Lead Broadband & Microwave Technician / Tower Climber

About the Position

We are seeking an experienced Lead Broadband & Microwave Technician / Tower Climber to lead field installations, maintenance, and troubleshooting. This is a hands-on position for someone who is comfortable working at heights and who also enjoys broader networking and communications work.

Tower and rooftop work are important parts of the role, but our technicians do not climb towers every day. The position includes microwave and wireless broadband installations along with structured cabling, fiber, switching and routing, IP video, VoIP, network cabinets, and related field infrastructure.

As the lead person in the field, you will be responsible for planning and implementing each phase of the job, directing onsite work, maintaining safe work practices, communicating professionally with customers, and ensuring installations are completed neatly, correctly, and efficiently.

LOCAL CHICAGO SOUTHLAND POSITION - NOT AN OVER-THE-ROAD TOWER CLIMBING JOB

Urban Communications, Inc. is seeking candidates who want to grow with a local communications company and build expertise across microwave, fiber, broadband, and IP networking technologies

What You Will Do

·        Lead onsite installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting activities for broadband, microwave, fiber, and IP network projects.

·        Climb communications towers and work from rooftops and ladders, including tower work at heights up to approximately 350 feet.

·        Install, align, maintain, and troubleshoot microwave radios and antennas, including licensed and unlicensed systems such as DragonWave, Tarana, and Ubiquiti equipment.

·        Mount microwave antennas and dishes ranging from approximately 1 to 4 feet in diameter.

·        Install antennas, cabling, connectors, grounding, lightning protection, cable trays, hangers, mounts, and related hardware.

·        Run, terminate, test, and troubleshoot Cat6, coaxial, and fiber-optic cabling.

·        Use proper rigging practices, including load lines, tag lines, and capstan hoists, while enforcing 100% tie-off and other tower-safety requirements.

·        Install and maintain switches, routers, Wi-Fi equipment, indoor/outdoor network cabinets and racks, IP video cameras, and VoIP endpoints.

·        Troubleshoot wired and wireless connectivity, including TCP/IP addressing, routing, DHCP, NAT, firewall, and port-forwarding issues.

·        Maintain tower-site communications cabinets, including DC power, UPS systems, and associated enclosure heating and cooling equipment.

·        Perform bench testing and basic repair of wireless radios and network equipment; document work and maintain required stock and materials.

·        Maintain climbing/rescue equipment, keep installation tools and company vehicles clean and serviceable, and assist with other field duties as needed.

Required Qualifications

·        Prior hands-on experience in the cellular, microwave, wireless broadband, satellite, or related communications industry.

·        Experience working safely at heights and climbing communications structures, or equivalent directly relevant climbing experience.

·        Experience mounting microwave antennas and working with tower or rooftop radio installations.

·        Working knowledge of proper rigging practices, including load lines, tag lines, and capstan hoists.

·        Ability to terminate and test Cat6 and coaxial cable; practical fiber-optic experience is strongly desired.

·        Working knowledge of computers and IP networking, including TCP/IP addressing, routing, DHCP, NAT, and basic firewall concepts.

·        Ability to use common cable-installation tools, hand tools, laptops, and field test equipment.

·        Professional communication skills and the ability to interact directly with customers, coworkers, and project stakeholders.

·        Strong organization, attention to detail, problem-solving ability, and the flexibility to manage different project types and schedules.

·        Valid driver's license; must be at least 18 years old.

·        Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and work outdoors in seasonal weather conditions, on ladders, rooftops, towers, and in confined spaces.

·        Ability to work overtime, nights, or weekends when project requirements demand it, plus occasional short-term out-of-town work.

·        Ability to pass required background screening and drug screening.

Preferred Qualifications

·        Current ComTrain, CITCA or equivalent recognized tower climbing/rescue certification.

·        OSHA and First Aid/CPR certifications.

·        Experience with RF and microwave test equipment, fiber-optic testing, and OTDR use.

·        Experience with DragonWave, Tarana, Ubiquiti, or similar microwave/wireless platforms.

·        Experience installing and maintaining LAN/WAN equipment, structured cabling, IP video surveillance, and VoIP systems.

·        Experience servicing DC power systems, UPS equipment, and environmental systems in communications enclosures.

Training & Certifications

Candidates with strong technical, computer, mechanical, and field-installation skills may be considered even if they do not currently hold every preferred certification. Where appropriate, Urban Communications may provide or coordinate required tower-climbing and safety training. OSHA, First Aid, climbing, and rescue certifications must be maintained as required for the work performed.

Work Location & Schedule

·        This is a permanent, full-time position based from our Oak Forest, Illinois office.

·        Candidates must live within a reasonable commuting distance of Oak Forest and the Chicago South/Southwest suburbs.

·        This is not a traveling or over-the-road tower-climbing position; most work is performed throughout the surrounding Chicago-area service territory.

·        Overtime and occasional night/weekend work may be required. Occasional short-term out-of-town assignments may also occur.

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation

Competitive pay based on experience, qualifications, certifications, and demonstrated technical capability.

Medical

Blue Cross Blue Shield medical insurance.

Retirement

401(k) plan.

Additional Benefits

Paid vacation and IRS Section 125 plan.

What Success Looks Like

The successful candidate is a self-motivated field professional who can take ownership of a job from planning through completion, keep a crew focused on safe and high-quality work, troubleshoot across RF and IP systems, communicate clearly with customers, and continue learning as our network and service offerings evolve.

What Success Looks Like

The successful candidate is a self-motivated field professional who can take ownership of a job from planning through completion, keep a crew focused on safe and high-quality work, troubleshoot across RF and IP systems, communicate clearly with customers, and continue learning as our network and service offerings evolve.

Urban Communications, Inc. (Urbancom.net) is a broadband and communications provider serving businesses, government agencies, and residential customers throughout the Chicago Southland. We build, own, operate, and manage point-to-point and point-to-multipoint microwave networks and provide broadband Internet, VoIP, fiber, and related network services. Urban Communications also operates the Chicago Southland Fiber Network and manages portions of and provides services on the iFiber network.