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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wireless Program Technician

💰 $50,000 - $85,000

TelecommunicationsField OperationsWireless

🎯 Role Definition

A Wireless Program Technician is a field-facing telecommunications specialist who supports the planning, installation, testing, commissioning, maintenance and documentation of wireless network infrastructure. Typical work includes performing on-site RF and physical installations (antennas, cabling, small cells, Distributed Antenna Systems), executing fiber and coaxial work, conducting site surveys and acceptance testing, troubleshooting system issues, ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory standards, updating program documentation and work orders, and coordinating with project managers, vendors, carriers and property owners. This role balances hands-on technical execution with program-level coordination to deliver large-scale wireless rollouts, upgrades, and ongoing operational support.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Cable or network installer
  • Field service technician or electronics technician
  • Fiber-optic technician or tower climber

Advancement To:

  • Senior Wireless Technician / Lead Field Technician
  • RF/Integration Engineer or DAS Specialist
  • Field Operations Supervisor or Project Manager
  • Wireless Program Manager or Deployment Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Fiber Optic Technician / Splicer
  • DAS / Small Cell Installer
  • Tower Climbing Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Perform end-to-end site installation for wireless infrastructure including antennas, mounts, coax, jumpers, surge protection, and grounding systems; coordinate with construction crews and landlords to ensure installations meet design plans, safety standards and carrier specifications.
  • Execute Distributed Antenna System (DAS) and small cell deployments: interpret RF design documentation, install headend equipment and remote nodes, align antennas and optimize coverage per engineering guidance.
  • Conduct comprehensive site surveys and pre-install assessments using RF site-survey tools, GPS, laser distance meters and photographic documentation to validate design assumptions, identify hazards, and determine material requirements.
  • Perform fiber optic cable installation, termination and testing: conduit pulls, fusion splicing, connectorization, OTDR testing, loss and continuity verification, and labeling to meet program acceptance criteria.
  • Install, terminate and test coaxial systems and RF jumpers using return loss (VSWR) and insertion loss measurements; document test results and rectify impedance, connector or cable faults on site.
  • Use spectrum analyzers, power meters, signal generators and network analyzers to verify RF performance, troubleshoot interference, and validate carrier parameters before commissioning.
  • Commission and acceptance test wireless elements according to carrier or project test plans: document test cases, collect test logs, upload test results into work order or NOC systems, and provide acceptance support during carrier turn-up.
  • Troubleshoot complex field issues across RF, fiber and power domains through systematic diagnostics, isolation of faults, and coordination with remote engineering or NOC teams to implement fixes or workarounds.
  • Execute equipment swaps, upgrades and migrations in live environments with minimal downtime—perform pre-checks, backup configurations, and post-change verification to maintain service continuity.
  • Maintain accurate and timely program documentation: site diaries, As-Built drawings, photos, BOM updates, safety checklists, and compliance paperwork in centralized PM or asset management systems.
  • Follow and enforce workplace safety and RF exposure guidelines, perform daily pre-job hazard analysis (JHA), and ensure PPE, fall protection, and lockout/tagout procedures are used on site.
  • Coordinate with internal program managers, subcontractors, carriers, building owners and permitting authorities to schedule site access, obtain permits, resolve access issues, and escalate blockers to keep deployments on schedule.
  • Operate company vehicles and mobile test labs to travel to multiple field sites per day; manage field inventory of cables, connectors, test equipment and replacement parts.
  • Execute preventive maintenance visits, periodic inspections and site health checks; identify degradation, recommend remediation plans, and perform corrective repairs to maintain network availability.
  • Install and configure site power equipment and ancillary systems including backup power, rectifiers, ATS, surge protectors and grounding systems; perform voltage and continuity checks and liaise with electricians when required.
  • Participate in quality assurance and post-installation audits, implement corrective actions identified in QA reviews, and support continuous improvement initiatives to reduce rework and field escalations.
  • Deliver customer-facing communication during on-site activities: explain work scope to property managers, coordinate tenant impact windows, and document customer sign-off where required.
  • Train and mentor junior technicians and subcontractor teams on site standards, installation best practices, safety expectations and test procedures to raise overall program competency.
  • Maintain compliance with carrier-specific standards and regulatory requirements (local building codes, FCC regulations, OSHA), and support documentation needed for inspections and audits.
  • Support emergency response and trouble-call mobilization for critical outages, conduct triage, and perform on-call field remediation to restore service according to SLA priorities.
  • Manage field work orders and service tickets end-to-end: accept assignments via mobile apps, update progress and travel times, close tickets with proper documentation and escalate complex issues to engineering or PM teams.
  • Optimize field workflows by recommending material kits, tooling changes, or process updates based on recurring failure patterns, site constraints or program scale.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
  • Assist program managers with inventory reconciliations and procurement forecasts based on field consumption trends.
  • Provide photo and video evidence for claims, warranty work and insurance submissions when incidents impact equipment or installations.
  • Attend project planning meetings and provide technical field-level input for constructability, time estimates and risk assessments.
  • Maintain calibration and inventory records for test equipment, schedule recurring calibration and coordinate with vendor facilities when service or repair is required.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • RF fundamentals and hands-on experience with antenna systems, propagation basics, and RF measurement techniques (VSWR/return loss, power level, interference analysis).
  • DAS and small cell installation and commissioning experience, including interpreting DAS/RF design drawings and integrating with baseband/radio equipment.
  • Fiber optic skills: fusion splicing, mechanical splicing, OTDR testing, power meter/visual fault locator use, and fiber cable handling best practices.
  • Coaxial cable installation, connectorization, torqueing, and return/insertion loss testing for RF feeder systems.
  • Proficiency with field test instruments: spectrum analyzer, signal generator, power meter, OTDR, multimeter, and network analyzer.
  • Familiarity with carrier acceptance testing protocols and test plan execution; ability to create, capture and submit test logs and acceptance artifacts.
  • Knowledge of grounding, bonding, surge protection, and basic site power systems including battery/rectifier and ATS components.
  • Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, BOMs, single-line diagrams, and installation schematics.
  • Experience with work order and field service management platforms (e.g., ServiceNow, Salesforce Field Service, ClickSoftware, Oracle WFM) and mobile ticketing apps.
  • Proficiency with GPS mapping, site survey tools, and basic GIS or asset-tracking systems for site verification and documentation.
  • Familiarity with permitting processes and building access coordination for rooftop, indoor and street-level deployments.
  • Basic configuration skills for site equipment (switches, remote radios, small cell controllers) and ability to follow configuration scripts safely.
  • Vehicle and logistics management for multi-site daily routes, including secure transport of sensitive equipment and adherence to chain-of-custody for assets.
  • Understanding of OSHA, RF exposure limits, fall protection, and site safety standards; competence in executing JHAs and using required PPE.

Soft Skills

  • Strong verbal and written communication skills for clear field-to-office reporting, customer interactions, and cross-functional coordination.
  • Problem-solving and analytical mindset: diagnose complex failures in mixed RF/fiber/power environments and implement practical fixes.
  • Time management and prioritization: manage multiple site visits and service tickets, optimize routes and meet SLAs.
  • Attention to detail and quality orientation in testing, documentation and As-Built record keeping.
  • Teamwork and collaboration: work closely with engineers, project managers, subcontractors and clients to achieve deployment targets.
  • Customer service focus: manage client expectations, explain technical issues in non-technical terms, and secure sign-offs.
  • Adaptability and resiliency working in variable weather, constrained indoor spaces, or complex site environments.
  • Coaching and mentoring: ability to onboard and upskill junior technicians and subcontractor crews.
  • Ethical behavior and accountability in asset handling, data reporting and compliance activities.
  • Initiative and continuous improvement mindset: identify process bottlenecks, propose solutions and drive operational efficiencies.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or GED.

Preferred Education:

  • Associate degree or technical diploma in Telecommunications, Electronics, Electrical Technology, or Network Engineering.
  • Industry certifications such as ETA Fiber Optics (CFOT), BICSI Installer, OSHA 10/30, CPR/First Aid, or vendor-specific wireless certifications.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Telecommunications
  • Electronics/Electrical Technology
  • Network Engineering / Computer Networking
  • RF Engineering or Applied Physics

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 1–5 years of combined field experience in wireless installations, fiber/coax work, or telecommunications field services.

Preferred:

  • 3–7+ years supporting wireless infrastructure programs, DAS/small cell deployments, fiber splicing and RF troubleshooting at scale; demonstrated experience executing carrier acceptance tests and managing field work orders.
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