Bi-Directional Amplifier Inspector
Bi-Directional Amplifier Inspector
Purpose
It’s a new season and an opportunity to step into a career that makes a meaningful impact on public safety. The City of Savannah’s Innovation and Technology Services Department is seeking a highly qualified, detail-oriented Bi-Directional Amplifier (BDA) Inspector to join our team. This role offers the opportunity to work in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment where your expertise directly supports emergency responders and community safety. If you are seeking career growth, continuous learning alongside industry professionals, and a purpose-driven career ensuring reliable emergency communications, this opportunity may be the next step in your professional journey
As the new Bi-Directional Amplifier Inspector, you will provide services and support geared towards reviewing and validating the need for and use of Bi-Directional Amplifier systems for Emergency Responders Radio Coverage Systems (ERRCS). These systems are installed to improve radio coverage inside building to ensure our First Responders are able to communicate when responding to emergencies. The Bi-Directional Amplifier Inspector will work with the appropriate public safety officials as well as contractors, building owners and engineers to determine whether a BDA system is appropriate for a building, be it a new building or a remodel based on the city ordinances that are put in place. Through this process, qualified fire safety and system professionals will perform a BDA inspection, also commonly referred to as a radio signal survey. This survey is grounded in the study of a project building, where an onsite visit to validate handheld radio frequency readings to ensure that every step taken complies with local ordinances.
We offer great pay, excellent benefits to include medical, dental, and vision plans, life insurance, employee/spouse/child supplemental life insurance, short-term disability, tuition reimbursement, wellness programs, deferred compensationplan (457 B), pension plan, flexible spending account, home purchase assistance, employee referral program and 12 paid holidays!
Essential Job Functions
- Review material submissions that include blueprint and supporting documents to validate the need for a BDA system.
- Coordinate and conduct a comprehensive review and tests to document the performance of Bi-directional Amplifiers, Back-Up Power systems, Fire Alarm Interfaces as well as Fiber Optic and Coaxial Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS).
- If BDA system is necessary, review blueprints and supporting documents including heat maps to validate the proposed BDA installation.
- Work with fire and customer to gain access to building(s) to get a signal reading.
- Provide a pass or fail status for the proposed solution based on the requirements below:
- The NFPA 72 requirements are as follows:
- Minimum signal strength of -95dbm available in 90% of the area of each floor (inbound).
- Critical areas such as fire command centers, fire pump rooms, exit stairs and passageways, elevator lobbies and other areas deemed critical by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) shall be provided with 99% floor area radio coverage.
- Buildings which cannot meet the criteria shall install an amplifier (BDA) or other system to meet the requirements of the Minimum Required Signal Strength policy.
- The NFPA 72 requirements are as follows:
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems or Business Administration; with three years of increasingly responsible experience in Information Systems or relevant field; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
- An FCC License (GROL) is required as well as knowledge of RF Test Equipment, Spectrum Analysis, Land Mobile Radio Systems (LMR) and Interference Mitigation.
- Public Safety Radio experience.
- Engineering Technology and/or certifications in telecommunications, project management or manufacturer training for Public Safety BDAs.
Work Location: 1000 Business Center Drive Ste 120 Work Hours: 8 am - 5 pm, Monday - Friday
Additional Requirements
Background investigation, including supervised drug screen, post offer/pre-employment medical screen; and verification of education, certifications, and licenses required prior to employment
Additional Information
- Expert knowledge of Public Safety use and administration.
- Skill in oral and written communication.
- Skill in researching new technologies and evaluating new systems.
- Ability to read and understand city ordinances, laws and regulations and apply them back to the view and analysis of the ERRC.
- Understanding of Incident Management
- Ability to understand and apply Disaster recovery preparedness
- Must have the ability to perform project management
- Must have the ability to identify current industry trends and best practices