Field Service Technician - Network

About the role

TDS Telecom is seeking a Field Service Technician-Network to join our team. This position involves installing, troubleshooting, repairing, and maintaining telecommunications products and equipment, including fiber optic and copper cable. The ideal candidate will have strong technical skills, excellent customer service, and the ability to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Install, troubleshoot, test, splice, repair, and maintain telephone equipment and general network equipment, customer premise equipment, Video/CATV/DBS, fiber optic/copper facilities and/or other TDS products & services for new and existing customers.
• Identify location of defective cable using various test equipment and repair buried, aerial, underground and/or customer cable.
• Locate cable and fiber in response to customer requests and/or construction needs.
• Pole climbing and operating construction equipment is required.
• Locate, identify and mark company underground and buried facilities to prevent facilities from being damaged.
• Keep orderly log of all locate requests in our exchange area.
• Perform cable fault acceptance tests on newly constructed facilities.
• Provide troubleshooting support techniques and corrections.
• Respond to “trouble” dispatches.
• Provide high level support for enhancing and maintaining record systems (cross connects, line groups, network elements, etc.).
• Provide excellent customer service.
• Proactively educate and sell TDS products and services to customers.
• Perform project management of the installation of systems and perform related functions as requested by supervisor.
• Complete all related paperwork in a timely manner such as forms, timesheets, material usage, and special data requests.
• May require working on project teams.
• Maintain work equipment and company vehicle.
• Stocks vehicle and notifies appropriate person when supplies and materials are low.
• Promote safety and accident prevention as day-to-day part of the normal job functions and attend safety meetings as required.
• Follows safety policies and procedures, applies safety training and follows Department of Transportation requirements as they apply to the job.
• Responsible for routine vehicle maintenance & adherence to TDS Vehicle Safety Policy.
• Maintains inventory including purchasing, receiving, stocking, and tracks regulated and non-regulated equipment and materials.
• Provides equipment maintenance, operating instructions, and diagnostics as needed.
• Utilizes MS Office Suite, Trouble/Repair/Dispatch Systems, Plant Record Systems, and other TDS applications to ensure accurate facility assignment and verification.
• Utilizes staking sheets and cut sheets.
• Assigns facilities and updates system records and maps.

Qualifications

• 1+ year basic technical telecommunications experience -OR- current/prior military service with honorable discharge.
• 6+ months of basic fiber optic and/or copper cable splicing and repair, installation and repair, or switch training.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license.
• Must follow the TDS attendance guidelines in order to meet TDS's business needs including but not limited to our obligations to our customers and to our customers' needs.

Other Qualifications

• Successfully complete customer-specific requirements, which may include a background check administered by the customer.
• Be available for on-call/standby responsibilities and may require occasional travel.
• Be willing to work overtime as needed.
• Pass all components of the Safety Course curriculum.
• Have practical knowledge/experience with computer applications including (but not limited to): Databases, Trouble/Repair/Dispatch Systems, Plant Record Systems, MS Outlook, MS Word, MS Excel, MS Explorer, and CD-ROMs.
• Have the ability to work and make decisions independently with little or no supervision.
• Have demonstrated customer service and sales skills, as well as effective communications skills (verbal and written) for interaction with internal and external customers.
• Have proven organizational skills and ability to multi-task.
• Have the ability to operate vehicles with manual transmissions.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Sit, stand, write and operate a computer keyboard, standard office equipment and telephone.
• Communicate with customers.
• Reach for items.
• Stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds.
• Exposure to moving mechanical parts and heavy equipment.
• Outdoor work, in mechanical/equipment rooms, and possible extreme weather conditions.

Benefits

• Medical Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Coverage
• Life Insurance
• 401(k) Plan
• Generous Vacation & Paid Sick Leave
• Seven Paid National Holidays & One Floating Holiday
• Paid Parental Leave (6 weeks after 12 months of employment)
• Adoption & Surrogacy Assistance
• Employee Assistance & Wellness Programs
• TDS Service Discounts
• Education Assistance
• Paid Volunteer Time