Telecommunications Engineer III

Overview

TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENGINEER III

In addition to performance-based merit increases, this position is scheduled to receive salary range increases on the following dates :

Effective June 27, 2025 4.00% increase

Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

This recruitment will be open for a minimum of five (5) business days and will remain open on a continuous basis until 11 : 59 p.m. (PST) on the day the Sheriff-Coroner Department's needs have been met. It is recommended that interested candidates apply immediately.

Recruitment / Position Information

This recruitment is being conducted to establish an Open Eligible List to fill vacancies in this class until the next recruitment. This list may also be utilized to fill similar and / or lower level classifications.

The Division

The Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Technology Division manages Department Information Technology systems and infrastructure, Department security electronics, and the operation of the 800 MHz Countywide Coordinated Communications System (CCCS) for all local public safety agencies (law enforcement, fire, paramedic, and lifeguard) and for general government on a 24-hour basis. Other services include installation, maintenance, and programming of communications and electronic equipment (microwave equipment, 9-1-1 dispatch equipment, mobile and portable radios, surveillance, alarm, sound, video and control systems); engineering and frequency management.

Sheriff-Coroner Technology Division consists of over 130 personnel organized in seven areas that specialize in specific technical services, including IT Applications, Infrastructure, and Security, the Emergency Communications Unit, Radio Microwave Unit, Security Electronics Unit, and the Technical Services Unit. These technical units are supported by the Operations and Financial Units. Each unit maintains a staff of engineers, technicians, and support personnel to provide a high level of technical expertise to various information technology functions within the Department, and public safety functions, including city and county law enforcement, fire services, emergency medical services, lifeguard operations, park rangers, public works agencies, local government, courts, jails and Probation facilities.

The Opportunity

The Orange County Sheriff's Department is seeking qualified Telecommunications Engineer III applicants. A Telecommunications Engineer III is a journeyman level position that is responsible for the design, installation and maintenance of complex electronic components and systems. This position may act as a lead worker and may provide technical oversight on the work of contractors and County technical staff. Assistance with annual budget and other administrative duties may be required.

Duties

This position performs professional telecommunications engineering work including planning, designing, evaluating, modifying and maintaining complex analog and digital voice, data, and video telecommunications networks. The incumbent serves as a journey-level engineer responsible for complex telecommunications systems supporting public safety and government operations, including dispatch centers, radio systems, and security systems.

This position requires working in remote areas and in high security areas such as jails, courthouses field locations throughout Orange County, and dispatch centers. This position may require working various shifts including nights, weekends and holidays and be available on a 24 / 7 basis when covering on-call shifts.

Desirable Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the following :

• Bachelor's degree in electronic / electrical engineering or equivalent experience
• Registration as a professional Electrical Engineer in the state of California
• Possession of a valid General Radiotelephone Operator License issued by the Federal Communications Commission
• Extensive knowledge of public safety communications systems
• Strong background in radio frequency and microwave systems
• Experience with dispatch center technologies
• Proven project management skills
• Knowledge of telecommunications systems and public safety communications
• Understanding of FCC regulations and technical standards
• Ability to read and create technical documentation
• Strong problem-solving skills

Minimum Qualifications

Thorough knowledge of one of the following :

Radio and microwave communications systems design and operation, including fixed, mobile, station and related systems and equipment, for the transmission of voice, data and video information

Data communications system design and operation, operation of store-and-forward message switching systems, and protocols used in data communications systems

Telephone system design and operation, including transmission engineering, PABX and switching systems, signaling methods, network analysis techniques and PSN interface requirements

Design of Public Safety dispatch centers including console equipment, CAD systems, logging recorders, and other related equipment

AND

Knowledge of

Engineering economics, mathematics, statistics and physics

Application of microcomputers to engineering tasks and a working knowledge of commonly used microcomputer programming languages

Analog and digital multiplexing techniques used in wire or cable, microwave, optical and fiber optic communications links

Radio frequency spectrum allocations, electromagnetic wave propagation and radio field strength measurements and tolerances

Equipment and materials currently available for new and revised telecommunications installations

Queuing theory, Erlang formulas and other traffic engineering techniques applicable to network analysis

Contract administration and the legal relationships between the agency, architectural and engineering consultants, contractors, subcontractors and vendors

FCC and / or PUC regulations applicable to governmental communications (may be required for some assignments)

Ability to

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others

Communicate effectively orally and in writing on technical subjects to technical and non-technical people

Conduct surveys of existing telecommunications installations, evaluate their effectiveness and efficiency, and recommend design modifications to systems or equipment, as necessary

Assimilate and analyze data, and prepare accurate and concise engineering reports and studies

Perform the mathematical calculations required in the design and planning of telecommunications networks, systems and equipment

Analyze technical problems accurately and recommend or take an effective course of action

Use a County-approved means of transportation to travel to work sites

Design or modify a variety of telecommunications and electronic systems and equipment, including microwave, for analog and digital voice, data and video transmission

Analyze responses to bids or proposals for compliance to specifications

Understand, interpret and enforce compliance with plans, specifications, schedules and provisions of contractual documents

Instruct professional and technical staff concerning new equipment, techniques and new or revised FCC and PUC regulations

Act as telecommunications engineering consultant to County agencies / departments and cities

Make system programming changes to telecommunications switching systems and program minor microcomputers in Basic, Assembler, COBOL, Pascal, C or other commonly used languages (maybe required for some assignments)

License and Certification

Possession of a valid General Radiotelephone Operator License issued by the Federal Communications Commission may be required for some positions. When required, license must be obtained within six months of date of appointment.

Education and Experience

Registration as a professional Electrical Engineer in the State of California

OR

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree and major course work in electronic or electrical engineering or a closely related field and one (1) years of experience which would have applied or developed the knowledge and abilities listed above.

OR

Four (4) years of experience in electronic engineering, design or systems troubleshooting which would have applied or developed the knowledge and abilities listed above.

Click here to review the class specifications.

Physical, Mental, Environmental and Working Conditions

Physical Requirements :

The incumbent must be willing to perform duties commensurate with the position. Must be able to lift over 50 lbs. with frequent lifting or carrying objects weighing over 25 lbs.; climb ladders, scaffolding and poles, crawl in attics or under vehicles and work in cramped spaces such as under automobile dash or trunk, stoop, bend, or twist your back, kneel, squat and work with arms above shoulder level; operate power tools or other like machinery that are potentially hazardous. Vision must be sufficient to perform the necessary functions of the position.

Environmental Conditions :

Must be willing to work in various environments such as jails, county hospitals and dispatch centers and drive-in-all-weather conditions and potentially difficult terrain dependent upon the facility.

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants must not have been convicted of a felony or be on any form of probation and must pass an extensive background investigation to the satisfaction of the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner.

Background screening includes completing of a Personal History Form, interview with a background investigator, fingerprinting and may include a polygraph test. Some of the areas considered in the background screening include prior convictions, traffic violations, drug use and credit problems, employment history, professional references and education verification (i.e. degree, license, or official transcripts. Foreign degrees require an evaluation of U.S. equivalency by an agency that is a member of the National Association of Credentials Evaluation Services (N.A.C.E.S.).)

Human Resources | Minimum Qualifications

Sheriff Human Resources screens all applications to identify the most qualified candidates for the position based on the skills required to meet the needs of the Department. Applications must emphasize all the areas in which the applicant has expertise and accomplishments in the specific competencies related to the position. After the initial screening, the qualified candidates will be referred to the next step and notified of all further procedures applicable to their status in the competition.

Structured Oral Panel Interview

(Weighted 100%) : Candidates will be interviewed and rated by a panel of job knowledge experts. Each candidate's rating will be based on responses to a series of structured questions designed to elicit the candidates' qualifications for the job. Only the most successful candidates will be placed on the eligible list.

Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedure.

Eligible List

After all procedures have been completed, the Sheriff Human Resources will establish an eligible list of qualified candidates.

Veterans Employment Preference

The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings.

Please click here to review the policy.

How To Apply

Only online applications will be accepted. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of online applications. Application information must be current, succinct and related to the requirements in this job announcement. Your application should demonstrate your professional experience and education related to the specific qualifications / duties listed in this bulletin, including areas which you have developed expertise.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.

Email Notification : Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in your application and use only one email account.

Note : User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply. Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the site. Please check your email folders, including spam / junk folders, and / or accept emails ending with and . If your email address should change, please update your profile at .

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS : Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.

For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, contact Paige West at (714) 834-5859 or email at pwest@

Click here to view the OC Sheriff's Department website

Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

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