Communications Systems Specialist

About Jerritt Canyon

The Jerritt Canyon deposit was discovered in 1972, with first gold production from the property occurring in 1981. The Jerritt Canyon property includes 30,821 hectares of mining claims in Nevada. First Majestic acquired the Jerritt Canyon Gold Mine from Sprott Mining Inc. on April 30, 2021. In May 2023, operations were suspended to prioritize exploration and technical studies. Jerritt Canyon is now entering a new phase of evaluation and planning, requiring reliable technical support to advance work associated with a potential future restart of operations.

The Opportunity

The Communications Systems Specialist is responsible for the design, implementation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement of mission-critical communications systems that support mining operations. This role helps ensure the reliability, availability, and performance of two-way radio networks, dispatch systems, private LTE infrastructure, microwave and wireless backhaul, and related communications equipment used across surface and underground mining environments.

Working closely with Mine Operations, IT, Maintenance, Safety, Security, and Engineering teams, the Communications Systems Specialist provides technical support and leadership for communications infrastructure, supports operational technology (OT) initiatives, and helps ensure communications systems meet operational, safety, and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Install, configure, program, maintain, and troubleshoot portable, mobile, base-station, digital, analog, and LTE-enabled radio systems.
• Maintain repeaters, duplexers, multicouplers, combiners, antennas, feedlines, RF distribution equipment, grounding systems, and related radio infrastructure.
• Perform radio fleet management, firmware updates, codeplug maintenance, talkgroup/channel configuration, and subscriber provisioning.
• Conduct RF coverage testing, drive/walk testing, signal-strength validation, and coverage gap analysis across surface and underground work areas.
• Troubleshoot interference, signal degradation, poor audio quality, failed equipment, antenna issues, cabling faults, and network connectivity problems.
• Support dispatch radio consoles, recording systems, emergency communication channels, paging/alerting systems, and radio interoperability requirements.
• Manage daily operations of the communications/radio shop, including work prioritization, service requests, repairs, and field support coordination.
• Maintain inventory of radios, batteries, chargers, antennas, accessories, spare parts, programming cables, test equipment, and critical communications supplies.
• Calibrate, repair, bench test, and document communications equipment using approved test equipment and standard operating procedures.
• Maintain accurate documentation, including radio asset records, codeplug versions, frequency/talkgroup assignments, repair history, maintenance schedules, wiring diagrams, and site configuration records.
• Coordinate vendor support, warranty repairs, contractor activities, licensing support, and equipment lifecycle planning for communication systems.
• Support deployment, optimization, and maintenance of private LTE infrastructure supporting mining operations and operational technology applications.
• Configure and support LTE base stations, EPC/core components, SIM management, subscriber provisioning, and device onboarding processes.
• Monitor LTE and radio network performance, analyze alarms, review system logs, and resolve connectivity or performance issues.
• Coordinate LTE and radio integration with dispatch, fleet management, telemetry, safety systems, security systems, and other operational technologies.
• Perform communications network performance analysis, capacity planning, and reliability improvement recommendations.
• Assist with migration planning from legacy radio systems to LTE-enabled or hybrid communication solutions.
• Support microwave, wireless backhaul, fiber optic, Ethernet, and IP-based communications infrastructure associated with site communications reliability.
• Monitor system health using network management, radio management, and monitoring tools; escalate issues as needed to ensure timely resolution.
• Develop and maintain preventive maintenance routines for radio sites, antenna systems, subscriber equipment, batteries, shelters, cabinets, and tower-related infrastructure.
• Support emergency response readiness by testing critical radio channels, backup power, failover paths, and communications procedures.
• Follow applicable safety procedures when working at heights, near energized equipment, in remote field locations, and in underground mining environments.

The responsibilities listed above are representative and may not include all duties assigned to the position.

Education and Experience

• Associate's or bachelor's degree in Electronics Technology, Telecommunications, Electrical Engineering Technology, Information Technology, or a related technical field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Two to five years of experience supporting industrial communications systems.
• Experience maintaining two-way radio systems in mining, industrial, utility, oil and gas, or heavy manufacturing environments.
• Experience with Motorola, Kenwood, or similar enterprise radio platforms.
• Experience programming and maintaining portable, mobile, base-station, repeater, and dispatch radio systems.
• Experience with RF troubleshooting, antenna systems, coaxial cabling, propagation concepts, and radio coverage analysis.
• Experience supporting IP-based communications networks, wireless backhaul, fiber, Ethernet, and field communications infrastructure.
• Effective communication and customer service skills, with the ability to support users at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, document technical work clearly, and support field operations in a dynamic environment.
• Preferred certifications may include, but are not limited to:
• Motorola Solutions Radio System Certification
• Motorola Solutions Subscriber Programming Certification
• Private LTE Certification
• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
• CompTIA Network+
• ETA International Electronics Technician Certification
• Fiber Optic Association (FOA) Certified Fiber Optic Technician (CFOT)
• FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License (GROL)
• First Aid/CPR Certification
• MSHA Part 46 or Part 48 training, or ability to obtain

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Company is an equal employment opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunities to employees and applicants in accordance with all applicable laws.