Wide Area Network (WAN) Engineer

About the position

This recruitment will be used to establish an eighteen-month (18) eligibility list which will be used to fill current and future vacancies. Application period may close without notice. Under general direction, is responsible for independent work of considerable difficulty designing, implementing and managing a communications network to include local and/or wide area computer network(s) and advising a small group of network support specialists engaged in a variety of technical support activities such as the design, installation, testing, modification, enhancement, and maintenance of local and/or wide area computer networks; and performs related work as assigned. This is a competitive classification. Must successfully complete the examination process.

Responsibilities

• Designs, acquires, installs, maintains, configures, and upgrades communications systems and network hardware (e.g. hubs, routers, switches, cabling, servers, backup systems, interface cards, printers, modems, etc.) and software (e.g. operating systems, utility systems, security systems, etc.) to ensure the network is running at optimal performance levels.
• Provides technical assistance and information to clients.
• Monitors LAN/WAN data traffic to ensure that all data packets are being delivered to correct destinations.
• Configures hubs, routers, and switches to maintain optimal performance levels.
• Serves as the network communications administrator.
• Researches, develops, implements, and enforces data communications security.
• Advises management on in-house and industry trends in data communications networks.
• Contracts with, and supervises, contracted network specialists and consultants.
• Evaluates network communications hardware and software to ensure the products can accomplish specific tasks using a personal computer, appropriate hardware and software, and utility and development tools.
• Remains current on job-specific knowledge and trends through training courses, workshops, seminars, and professional associations/publications.
• Prepares informational and technical reports.
• Serves as a liaison between the Department, Unit and other agencies, and associations to investigate and resolve communications network problems.
• Researches and evaluates new and/or upgraded communications and network hardware and software for current or long range needs, and recommends acquisitions.
• Works with network support specialists to ensure network backup procedures are completed properly.
• Responds to 24-hour calls for emergency technical assistance to return network communications programs and systems to operational mode.
• Serves as a technical advisor on boards of national, state, and local project planning committees for law enforcement information resources.
• Serves on committees and tasks forces for the Department.
• Implements data wiring from punch downs to hubs to distribute activity loads using LAN management software to analyze activity per segment.
• Maintains an accurate inventory of all network communications components to ensure inventory levels are maintained, and appropriate transfers are filed with the Department.

Requirements

• Requires four (4) years experience providing technical support to local/wide area networks including designing, installing, testing, modifying, enhancing, and maintaining a local/wide area computer network.
• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in computer science or related field may substitute for one (1) year of the required experience.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in Digital Land Mobile Radio and Microwave Radio Networks is highly desirable.

Benefits

• Progression to the next pay level/step requires an overall performance rating of at least 'Standard' in the last 12 months.