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15-1241.01 - Telecommunications Engineering Specialists


Design or configure wired, wireless, and satellite communications systems for voice, video, and data services. Supervise installation, service, and maintenance.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
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Forecasted Employment
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Change in Employment
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Change in Employment %
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Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Keep abreast of changes in industry practices and emerging telecommunications technology by reviewing current literature, talking with colleagues, participating in educational programs, attending meetings or workshops, or participating in professional organizations or conferences.
  • Estimate costs for system or component implementation and operation.
  • Develop, maintain, or implement telecommunications disaster recovery plans to ensure business continuity.
  • Review and evaluate requests from engineers, managers, and technicians for system modifications.
  • Provide user support by diagnosing network and device problems and implementing technical or procedural solutions.
  • Prepare system activity and performance reports.
  • Prepare purchase requisitions for computer hardware and software, networking and telecommunications equipment, test equipment, cabling, or tools.
  • Use computer-aided design (CAD) software to prepare or evaluate network diagrams, floor plans, or site configurations for existing facilities, renovations, or new systems.
  • Inspect sites to determine physical configuration, such as device locations and conduit pathways.
  • Implement system renovation projects in collaboration with technical staff, engineering consultants, installers, and vendors.
  • Implement or perform preventive maintenance, backup, or recovery procedures.
  • Document user support activity, such as system problems, corrective actions, resolution status, and completed equipment installations.
  • Document technical specifications and operating standards for telecommunications equipment.
  • Document procedures for hardware and software installation and use.
  • Work with personnel and facilities management staff to install, remove, or relocate user connectivity equipment and devices.
  • Consult with users, administrators, and engineers to identify business and technical requirements for proposed system modifications or technology purchases.
  • Communicate with telecommunications vendors to obtain pricing and technical specifications for available hardware, software, or services.
  • Assess existing facilities' needs for new or modified telecommunications systems.
  • Install, or coordinate installation of, new or modified hardware, software, or programming modules of telecommunications systems.
  • Order or maintain inventory of telecommunications equipment for customer premises equipment (CPE), facilities, access networks, or backbone networks.
  • Instruct in use of voice, video, and data communications systems.
Supplemental
  • Test and evaluate hardware and software to determine efficiency, reliability, or compatibility with existing systems.
  • Supervise maintenance of telecommunications equipment.
  • Monitor and analyze system performance, such as network traffic, security, and capacity.
  • Manage user access to systems and equipment through account management and password administration.
  • Implement controls to provide security for operating systems, software, and data.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Telecommunications
  • 98%
    Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 81%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 81%
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
 English Language
  • 72%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Mathematics
  • 72%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 70%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Administration and Management
  • 68%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Design
  • 63%
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
 Sales and Marketing
  • 58%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 57%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
 Education and Training
  • 55%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Building and Construction
  • 53%
    Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
 Economics and Accounting
  • 50%
    Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Drilling and operation machinery
  • Digger derricks
 Earth moving machinery
  • Compaction tampers
  • Cable plows
  • Trenchers
 Aerial lifts
  • Aerial bucket trucks
 Metal cutting tools
  • Cable cutters
 Soldering machines
  • Soldering irons
 Lifting equipment and accessories
  • Winches
 Cutting and crimping and punching tools
  • Fiber optic cable strippers
  • Fiber optic strippers
  • Fiber scribes
  • Jack termination tools
  • Combo crimping tools
 Wrenches and drivers
  • Flat head screwdrivers
  • Phillips head screwdrivers
  • Nut drivers
  • Open end wrenches
 Holding and clamping tools
  • Fiber optic tweezers
  • Wire wrap guns
 Fastener setting tools
  • Cable tie guns
 Prying and bending tools
  • Pipe benders
 Sealing tools
  • Punch down insertion tools
 Power tools
  • Portable drills
  • Power saws
 Pulling tools
  • Fish tapes
  • Wire pullers
 Electrical hardware and supplies
  • Fiber optic cable splicers
  • Fiber optic fusion splicers
 Viewing and observing instruments and accessories
  • Field inspection microscopes
 Indicating and recording instruments
  • Radio interference detection RID devices
  • Amplifier probes
  • Wire locators
 Temperature and heat measuring instruments
  • Infrared thermometers
 Electrical measuring and testing equipment and accessories
  • Insulation resistance testers
  • Multimeters
  • Polarity testers
  • Coaxial cable testers
  • Voltage testers
  • Wire mappers
  • Circuit testers
  • Continuity testers
 Electronic and communication measuring and testing instruments
  • Digital power meters
  • Electricity monitors
  • Fiber optic power meters
  • Infrared fiber meters
  • Optical power meters
  • Cable analyzers
  • Local area network LAN analyzers
  • Fiber optic fault locators
 Light and wave generating and measuring equipment
  • Spectrum analyzers
  • Optical time domain reflectometers OTDR
  • Tone generators
  • Tone test sets
 Computers
  • Computer servers
  • Personal computers
 Computer data input devices
  • Scanners
 Computer printers
  • Laser printers
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Business function specific software
  • Call accounting software
  • Microsoft ProjectHOT
  • Project scheduling software
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft VisioHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Web design software
  • IBM Lotus 1-2-3
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Spreadsheet software
 Data management and query software
  • Data entry softwareHOT
  • Microsoft SQL ServerHOT
  • SiteMaster SiteSmart
  • Structured query language SQLHOT
 Development software
  • Apache KafkaHOT
  • Microsoft PowerShellHOT
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition VBScriptHOT
  • Oracle JavaHOT
  • Practical extraction and reporting language PerlHOT
  • IBM Rational Requirements Composer
  • Requirements analysis software
 Industry specific software
  • Autodesk AutoCADHOT
  • Computer aided design CAD softwareHOT
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA softwareHOT
 Network applications software
  • Web browser software
 Network management software
  • Cisco Systems Cisco Traffic Analyzer
  • NagiosHOT
  • WiresharkHOT
  • Network management software
  • Voice over internet protocol VoiP system softwareHOT
 Networking software
  • 2AB iLock Security Services
  • Access management software
  • Avaya Identity Engines
  • IBM Domino
 Operating environment software
  • KornShell
  • LinuxHOT
  • Microsoft WindowsHOT
  • Microsoft Windows ServerHOT
  • Shell scriptHOT
  • UNIXHOT
 Security and protection software
  • Virtual private networking VPN softwareHOT
  • Antivirus software
  • McAfee
  • SymantecHOT
 Utility and device driver software
  • NovaStor NovaBACKUP
  • Zmanda Amanda
 Information exchange software
  • IBM NotesHOT
  • Microsoft ExchangeHOT
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific certifications are listed for this career
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Peirce College
 Programs
Jobs
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Jobs related to this career may be found on Indeed.com or on the Google Job Search page.