What Do Telecom Engineering Specialists Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Telecom Engineering Specialists design or configure voice, video, and data communications systems. Supervise installation and post-installation service and maintenance. They also implement controls to provide security for operating systems, software, and data.

Other tasks include:

• Communicate with telecommunications vendors to obtain pricing and technical specifications for available hardware, software, or services.
• 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.
• Implement or perform preventive maintenance, backup, or recovery procedures.
• Consult with users, administrators, and engineers to identify business and technical requirements for proposed system modifications or technology purchases.
• Assess existing facilities’ needs for new or modified telecommunications systems.
• Order or maintain inventory of telecommunications equipment for customer premises equipment (CPE), facilities, access networks, or backbone networks.

We asked Telecom Engineering Specialists how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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70% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Telecom Engineering Specialists supervise maintenance of telecommunications equipment. They manage user access to systems and equipment through account management and password administration.

A typical day for a Telecommunications Engineering Specialist will also include:

• Monitor and analyze system performance, such as network traffic, security, and capacity.
• 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.
• Consult with users, administrators, and engineers to identify business and technical requirements for proposed system modifications or technology purchases.
• Work with personnel and facilities management staff to install, remove, or relocate user connectivity equipment and devices.
• Review and evaluate requests from engineers, managers, and technicians for system modifications.

We asked some Telecom Engineering Specialists a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	91% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	52% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	65% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	30% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	9% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	30% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Telecom Engineering Specialists also work with personnel and facilities management staff to install, remove, or relocate user connectivity equipment and devices. They may also document user support activity, such as system problems, corrective actions, resolution status, and completed equipment installations.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Telecom Engineering Specialists Review and evaluate requests from engineers, managers, and technicians for system modifications. They might also Prepare system activity and performance reports.

In addition, they Order or maintain inventory of telecommunications equipment for customer premises equipment (CPE), facilities, access networks, or backbone networks.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Provide user support by diagnosing network and device problems and implementing technical or procedural solutions.

To some Telecom Engineering Specialists, it is also their responsibility to Communicate with telecommunications vendors to obtain pricing and technical specifications for available hardware, software, or services.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Telecommunications Engineering Specialist, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/computer-and-information-technology/computer-network-architects.htm

http://www.acm.org/

http://www.cra.org/

http://www.ncwit.org/