Telecommunications Specialist

About the role

This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Information and Technology, Field Support Directorate East Texas Region and Southwest Regions, located in: 2-Harlingen, TX 3- Tucson, AZ. Location preference: You may select ONE location where you would be willing to work. Additional selections may be made for other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.

Responsibilities

• Joining the Customs and Border Protection Office of Information and Technology will allow you to use your communication skills to design, develop, and monitor voice, data, and video surveillance systems.
• The position starts at a salary of $61,722.00 (GS-09, Step 1) to $97,087.00 (GS-11, Step 10) with promotion potential to $116,362.00 (GS-12 Step 10).
• In this Telecommunications Specialist position, you will become a key member of Homeland Security professionals by coordinating and conducting performance measurements on new and advanced wireless telecommunication equipment and techniques.
• Typical work assignments include:
• Installing, troubleshooting, repairing, redesigning, and maintaining telecommunications systems.
• Configuring and maintaining telecommunication networks and applications, such as intrusion detection systems, land, mobile radio communication, and video surveillance.
• Resolving telecommunication equipment failure and unsatisfactory performance problems.
• Providing recommendations and proposals on new and advance equipment and techniques based on performance capabilities, limitations, and cost.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service.
• All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English.
• You may be required to pass a background investigation.
• CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures.
• Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes.

Qualifications

• Experience: You qualify for the GS-9 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: assisting with the installation of new standardized telecommunications equipment, assisting with training to users on telecommunications systems and services, configuring and maintaining telecommunication networks and applications, assisting with designs, development, monitoring, coordination, and completion of technical evaluations on voice communications systems.
• Experience: You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: maintaining telecommunication system performance through use of established tools and instructions, installing, configuring, troubleshooting, repairing, maintaining and operational testing of telecommunications systems including, but not limited to: voice communications, telecommunications, stationary and mobile video and radar surveillance systems, microwave systems, fiber optic equipment, wide area network (WAN), local area network (LAN), switched equipment, intrusion detection and access control systems, assisting with the installation of permanent and temporary tower related equipment, monitoring and alerting telecommunication managers regarding deterioration in system performance.

Education

• Education Substitution: Education Substitution requirements for the GS-09 and GS-11 grade levels are located in the education section of this announcement.
• Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements, and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level.
• Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).

Background Investigation

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity.
• During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances.

Residency

• There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years.
• If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions: working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military, a dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government, participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university, working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government, or working for a U.S. affiliated organization.