Network Maintenance & Construction Technician Trainee - (On-site, Anchorage, AK)

GCI Communication Corp•Anchorage, AK

1d•Onsite

About The Position

GCI's Network Maintenance & Construction Technician Trainee will: Represent the company by providing outstanding customer service to current and prospective clients exploring our products and services, including those interested in upgrades or expansions. Perform professional and efficient installations and servicing of telecommunications solutions, including video, high-speed data, and voice products, in both residential and commercial settings. Oversee system-wide maintenance and quality control of network signal processing, proactively troubleshooting and resolving issues such as transmission discrepancies, signal loss, interference, and equipment malfunctions. Conduct comprehensive network analysis and maintain headend systems to ensure optimal performance. Safeguard the integrity of outside plant infrastructure, ensuring reliability and efficiency in service delivery. This is a trainee-level position within the telecommunications field, specifically focused on outside network maintenance. The role is designed for individuals to gain job knowledge and competency through the company’s certification programs, education, and hands-on training alongside experienced technicians. The trainee will support senior technicians by developing a foundational understanding of routine preventative and corrective network maintenance, as well as repairs to field and network facilities that deliver video, voice, data, and wireless services. Detailed instructions and guidance will be provided for both routine tasks and new assignments. Work will be closely supervised, with regular reviews by senior staff to ensure timeliness, accuracy, and adherence to established procedures. This position may be assigned to any of the following areas as needed to support network repairs: Outside Plant Network Maintenance and Repair. Inside Plant Network Maintenance and Repair. Outside Plant Construction. Facilities Maintenance and Repair. Core Network Maintenance and Repair.

Requirements

High School diploma or equivalent.
Minimum of six (6) months of experience in a telecommunications or related technical field background.
Upon hiring, candidates may be required to successfully complete specific certifications and training courses within a designated timeframe, such as Defensive Driving, Company Online Installer, Pole Climbing, AK DOT Bucket Truck, and AK DOT approved Flagger Certification.
This position requires driving a company-owned vehicle, company provided vehicle, or a personal vehicle on behalf of the company. Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license, proof of insurance, a satisfactory driving record, and successfully complete Defensive Driving course.
May be required to obtain a commercial driver’s license within six (6) months of employment.
This position requires travel and/or access to regulated facilities that require compliant identification. Employees must obtain and maintain the appropriate identification and, when required, successfully participate in and maintain eligibility through applicable background checks in accordance with contractual and federal requirements within ninety (90) days of hire, or within ninety (90) days of any applicable regulatory changes.
Candidates must reside within 50 miles of Anchorage, Alaska

Nice To Haves

Telecommunications experience.
Other relevant telecom industry or job specific certifications.

Responsibilities

Aerial & Underground Construction Operations: Execute and support a variety of aerial and underground projects, including cable installation, relocation, and maintenance of telecommunications infrastructure, while strictly adhering to safety protocols and construction standards.
Heavy Equipment Operations: Operate heavy machinery such as backhoes, trenchers, and excavators for excavation, foundation laying, and construction tasks. Ensure compliance with Alyeska badging requirements, including mandatory random drug screenings for access to restricted areas.
Quality Assurance & Operational Acceptance: Lead quality control initiatives during construction and repair phases, ensuring that all work aligns with operational standards for signal processing and infrastructure integrity.
Excavation & Restoration: Oversee and perform excavation work to facilitate cable installations and ensure restoration of sites to their original condition with minimal disruption.
Cable Splicing (Copper, Fiber, Coax): Perform precise splicing of copper, fiber optic, and coaxial cables for both new construction and repair efforts, upholding the highest standards of workmanship in telecommunications networks.
Submarine Cable Operations Support: Provide comprehensive support for submarine cable systems, performing Power Safety Assurance in accordance with optical safety standards, including North American Zone (NAZ) requirements. Conduct OTDR testing to identify faults, assess splice loss, and re-establish connections, documenting results throughout the repair process. May require to boarding vessels to act as GCI on-site operations observer.
Power Supply Maintenance: Perform routine maintenance and repairs on AC/DC power supplies, including battery replacements. Install power supply equipment and cabling for new deployments and respond to power outages and deploy generators when necessary.
Tree Trimming & Pole Removal: Safely trim trees and remove wooden poles to prevent interference with aerial lines and maintain network integrity.
Flagger Certification & Traffic Control: Implement effective traffic control measures during construction, excavation, or road-based operations to ensure the safety of workers and the public. Maintain flagger certification as required.
CDL & Heavy Vehicle Operations: Operate heavy vehicles to transport materials and equipment to various job sites, ensuring compliance with commercial driving regulations and performing routine vehicle maintenance.
Procurement & Harmonic Fiber Transport Equipment: Assist in sourcing equipment and materials essential for construction and repair, with a focus on Harmonic Fiber Transport systems for signal transmission.
Field Engineering & Network Support: Perform field engineering tasks, including troubleshooting system issues, responding to alarms, and replacing failed equipment such as cards and chassis. Conduct light repairs to maintain core network infrastructure while collaborating with vendors and remote support staff.
Network Continuity & Maintenance: Ensure the uninterrupted operation of RF, microwave, fiber optic, AC/DC, and HFC networks through regular maintenance, testing, and monitoring. Execute balancing, sweeping, and aligning tasks to maintain proof of performance.
Customer Service & Equipment Installation: Install, service, and troubleshoot telecommunications equipment, addressing both analog and digital systems for video, voice, and data from tap or demarcation points to customer premises.
Perform basic construction, installation, routine preventative maintenance, corrective maintenance, testing, and repairs of facilities providing video, voice, and data services.
Assess field conditions conduct tests and measurements to evaluate signal quality.
Manage semi-routine maintenance tasks, identifying deviations from accepted practices and confirming appropriate next steps with senior staff.
Collaborate closely with technicians on routine tasks and follow detailed instructions for new assignments, with work closely supervised to ensure timeliness, accuracy, and adherence to procedures.
Organize daily workloads effectively, utilizing industry standard test equipment, hand tools, and heavy machinery for the installation, maintenance, and repair of services and facilities.
Execute basic preventative and corrective maintenance tasks, including underground cable locating, outage response, rewiring or upgrading facilities, cabling, impairment mitigation, system drive off, and repairs.
Communicate with SMC or Dispatch to update and complete repair or trouble tickets efficiently.
Assist with new installations and address trouble tickets promptly to ensure timely service delivery.
Verify accuracy of written work orders, discrepancies, collect payments and customer signatures, and ensure all documentation is updated in a timely manner.
Escalate complex issues to the appropriate department, or management team as necessary.
Collaborate with senior technicians to address outages and perform other necessary duties as required.