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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wireless Network Technician

💰 $ - $

TelecommunicationsField ServicesNetwork EngineeringWireless

🎯 Role Definition

The Wireless Network Technician is a field-facing telecom professional responsible for the installation, commissioning, maintenance and troubleshooting of wireless network infrastructure including 4G LTE, 5G NR, small cells, macro sites, and enterprise Wi‑Fi systems. This role requires hands-on RF and fiber skills, tower work and strong documentation discipline to ensure network availability, performance, and compliance with safety and regulatory standards. The Wireless Network Technician works closely with RF engineers, project managers, carrier operations teams, and customers to deploy new sites, perform upgrades and resolve service-impacting events.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Cable Installer / Fiber Technician
  • Tower Technician / Lineworker
  • Junior RF Technician or Field Service Technician

Advancement To:

  • Senior Wireless Network Technician / Lead Field Technician
  • RF Engineer / RF Optimization Engineer
  • Field Supervisor / Site Manager
  • Network Operations Center (NOC) Engineer
  • Project Manager — Wireless Deployments

Lateral Moves:

  • Fiber Optic Splicing Technician
  • Small Cell / DAS Specialist
  • Enterprise Wi‑Fi Engineer
  • Construction and Permitting Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Perform end-to-end installation and commissioning of wireless network equipment (macro sites, small cells, distributed antenna systems, and enterprise Wi‑Fi), including mounting radios, aligning antennas, terminating coax and fiber, and powering up systems to design specifications.
  • Conduct detailed site surveys and pre-installation assessments (real estate, RF, power, backhaul availability), producing accurate site documentation, photographs, and survey reports to support build decisions and project timelines.
  • Execute RF antenna alignment and azimuth/elevation adjustments using spectrum analyzers, power meters and alignment tools to optimize signal quality and ensure coverage targets are met.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve complex RF, backhaul and power issues in the field, using test instruments such as spectrum analyzers, OTDRs, power meters, multimeters and trace tools to isolate root causes and implement corrective actions.
  • Perform fiber optic splicing, termination and testing (OTDR, insertion loss), manage fiber patching and labeling, and maintain fiber splice documentation to industry standards.
  • Install and configure network elements (eNodeB/gNodeB, baseband units, remote radio heads, CPE, routers and switches) including IP addressing, VLANs, SNMP configuration and verifying connectivity to OSS/NMS.
  • Execute preventive maintenance and inspection routines on towers, shelters, cabinets and radio equipment to minimize downtime and preempt hardware failures; document maintenance activities in service records.
  • Respond to service-affecting alarms and outages 24/7 as part of on-call rotations, performing rapid triage, escalation to engineering teams, and on-site remediation to meet SLA requirements.
  • Perform software and firmware upgrades on radios, controllers, and network equipment following change management procedures, validating version compatibility and post-upgrade performance.
  • Validate and certify new builds and site handovers by executing acceptance test plans, KPI verification (throughput, latency, RSRP/RSRQ/SINR), and handing over complete documentation to operations or customers.
  • Manage RF and safety compliance by adhering to RF exposure limits, grounding and bonding standards, and following OSHA and company-specific tower climbing and fall-protection procedures during all on-site activities.
  • Coordinate and liaise with carriers, municipalities, landlords, construction crews, and internal teams to schedule site access, obtain permits, and ensure timely completion of installation milestones.
  • Maintain accurate and timely work order, ticket, and inventory records in field service management systems (FSM), documenting labor, materials, test results, and customer sign-offs for billing and audit traceability.
  • Assemble and install power systems (batteries, rectifiers, UPS, backup generators) and verify power distribution, AC/DC conversions and alarm thresholds to support continuous site operation.
  • Perform cable management, route conduit and install grounding systems ensuring proper cable labeling, weatherproofing and adherence to site-specific drawings and installation best practices.
  • Conduct quality assurance and acceptance testing for backhaul links (microwave/ethernet/fiber) including throughput tests, latency measurements and QoS verification to ensure SLAs are met.
  • Support radio frequency optimization efforts by providing measurement data, drive/walk test results, and assisting RF engineers with tuning parameters and parameter verification onsite.
  • Maintain, calibrate and secure field test equipment (spectrum analyzers, OTDRs, signal generators, power meters), ensuring calibration records are current and tools are charged and available.
  • Lead and participate in site decommissioning and equipment removal projects, ensuring safe dismantling, inventory reconciliation and proper disposal or return of telecom assets.
  • Provide clear, professional customer and stakeholder communication including pre-visit notifications, status updates during outages and post-work reports to ensure transparency and satisfaction.
  • Mentor and train junior technicians on installation best practices, safety procedures, troubleshooting methodologies and company field processes to raise team capability and performance.
  • Execute site-specific emergency work (storm restoration, vandalism repair, seasonal preparedness) with a sense of urgency and adherence to post-repair testing and documentation standards.
  • Enforce inventory control procedures for spare parts and field stock, perform parts requisitioning, and reconcile returns to prevent stockouts and reduce truck rolls.
  • Follow established change management and configuration control processes when implementing site changes; create rollback plans, obtain approvals and update configuration baselines.
  • Participate in continuous improvement activities by identifying recurring faults, proposing corrective actions, and assisting with pilots for new field tools, processes or automation.

Secondary Functions

  • Contribute technical feedback to project planning and procurement teams regarding materials, vendor equipment performance, and field readiness.
  • Assist in the development and maintenance of standard operating procedures (SOPs), installation checklists, and safety protocols to improve first-time-right installation rates.
  • Support asset lifecycle management by tagging, updating CMDB entries and coordinating warranty claims with vendors and suppliers.
  • Provide input and measurement data for RF planning and optimization tools to help refine propagation models and site parameter settings.
  • Participate in cross-functional incident reviews and postmortems to identify root causes and preventive measures for recurring network issues.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • RF fundamentals and troubleshooting (RSSI, RSRP, RSRQ, SINR, CQI) with practical experience on 4G LTE and 5G NR radios.
  • Antenna alignment and mechanical installation expertise including azimuth/elevation setting and sector optimization.
  • Fiber optic splicing and testing (OTDR, loss testing, polishing, connectorization) and familiarity with single-mode and multimode fiber.
  • Proficient with spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, power meters, multimeters and site test instrumentation.
  • Hands-on experience configuring and commissioning network devices (routers, switches, firewalls, CPE) and managing IP addressing, VLANs and basic routing.
  • Knowledge of microwave/backhaul technologies and link verification (throughput, latency, jitter) including microwave alignment basics.
  • Experience with vendor equipment (Nokia, Ericsson, Huawei, Samsung, Cambium, Ruckus, Cisco) and base station installation/commissioning procedures.
  • Operational experience with OSS/NMS platforms and field ticketing systems, including accurate ticket updates and alarm acknowledgments.
  • Ability to perform firmware/software upgrades, rollback procedures and validate post-upgrade operational status.
  • Proficient in industry safety standards and tower climbing/fall protection techniques with relevant certifications (OSHA 10/30, NATE, CPR/First Aid).
  • Familiarity with power systems (batteries, rectifiers, UPS, generator testing) and alarm threshold configuration.
  • Experience with on-site documentation tools (mobile forms, GIS/GPS capture, digital photo logging) and Microsoft Office or equivalent reporting tools.
  • Basic scripting or command-line skills (SSH, telnet, Linux shell) for troubleshooting and device interrogation.
  • Knowledge of regulatory compliance for RF exposure and grounding & bonding practices.

Soft Skills

  • Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities with an emphasis on root-cause analysis and practical remediation.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills for clear status reporting and customer interactions.
  • Time management and organization to handle multiple tickets, prioritize emergency restorations and meet SLA targets.
  • Team player with the ability to collaborate across engineering, operations, and vendor teams.
  • Customer-focused mindset with patience and diplomacy when interacting with non-technical stakeholders.
  • Adaptability and willingness to work flexible hours, travel frequently and perform after-hours emergency work when required.
  • Attention to detail for precise documentation, labeling and adherence to company installation standards.
  • Safety-first attitude and the discipline to follow and enforce PPE, lockout/tagout and site safety protocols.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High School Diploma or GED; strong preference for additional technical certifications.

Preferred Education:

  • Associate degree or Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications, Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technology, Computer Networking, or related technical field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Telecommunications
  • Electrical or Electronic Engineering
  • Computer Networking / Information Technology
  • RF Engineering / Wireless Communications

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–5 years of field telecom or network technician experience, with at least some hands-on RF and fiber work.

Preferred: 3–7 years of progressive experience installing, commissioning and maintaining wireless network infrastructure (LTE/5G/Wi‑Fi), plus tower and fiber experience and vendor-specific equipment familiarity.

Recommended certifications (preferred): CCNA or CompTIA Network+, Fiber Optic Technician, OTDR Certification, OSHA 10/30, NATE, vendor-specific radio certifications (e.g., Nokia, Ericsson), and tower climbing/fall protection accreditations.

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