equipment configuration, fiber optic splicing, network troubleshooting, cable locating, and restoration activities. Utilizes specialized test equipment to identify and resolve service-affecting issues within the access network and customer premises. Installs, aligns, configures, and maintains Fixed Wireless equipment and associated network devices to ensure reliable broadband service delivery. Maintains a high level of customer service while adhering to company, R.U.S., and safety standards.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:
- Install, activate, test, and maintain Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) services, including optical network terminals (ONTs), routers, wireless gateways, Wi-Fi systems, and associated customer premise equipment.
- Perform fusion and mechanical splicing of single-mode fiber optic cables in aerial, buried, and underground environments, including splice closures, cabinets, pedestals, handholes, and customer service terminals.
- Interpret fiber assignment sheets, splice diagrams, network maps, and construction staking sheets to complete installations and repairs accurately.
- Utilize OTDRs, optical power meters, light sources, fault locators, and other testing equipment to troubleshoot and resolve fiber optic network issues.
- Diagnose and repair service impairments affecting fiber optic, copper, and broadband services, including signal degradation, fiber cuts, damaged drops, faulty electronics, and customer premise equipment failures.
- Perform fiber restoration activities during network outages and emergency situations to minimize service interruptions.
- Install, configure, align, optimize, and maintain Fixed Wireless customer premise equipment, including antennas, radios, mounts, power supplies, and network devices.
- Conduct Fixed Wireless site surveys to determine serviceability, line-of-sight requirements, signal quality, interference conditions, and proper equipment placement.
- Analyze wireless performance metrics such as RSSI, SNR, noise floor, modulation rates, throughput, and fade margin to ensure optimal service performance.
- Troubleshoot broadband connectivity issues involving wired and wireless networks, routers, switches, Wi-Fi systems, and customer devices.
- Install, terminate, test, certify, and document CAT5e, CAT6, fiber optic, coaxial, and other communication cabling systems.
- Perform preventive maintenance inspections on fiber distribution hubs, cabinets, wireless infrastructure, and customer premise equipment.
- Respond to emergency service outages, network failures, and restoration activities during scheduled standby and call-out assignments.
- Accurately document installations, splicing records, test results, service orders, outage reports, and facility changes using company systems and mapping tools.
- Assist with network expansion projects, fiber overbuilds, FTTH service activations, wireless deployments, and infrastructure upgrades.
- Educate customers on the operation of broadband, Wi-Fi, voice, and Fixed Wireless services while maintaining professional customer relations.
- Safely handle heavy lifting of tools, ladders, materials, and supplies as required.
- Climb ladders and work at heights exceeding 20 feet when necessary.
- Comply with all OSHA regulations, company safety policies, and departmental standards as directed by the Supervisor.
- Accurately document service orders with photos and detailed notes, clearly reflecting the work completed during each job.
- Support warehouse operations including stocking, material transfers, inventory management, and charging materials to appropriate jobs.
- Conduct vehicle safety inspections when instructed and properly log all required documentation for fleet records.
- Use the company credit card responsibly and submit monthly expense statements accurately and on time.
- Other duties may be assigned.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
High school diploma or GED required. One to three years of telecommunications, broadband, fiber optic, or Fixed Wireless experience preferred. Experience with FTTH installations, fiber splicing, broadband troubleshooting, wireless broadband systems, and customer premise equipment installation is highly desirable. Equivalent combinations of education, training, and experience will be considered.
Must have valid Driver’s License and insurable record.
Must pass pre-employment screen, physical and background checks.
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Must be able to work required overtime, emergency call-out, weekends and out of town assignments.
- Must be able to participate in emergency “stand-by” rotation, as assigned.
- Must be able to attend and successfully complete training courses.
- Must be able to understand and work with cable counts and color codes.
- Must be able to read and understand staking sheets and schematics.
- Must be able to perform maintenance on existing copper, fiber optic & fixed wireless plant.
- Must communicate effectively with vendors, contractors, and employees.
- Computer background with technical network training or experience necessary.
- Prior working experience in similar function for an ISP/WISP desired.
- Understanding of wireless switch/bridge technologies.
- Working Knowledge of wireless technology theories such as SNR, fade margin, QAM, dB.
- Understanding of new technologies such 802.11i, 802.16(a).