Job Location: Edward R. Murrow Transmitting Station, Grimesland, NC
Job Overview
The Radio Broadcast Technician-I applies basic and some advanced technical knowledge to solve routine problems by interpreting manufacturers’ manual or similar documents. Work requires familiarity with the interrelationships of circuits and judgment in planning work sequence, in selecting proper tools and equipment, testing instruments, and it is reviewed for compliance with accepted practices. This technician works under immediate supervision and receives technical guidance, as required, from the supervisor of higher-level technician.
Duties
- Responsible for the tuning, operation and maintenance of high power, (up to 500,000 watts),high frequency radio broadcast and telecommunications transmitters and all ancillary electronic and mechanical subsystems maintenance and operation of digital telephony equipment, operation and maintenance of analog and digital microwave communications systems, and operation and maintenance of station computer controlled systems.
- Monitors operation of all transmitter and ancillary equipment, recording operating parameters, analyzing and diagnosing performance variations and determining appropriate corrective action for equipment malfunctions.
- Ensures the proper functioning of mechanical equipment such as pumps, ventilating systems and various water, vapor and cooling systems necessary to prevent damage and/or destruction to high power transmitters, and environmental control systems for receiver and satellite communications equipment.
- Works with more senior technicians in the development of solutions to technical problems to minimize outages by improving equipment efficiency and operational reliability. Solutions may include: (1) redesign and modification of existing equipment; (2) redesign of individual parts and subsystems; (3) minor fabrication of new parts or adjustments to existing parts; and, (4) installation and testing new units.
- Performs routine preventive maintenance and ‘proof of performance’ routines on broadcast transmitters and associated equipment at the transmitting station. Utilizes variety of electronic test and measurement equipment to evaluate system performance characteristics.
- Performs data entry into station computers for maintenance logging, schedule changes, and outage reporting.
Qualifications
- Knowledge of, and skill in applying, standard rules, procedures, or operations requiring substantial training or experience in standard electronics, methods, and equipment sufficient to:
(1) Devise means of arranging, mounting, and wiring components in a chassis or system to ensure: (a) possible sources of electrical or RF interference are physically isolated or shielded; (b) high voltage sources are adequately addressed and comply with standard practices; and, (c) mounting, spacing, and related configurations are sufficient to avoid malfunctioning under extreme temperature, shock, vibrations, and high voltage and current conditions.
(3) Construct working model of prototype designs for equipment modifications or changes to installation requirements to meet specific shape, space, and overall functional requirements.
(4) Construct nonstandard components and circuits from sketches and CAD drawings or schematics produced in conjunction with more senior technicians or engineers.
- Knowledge of, and skill in applying, specialized electronics principles, concepts, methods, and equipment requiring extensive training or experience sufficient to:
(1) Gather research, technical data, and information on unusual design characteristics;
(2) Analyze technical data to determine applicability to design problems;
(3) Determine and advise engineers on relative practicality of developing new or adapting existing equipment.
(4) Test and evaluate for electromagnetic characteristics and performance in a varied spectrum environment.
- Specialized knowledge related to Radio Frequency (RF) broadcast principles including:
(1) Vacuum tube design, parameters and applications.
(2) Antenna impedance and matching characteristics.
(3) Traditional practices and methods incorporated into amplitude and digitally modulated RF broadcast radio designs to minimize distortions, increase efficiencies, and optimize broadcast quality.
- Knowledge and abilities to use established guidelines and procedures, operate and make operational adjustments to a variety of instruments and equipment.
- Knowledge and abilities to extract data and measurements from a variety of prescribed sources; recognize and resolve errors that are readily apparent.
- Knowledge of, and skill to process data according to well-defined methods and established formulas using mathematics, elementary algebra and geometry, and standard formulas.
- Assist higher-graded technicians working in a variety of specialized processes, with a variety of equipment, and performing tests having various complexity levels.
- Knowledge of, and skill in the preparation of notes for descriptions and revisions, selecting standard abbreviations and legends common to the field or specialty.
- Ability to keep appropriate records and prepare information by several graphical means through the use of standard computer software programs.
- General Qualifications
+ Excellent time management skills and ability to multi-task and prioritize work.
+ Outstanding attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
+ Creative mind with an ability to suggest improvements.
Complexity
a. Nature of Assignments
Work consists of a number of different and unrelated processes related to operating, maintaining, prototyping, modifying, testing, and evaluating portions of projects of limited complexity. Such work may involve retrofitting contemporary technologies into vintage transmitter equipment and/or redesign of circuitry and components to increase reliability and sustained support for established systems. Equipment is generally well-documented and has schematic diagrams, maintenance schedules, troubleshooting procedures, etc.
Work performed in conjunction with senior technicians in maintenance activities is often performed under time critical constraints in order to restore station broadcast capabilities. Work performed under these conditions demands increased awareness of the work environment and precision under potentially stressful conditions.
b. Performance
The employee selects the appropriate process from many alternatives to validate and devise technical fixes to operation, safety, and reliability problems within the system. The employee: (1) applies repairs to the assigned systems and subsystems to duplicate the desired environment or condition to be evaluated; (2) coordinates closely with site technicians, organization engineering personnel, to ensure the adequacy of test parameters and the equipment used for data collection.
The employee assists higher-graded technicians or engineers in operating, troubleshooting, and isolating faults of various system control units that have developed unusual problems and require the application of substantial and special analytical principles.
c. Difficulty and Originality Involved
The incumbent exercises independent judgment in following well-established work methods, but typically makes decisions on problems not specifically covered in technical data by using knowledge of functional parameters. Identifies and analyzes the conditions affecting problems with designing, testing, modifying, troubleshooting, or maintaining electronic systems. Determines the interrelationships among electronic components.
Work Environment
Work involves potential exposure to high voltages greater than 4160 VAC and RF radiation up to 500kW. Work involves regular and recurring exposure to moderate risks and discomforts, such as: dust, strong odors, or fumes from chemicals; high levels of noise and vibration, electrical hazards, uncovered moving parts of machinery, moving machinery; and, occasional outdoor conditions involving moderate exposure to rain, and cold/hot weather. The work environment requires the employee to stay alert continually and to take special safety precautions including wearing special protective items of clothing.
The Station mission requires a 24/7 operational schedule requiring the incumbent to be available for shift work on one of the three established eight hour shifts. Incumbent may be asked to work unscheduled overtime based on operational needs.
