Responsibilities or duties

The Communication Infrastructure Support (CIS) Engineer is responsible for the engineering and designing of various communication systems for Mission Nairobi. The incumbent actively installs, maintains, repairs, and cables Embassy telephone equipment, including programming the CS1000 telephone and CallPilot systems, as well as the Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) and Unity messaging Connection.

Additionally, the incumbent is responsible for designing, installing, maintaining, and repairing Post’s seven radio networks. They maintain equipment for the radio network, such as digital repeaters, handheld radios, base stations, antennas, and mobile radios. The incumbent supports the unclassified networking infrastructure at several locations, including the main Chancery, Acacia, OAK, Chief of Mission Residences (CMR), and Deputy Chief of Mission Residences (DCMR), including OpenNet, Non-Enterprise Network (NEN) switches, routers, and a firewall.

The incumbent manages microwave point-to-point networks across 7 Local Area Network (LAN) tail sites throughout the city. The CIS engineer works closely with the Mission’s Internet Service Providers (ISP) across 20 Wide Area Networks (WAN) circuits, actively monitoring service degradation and troubleshooting connection issues while maintaining the maximum possible uptime. They collaborate with ENM, ITSC, and other Washington program offices to configure VPN devices, troubleshoot network latency, monitor line availability, and client switch configurations. The incumbent also assists the Audio-Visual technicians with infrastructure setups and running high-profile meetings utilizing sound mixers, wireless microphones, and camera equipment.

Frequent interactions with end-users are necessary as the CIS engineer analyzes user requests, provides technical guidance, and suggests appropriate solutions for various issues. Additionally, Procurement will often ask the incumbent to assist with technical evaluation of hardware and software requested for various agencies throughout the Mission. When called upon, the incumbent may also be required to travel to support other missions in the region.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

All selected candidates must be able to obtain and hold a security clearance.

All selected candidates will be subject to a background investigation and may be subject to a pre-employment medical exam. Selected candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time upon receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.

Education Requirements:

A University degree in Computer Science, telecommunications, information systems or a similar technical field is required.

Please address this factor in your ERA application under Education.

Evaluations:

You will be evaluated against the qualifications and requirements in this vacancy announcement.

You may be asked to complete a pre-employment language or skills test.

You must complete the application form and provide the required documents. Your application must address all the position qualifications and requirements including education, experience, language, and any knowledge/skills/abilities listed. If you fail to submit a complete application, then your application may be disqualified for this position.

Experience needed

Qualifications:

Experience:

The incumbent must have three (3) years of relevant experience in the three disciplines of Radio, Telephone, and Data network infrastructure at a level comparable to Tiers 2 and 3 support.

• Engineering and designing of various communication systems for Mission Nairobi.
• Installing, maintaining, repairing, and cabling Embassy telephone equipment, including programming the CS1000 telephone and CallPilot systems, as well as the Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) and Unity messaging Connection.
• Designing, installing, maintaining, and repairing Post’s seven radio networks.
• Maintaining equipment for the radio network, such as digital repeaters, handheld radios, base stations, antennas, and mobile radios.
• Supporting the unclassified networking infrastructure at several locations, including the main Chancery, Acacia, OAK, Chief of Mission Residences (CMR), and Deputy Chief of Mission Residences (DCMR), including OpenNet, Non-Enterprise Network (NEN) switches, routers, and a firewall.
• Managing microwave point-to-point networks across 7 Local Area Network (LAN) tail sites throughout the city.
• Working closely with the Mission’s Internet Service Providers (ISP) across 20 Wide Area Networks (WAN) circuits, actively monitoring service degradation and troubleshooting connection issues while maintaining the maximum possible uptime.
• Collaborating with ENM, ITSC, and other Washington program offices to configure VPN devices, troubleshoot network latency, monitor line availability, and client switch configurations.
• Assisting the Audio-Visual technicians with infrastructure setups and running high-profile meetings utilizing sound mixers, wireless microphones, and camera equipment.
• Analyzing user requests, providing technical guidance, and suggesting appropriate solutions for various issues.
• Assisting with technical evaluation of hardware and software requested for various agencies throughout the Mission.
• Traveling to support other missions in the region when called upon.

• Programming CS1000 telephone and CallPilot systems
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) and Unity messaging Connection management
• Radio network design, installation, maintenance, and repair
• Maintenance of digital repeaters, handheld radios, base stations, antennas, and mobile radios
• Support of unclassified networking infrastructure (OpenNet, NEN switches, routers, firewalls)
• Management of microwave point-to-point networks
• Monitoring and troubleshooting Wide Area Networks (WAN) circuits
• VPN device configuration
• Network latency troubleshooting
• Line availability monitoring
• Client switch configuration
• Audio-Visual infrastructure setup support
• Technical evaluation of hardware and software
• User request analysis and technical guidance

• A University degree in Computer Science, telecommunications, information systems or a similar technical field is required.
• Three (3) years of relevant experience in Radio, Telephone, and Data network infrastructure at a level comparable to Tiers 2 and 3 support.
• Ability to obtain and hold a security clearance.
• Ability to undergo a background investigation and pre-employment medical exam.