Profession "Communication Engineer": duties, job description and features

In an age of modern technology, when radio and landline phones are being used less and less, they have been replaced by cellular communications, the Internet and digital television. Under these conditions, a new and very popular profession in Russia is entering the labor market - a communications engineer.

It is a mistake to believe that the profession of "signalman" has not changed with the development of technology. People working in this field of activity are no longer just able to lay telephone cables, climb poles or monitor the switch. A modern communications engineer should know the basics of design and have an understanding of software interfaces. Also, he should not only know in theory how to create and maintain telecommunication lines, but also be able to put all this data into practice.

A bit of history

It is believed that for the first time the profession of "signalman" arose with the widespread opening of telephone exchanges in the late 19th century. The people working for them had to ensure the construction of new lines and the smooth operation of the equipment. There was not only the profession of a signalman, but also a telephone operator, which they preferred to recruit young and educated girls.

With the discovery of 1888, wireless begins its history. This year invented a method for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic radio waves. Already in 1896 A.S. Popov unveiled an experiment in which the first information was transmitted to a distance of 250 meters, and a few years later they launched the production of the first equipment.

Now the communication sector has a large number of professions, one of which we will consider in more detail.

Profession training

To be able to work in the field of telecommunications, you need to get a higher education at the Faculty of Electronic Engineering. Suitable specialties, for example, would be:

• Telecommunications and communication systems.
• Radio communication and broadcasting.
• A television.
• Multichannel telecommunication systems.

Upon admission, one must be prepared to study mathematical disciplines (mathematical analysis, programming, etc.), subjects in communication theory (engineering and computer graphics, electronics, etc.). Education at the university allows you to choose a permanent job already at the 4-5 year, due to practical classes. As a rule, technical departments in these educational institutions work closely with large companies to provide communication services and send their students there for practical training.

Areas of work

Students receiving a diploma in “communication engineer” can easily take the opportunity to get a job, for example, in multimedia service companies (real-time data transmission, Internet broadcasting or video conferencing), in large factories and combines, in the business field. And of course, they will be in demand in companies providing telecommunication services (such as broadcasting or Internet and mobile phone providers). They will also be useful in the field of information technology and communications.

The possibilities of self-realization are unlimited for a graduate, as signalmen are found in various sectors of the economy:

• The telephone industry.
• Telecommunications.
• Mail and telegraph.
• Energy
• Production and design of household appliances.
• Research and development.

Naturally, this list is far from complete. It is very difficult to recall a field of activity where modern technologies related to communication have not yet been used. Almost any area of ​​modern life is closely connected with the reception or transmission of certain information.

Common traits

So what does a communications engineer do? In general terms, responsibilities look like this:

• Installation of linear cable structures and equipment.
• The operation of this equipment and facilities.
• Optimization of the development of communication networks.

In general, the competence of communication engineers includes everything without which communication is impossible - from connecting the Internet and creating local networks, to conducting telephone communications and installing various equipment (for example, satellite dishes).

For successful work in this field, it is imperative to have the following personal qualities:

• Accuracy
• Patience.
• Mindfulness.
• Creativity
• Learning ability.

The last of these qualities is very important, since the modern pace of development of communication technologies requires constant improvement from specialists in this field.

Salary

A cellular engineer in these conditions can count on a rather high level of remuneration. Salary is associated with the difference in demand for specialists in this field and the availability of communications engineers in the labor market. This allows people with this education to easily choose a suitable and well-paid position. But no one has canceled the differentiation of wages depending on work experience and region of residence.

So, a communications engineer in Moscow can count on salaries ranging from 25,000 to 30,000 rubles. Employers offer this remuneration to applicants with higher technical education and work experience of one year or more. In St. Petersburg with the same conditions, you can expect to pay from 22 to 26 thousand rubles. In Kazan, Rostov-on-Don and Chelyabinsk will offer from 13 to 15 thousand.

A higher level of wages will be offered subject to work experience of two years and knowledge of Cisco equipment and certain types of automatic telephone exchanges. You will also need knowledge of the English language, which is required to study technical documentation. In this case, a communications engineer can expect to pay up to 48,000 in Moscow, up to 40,000 in the northern capital, and up to 25,000 in other regions.

If the applicant has more than three years of work experience, and he has certificates of professional compliance, you can apply for a salary of about 70,000 in Moscow, 60,000 in St. Petersburg, and about 35-40 thousand rubles in Russia. Extremely welcomed experience in senior positions, as well as the ability to create telecommunication networks from scratch.

Career opportunities

Despite the demand for communication specialists and relatively high salary rates, this specialty cannot be attributed to professions with rapid career growth. In medium-sized companies, usually a very limited number of people are engaged in providing communications, whose positions are on the same level in the management hierarchy. Therefore, the increase in wages here rather depends on an increase in work experience or advanced training, and not on a change of position to a higher one.

In large companies with career advancement, everything is much simpler. A huge advantage of working in them is the high possibility of career growth, both in horizontal and vertical directions.

What you need to know to be successful in the profession?

Of course, the required skills depend on the choice of the company and the area where the work is planned, but there is certain knowledge needed in any company.

In large organizations, there is a division by specialization, and the required skills are entirely dependent on the position held.

As for small organizations, here the communications engineer should be a universal, and conduct all work, if not independently, then within a very limited team. This requires significant skills from a specialist.

Required skills for working in a small company

Know the software used at the station where you plan to work. It would be nice to know a few different options for programming interfaces.

To be able to find damage on the line, using, for example, a reflectometer. Extend cable with sleeves. To expand cabinets (places of information of telephone cables). Install equipment and diagnose damage to this equipment. Well versed in the drawings and diagrams. Be able to use the equipment of ip-networks.

In any case, not only the required skills depend on the place of work, but also what the communications engineer should directly perform. The duties prescribed in the job description usually consist in the planning, development and installation of the telephone network, installation, configuration and maintenance of equipment. They also prescribe control over the operation of the devices, ensuring the quality of the established communication and the trouble-free operation of the equipment. In addition, the instructions of the communications engineer may contain requirements regarding interaction with telecom operators. Negotiations may include: quality of services provided, tariffs used, reporting.

Who is this profession suitable for?

It is generally accepted that the profession of a signalman is more suitable for men, however, with the development of modern technologies, representatives of the weaker sex are increasingly choosing this specialty. So, according to a study conducted in 2010, of all job seekers as a communications engineer, 18% were girls. By age range, jobs in the profession of “communications engineer” are more often sought by young people (under 35 years of age) with special higher education.