Communications Technician

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is hiring a Communications Technician in its Information Technology Division. This role supports the Lab’s telecom, network, and communications infrastructure by installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting structured cabling; supporting telephony and network service moves, adds, changes, and deletions; and managing telecommunications spaces, including power distribution, equipment racks, environmental monitoring, and cable management across the campus.

• Exceptional health and retirement benefits, including pension or 401K-style plans.
• Culture of belonging – invested in our teams.
• Vacation, sick time, and a Winter Holiday Shutdown every year.
• Parental bonding leave for both mothers and fathers.
• Pet insurance.

• Install fiber and copper communications cable used inside buildings from the building backbone to individual station drops.
• Install and terminate fiber and copper outside plant communications cable used between buildings.
• Troubleshoot problems related to telephone devices and circuits.
• Diagnose and repair indoor and outdoor plant cable and splices.
• Construct, test and document fiber circuits.
• Complete Move / Add / Change requests for telephone and network devices installed on inside building communications wiring.
• Collaborate with other individuals during cable installations ensuring safety, efficiency, and effectiveness.
• Perform semi‑routine assignments with occasional deviation from accepted practice.
• Work with minimal instruction on routine daily work and general instructions on newly introduced assignments.

• 1–2 years of relevant technical experience or education.
• Minimum 1 year of work experience in telephone, networking cable, and circuit installation under general supervision and SOPs.
• Excellent customer service experience.
• Experience in the following areas:
• Telecommunications plant and building wiring methods and practices.
• Inside building cable route planning.
• Categories 5 and 6 and TIA‑568 B/C wiring standards.
• Fiber optic cable installation and termination.
• Telephone and network circuit installation and testing with specialized test equipment.
• Firestop procedures and methods.
• Telephone closet backboard layout design and construction.
• BIX, M66, and AT&T punch‑down blocks; diagnosis, troubleshooting, and repair of telephone sets and data devices.
• PBX telephone sets and data devices.
• Twisted pair Ethernet circuits.
• Professional and courteous interaction with all staff levels.
• Physical capability to lift and pull heavy objects up to 50 lbs.; stoop, bend, crawl; climb ladders; work in noisy, dusty, dirty, and slippery areas requiring hard hats.
• Availability for occasional overtime, evenings, early mornings, weekends, or holidays.
• Effective communication with customers on project status and completion.

• 2–4 years of relevant technical experience or education.
• Minimum two years of work experience in telephone, networking cable, and circuit installation under general supervision and SOPs.
• Ability to handle moderately complex assignments using judgment to resolve issues and make recommendations.

• Independent line testing or extension into buildings from the main demarcation point.
• Network troubleshooting with DHCP, Voice VLAN, VoIP, or WiFi.
• General knowledge of T1 communications lines.
• Independent diagnosis and testing of underground wiring or splices; recommend immediate repair actions.
• Knowledge of fire protection, HVAC, and electrical system standards.

• Appointment:
  Full‑time, 6‑month term with potential extension or conversion to career appointment.
• Salary:
  Level 1 – $34.27–$41.21 per hour (within $30.79–$44.68 range). Level 2 – $38.15–$45.86 per hour (within $34.29–$49.71 range).
• Background check required.
• Primary work location:
  Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA. Real  acceptable .
• Relocation assistance not offered.
• U.S. work authorization required; no visa sponsorship.
• Position represented by a union for collective bargaining.

Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to building a community that reflects the diversity of the world. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, or other protected categories under State and Federal law.