ENGINEERING SPECIALIST III - 72004110

Requisition No: 797539

Agency: Management Services

Working Title: ENGINEERING SPECIALIST III - 72004110

Position Number: 72004110

Salary: $62,000 - $65,000

Posting Closing Date: 03/28/2023

Engineering Specialist III

Division of Telecommunications

State of Florida Department of Management Services

This position is located in Tallahassee, FL

Our Organization and Mission:

The Department of Management Services (DMS) is a customer-oriented agency responsible for managing the various business and workforce-related functions of state government. Under the direction of Governor Ron DeSantis and DMS’ Executive Leadership Team, the agency oversees the real estate, procurement, human resources, group insurance, retirement, technology, telecommunications, private prisons, fleet, and federal property assistance programs utilized throughout Florida’s state government. It is against this backdrop that DMS strives to demonstrate its mission, “We serve those who serve Florida.” Under the leadership of DMS Secretary Pedro Allende, DMS’ employees embody four pillars on a daily basis: lead by example, serve with excellence, create efficiencies, and challenge the status quo.

Position Overview and Responsibilities:

This is a professional engineering and technical position responsible for the technical operation and enhancement of the Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS) and Florida Interoperability Network (FIN) within the state of Florida. Additionally, this position is responsible for SLERS evaluation and recommendation, equipment system component list maintenance and agency equipment purchase approval, special projects, system and performance metric modeling and reporting. Specific duties and responsibilities include:

Perform SLERS audits on radio system contractors' performance in operating and maintaining the system and supporting participating user agencies. Review weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports to identify communications failure trends and corrective actions. Perform field engineering and troubleshooting to pinpoint operational problems, system and/or equipment failures, and to recommend corrective actions. These duties require the use of electronic test equipment and analytical skills. In addition, perform FIN/Mutual Aid Build-Out (MAB) Dashboard Reports, testing and weekly matrix. Provide technical review of the SLERS system upgrade plan, oversight of the upgrade, coordination with agencies and partners, design review of towers, tower relocation technical aspects, tower change including a coverage analysis and interference analysis, customer design review system wide, a customer design review for each of the four super regions, ongoing radio user training (programming and technical), radio system loading analysis and emergency response.

Evaluate equipment proposals and provide technical and economic analysis to management. These services consist of cost analyses of various alternative approaches such as 'lease or buy" and various technical approaches such as cooperative dispatching. Functions include Operational requirements, cut-over plans, utilization plans, funding programs, scheduling and procurement activities.

Review and participate in proposals, cutovers, and methods of procedures, procurement specifications, and bid evaluations by comparing technical literature and equipment test results with the published specifications. Perform equipment performance verification to include specification evaluation and field testing, such as witness and certify that system and equipment "performs to specification" and that terms and conditions of the contract are satisfied.

Receive and process purchase requests from the State Agency user community to review their purchase requests and advise affects of future migrations on purchases. Assist state agencies and political subdivisions in the identification and documentation of their SLERS telecommunications requirements. Identify and recommend alternate concepts, products, or systems that can satisfy the agency's stated communications requirements. Maintain system component list of equipment. Track purchases in Radio Orders file. Track purchase credits with vendor and reconcile on recurrent basis.

Serve as liaison between the Division and other governmental entities for SLERS. Attend board and committee meetings and provide status reports as required. Develop a thorough understanding of the operational practices and procedures of the different user and SLERS Partner agencies and their communications needs and requirements. Receive, review and prepare SLERS partner applications to be presented for SOP, Technical committee, and Board review.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Equipment Usage - Ability to use a spectrum analyzer and a telecommunications test set with training.
• Engineering Design and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying land mobile radio (LMR) principles, techniques, and equipment to system and product design and frequency planning and licensing methods. Knowledge of traffic loading analysis for large radio systems.
• Customer Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Complex Problem Solving - Investigation of complex radio system performance and licensing issues, designing evaluating tests, test data assessment and developing and evaluating options through successful solution implementation.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when there is a problem in the radio system that requires correction or immediate addressing.
• Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to hypothesize and reach conclusion through testing of a system or equipment performance issue/question.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Knowledge and experience with Land Mobile Radio networks and equipment.
• Ability to analyze and evaluate technical data, create reports that explain data utilizing layman terms and concepts, and the ability to diagnose and recommend repairs or improvements to existing public safety communications networks.
• Ability to respond to communications systems failures or events requiring the activation of mobile radio site equipment and vehicles including natural and man-made disasters.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree in engineering or four years of professional experience in public safety radio systems.
• Ability to be on-call and respond to emergency events as required.

• Possession of a valid Florida driver's license.

Other Job-Related Requirements:

• On-Call Assignment – This position has been approved in accordance with Section 110.209, Florida Statutes, Chapter 60L-32, Florida Administrative Code, and Collective Bargaining Agreement with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Florida Council 79. The approved On-Call form has been forwarded to the human resource office.
• Provide Communications Emergency Support Function (ESF-2) assistance during times declared emergencies and State Emergency Operations Center activations
• Adheres to safety awareness policies in the workplace, views safety videos when presented and attends required safety meetings. Practices lessons learned on a daily basis to avoid accidents.

Special Notes:
DMS is committed to successfully recruiting and onboarding talented and skilled individuals into its workforce. We recognize the extensive training, experience and transferrable skills that veterans and individuals with disabilities bring to the workforce. Veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact our recruiter for guidance and answers to questions through the following provided email addresses:
DMS.Ability@dms.myflorida.com
DMS.Veterans@dms.myflorida.com
An individual with a disability is qualified if he or she satisfies the skills, experience, and other job related requirements for a position and can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must contact the DMS Human Resources (HR) Office at (850) 488-2707. DMS requests applicants notify HR in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.
Successful completion of background screening will be required for this position.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here. All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.