Cisco Outdoor Wireless Network Engineer/Field Technician

The successful candidate will support outdoor Wi-Fi, wireless mesh, point-to-point, and point-to-multipoint deployments using Cisco wireless networking equipment. This is a hands-on field position requiring experience with radio-frequency design, outdoor access-point installation, antenna alignment, network configuration, structured cabling, grounding, weatherproofing, system commissioning, and troubleshooting.

The position requires work at customer facilities and outdoor project sites, including rooftops, poles, towers, parking areas, entry-control points, campuses, airfields, and remote locations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Perform site surveys to evaluate wireless coverage, capacity, interference, physical installation requirements, power availability, network connectivity, and antenna placement.
• Design and implement outdoor Cisco wireless networks, including Wi-Fi, mesh, point-to-point, and point-to-multipoint solutions.
• Install, configure, test, and troubleshoot Cisco outdoor access points, wireless bridges, controllers, switches, antennas, injectors, and related network equipment.
• Configure Cisco wireless infrastructure, including:
  • Access points and wireless LAN controllers
  • Service set identifiers, virtual LANs, and network segmentation
  • Authentication and encryption
  • Radio-frequency profiles and channel assignments
  • Transmit power levels
  • Mesh and bridge connections
  • Quality-of-service policies
  • Redundancy and high-availability features
• Support Cisco Catalyst wireless platforms, Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controllers, Cisco Catalyst Center, and applicable Cisco outdoor access-point models.
• Conduct predictive and active wireless surveys using tools such as Ekahau, Hamina, AirMagnet, or equivalent platforms.
• Perform spectrum analysis and identify sources of radio-frequency interference.
• Calculate link budgets, Fresnel-zone clearance, antenna gain, cable loss, signal strength, and expected throughput for wireless bridge installations.
• Install and align directional, omnidirectional, sector, panel, and dish antennas.
• Install outdoor-rated copper and fiber-optic cabling, conduit, mounting hardware, junction boxes, surge-protection devices, and power-over-Ethernet equipment.
• Ensure all outdoor equipment is properly grounded, bonded, sealed, weatherproofed, and protected against lightning and environmental exposure.
• Perform installations on rooftops, poles, elevated work platforms, towers, buildings, and other outdoor structures.
• Use cable testers, optical power meters, spectrum analyzers, multimeters, network analyzers, and wireless diagnostic tools.
• Troubleshoot coverage gaps, weak signal conditions, roaming problems, interference, packet loss, latency, authentication failures, and network connectivity issues.
• Integrate wireless systems with existing routers, switches, firewalls, network-management systems, cybersecurity platforms, and customer enterprise networks.
• Perform firmware updates, configuration backups, equipment replacement, preventative maintenance, and system-health assessments.
• Develop and maintain installation drawings, wireless heat maps, access-point schedules, antenna schedules, test reports, equipment inventories, configuration records, and as-built documentation.
• Conduct acceptance testing and document compliance with project specifications and customer requirements.
• Coordinate field activities with project managers, network engineers, electricians, general contractors, security technicians, customer representatives, and other project stakeholders.
• Follow site-specific safety, cybersecurity, configuration-management, quality-control, and change-management procedures.
• Provide technical support and training to customers and junior technicians.
• Complete daily field reports, deficiency lists, test records, photographs, and project closeout documentation.

Required Qualifications

• Three or more years of experience installing, configuring, or supporting enterprise wireless networks.
• Hands-on experience with Cisco wireless access points, wireless LAN controllers, switches, and associated management platforms.
• Demonstrated experience installing and troubleshooting outdoor wireless systems.
• Working knowledge of 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz wireless technologies.
• Understanding of wireless networking concepts, including:
  • Radio-frequency propagation
  • Channel planning
  • Signal-to-noise ratio
  • Received signal strength
  • Co-channel and adjacent-channel interference
  • Roaming
  • Antenna polarization
  • Line-of-sight requirements
  • Fresnel-zone clearance
• Experience with Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol networking, subnetting, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, Domain Name System, virtual LANs, trunking, routing, switching, power over Ethernet, and network security.
• Ability to read construction drawings, network diagrams, riser diagrams, site plans, equipment schedules, and technical specifications.
• Experience terminating and testing Category 5/6/6A copper cabling and working with fiber-optic cabling.
• Experience using hand tools, power tools, cable-test equipment, wireless survey tools, and network diagnostic equipment.
• Ability to work independently in field environments and resolve technical issues with limited supervision.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to prepare accurate technical documentation and test reports.
• Valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record.
• Ability to travel to customer locations and remain on-site for multi-day installations when required.
• Ability to pass customer-required background checks, drug screenings, and security-clearance requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Cisco Certified Network Associate certification.
• Cisco Certified Network Professional Enterprise or Wireless certification.
• Certified Wireless Network Administrator or higher-level Certified Wireless Network Professional certification.
• Experience with Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controllers.
• Experience with Cisco Catalyst Center, Cisco Identity Services Engine, Cisco Prime Infrastructure, or Cisco Meraki.
• Experience with outdoor Cisco Catalyst or Aironet access points and wireless bridge deployments.
• Experience supporting Department of War, federal government, public-safety, transportation, utility, or critical-infrastructure customers.
• Current Secret or higher-level U.S. Government security clearance.
• CompTIA Security+ or another certification meeting applicable DoD 8140 requirements.
• Experience with grounding, bonding, lightning protection, and National Electrical Code requirements for outdoor low-voltage systems.
• Experience integrating wireless infrastructure with video surveillance, access control, electronic security, Internet of Things, or operational-technology systems.

Physical and Environmental Requirements

• Ability to lift and carry equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to climb ladders and work from rooftops, lifts, poles, towers, and elevated platforms.
• Ability to work while wearing appropriate personal protective equipment and fall-protection equipment.
• Ability to stand, walk, kneel, bend, reach, and work with tools for extended periods.
• Ability to work outdoors in heat, cold, wind, rain, dust, and other environmental conditions.
• Ability to work near active roadways, parking facilities, secured areas, construction sites, and operational customer facilities.
• Ability to work during evenings, weekends, maintenance windows, or emergency service periods when required.

Security and Compliance Responsibilities

• Protect customer network information, system configurations, credentials, drawings, and controlled project documentation.
• Follow applicable cybersecurity, physical-security, and configuration-management requirements.
• Comply with customer policies governing network access, removable media, mobile devices, photographs, and controlled areas.
• Maintain accurate records of configuration changes, equipment serial numbers, software versions, test results, and installed locations.
• Immediately report cybersecurity incidents, safety concerns, installation deficiencies, and unauthorized system changes.

Performance Expectations

The Outdoor Cisco Wireless Engineer/Technician will be expected to:

• Deliver reliable wireless coverage and connectivity that meets the approved design and customer requirements.
• Complete installations safely, accurately, and according to schedule.
• Minimize rework through proper planning, testing, documentation, and quality control.
• Diagnose field problems efficiently and communicate recommended corrective actions.
• Maintain professional conduct while working at customer and government facilities.
• Produce complete and accurate commissioning and as-built documentation.

Benefits may include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and company holidays
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Company-paid training and certification support
• Performance Bonus/Profit Sharing
• Travel reimbursement and per diem
• Company vehicle or mileage reimbursement
• Tools, test equipment and laptop
• Safety equipment and required personal protective equipment

About Bowler Pons: Bowler Pons Solutions Consultants, LLC is a fast-growing Minority-Owned, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned 8(a)-certified Small Business based in Annapolis, MD. As a solutions provider, we deliver cutting-edge technology and comprehensive support for our client's toughest challenges in the fields of physical and cyber security, IT and network administration, and systems engineering. Find out more at www.bowlerpons.com.

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