Maintenance Engineer Eastern Region

Oregon Public Broadcasting•Bend, OR

6h•$33 - $35•Onsite

About The Position

The Field Maintenance Engineer is an onsite role working Monday through Friday. Quick response is needed for outages, including those caused by weather, planned maintenance, and system improvements. The position involves cross-training skills such as tower climbing, saw operation, driving, and first aid certification. Ideal candidates have strong technical aptitude, enjoy working outdoors, and demonstrate sound judgment, and a strong commitment to safety. Experience in hands-on field environments is highly transferable, as the technical aspects of the role can be taught. The role is a balance between fieldwork and technical problem-solving. While tower climbing is only required about once a month, the job also includes troubleshooting equipment in-office. Experience with audio, video, or broadcast systems is preferred, along with the ability to install, troubleshoot, and repair electrical equipment. The role is best suited for self-motivated individuals who can work independently and collaborate effectively within a small, close-knit team. The Field Maintenance Engineer is a member of the Bend-based engineering team and is entrusted with a wide variety of duties supporting the Eastern Region of OPB’s statewide broadcast network. Our area of responsibility stretches from the Cascades to the Idaho border. This engineer works independently or with OPB staff and contractors on projects ranging from technical research, documentation, and test-bench equipment repairs to winter trips accessing remote transmitter sites for maintenance. We primarily work in digital television, FM radio, microwave, and fiber distribution. The engineer filling this position possesses methodical troubleshooting skills, safety awareness, and a spirit of adventure.

Requirements

Four years combined involvement with A/V production, communications technology, electrical distribution, physical plant ops, systems engineering, or broadcast education
Strong understanding of signal flow and troubleshooting fundamentals
Detail-oriented and highly organized, able to work independently
Willingness to work outdoors in challenging conditions, including backcountry travel and inclement weather, and to maintain OPB-provided certifications in First Aid, CPR, and wilderness emergency medicine
Excellent interpersonal skills, a solution-oriented communicator that tactfully engages with colleagues, contractors, and our viewers and listeners
Competent in Windows and Microsoft Office
Valid driver’s license, clean driving record, and experience with 4WD trucks and towing
Familiar with vehicle maintenance, and with basic construction tasks and equipment
Enthusiasm for the mission of OPB

Nice To Haves

Experience with the design, maintenance, and operation of TV & FM transmitters, or of related equipment such as cellular transceivers, spectrum analyzers, frame syncs and audio processors, IP network devices, radar/sonar, or military radios
Experience operating tracked vehicles or other heavy equipment
Familiarity with construction tasks, wiring, framing, siding, sheetrock, HVAC
Tower climbing training
Bachelor’s degree in related field such as Electronics, Electrical Engineering, or IT,CCNA

Responsibilities

Travel to transmitter sites in 4WD trucks or tracked snow vehicles, occasionally requiring hiking or snowshoeing
Independently perform routine or emergency maintenance on equipment at transmitter sites, including TV, FM, and microwave air chains and controls, generators, building mechanical systems, and computer networks
Erect, paint, reinforce, rebuild, or demolish site structures as necessary
Perform basic vehicle maintenance as necessary
Document installations, upgrades, and operational parameters
Update databases with plans, drawings, and diagrams of changes
Partner with staff in planning and designing new systems
Create and revise simple documents for managing equipment, tools, programs, libraries, and supplies
Represent OPB in routine interactions with viewers and listeners, vendors and contractors, fellow broadcasters and engineers, cable operators, utility companies, government agencies, emergency services personnel, and the people of the Pacific Northwest
Participate in on-the-job training directed by Chief Engineers in signal flow, transmitter function, the use of test equipment, and repair and maintenance of broadcast facilities
Create training presentations contributing to staff learning activities
First Aid, CPR, and Wilderness Emergency Medicine compulsory
Tower climbing certification available
Attendance when possible, at industry seminars