Radio and network technician careers

Careers | Troopers and inspectors | Dispatchers | Network technicians | IT professionals | Fleet technicians | Safety programming

The Wisconsin State Patrol's Bureau of Network Engineering and Data Infrastructure (BNEDI) employs a diverse team of technicians, an electrical engineer and other communications professionals to support public safety. Staff within the Bureau's Network and Communications Section help ensure that mission-critical communication services and technologies are available 24/7 to public safety partners across the state.

Communication towers play a vital public safety role. An electrical engineer and other technical staff help design, test, implement, operate and maintain tower sites. This work may involve engineering analysis of microwave radio paths, propagation coverage, frequency intermodulation and structural analyses to determine best practices for communications systems and interoperability.

To ensure the most efficient and cost-effective use of limited radio frequency resources, a frequency coordinator/radio spectrum manager works with intergovernmental entities including the Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) and the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO).

Positions:

  • Electrical Engineer – Advanced
  • Frequency Specialist
  • Office Program Assistant - Advanced - Confidential
  • Office Program Associate/Tower Site Specialist

Field Service Technicians are responsible for several key systems across the state. Technicians operate and maintain:

  • The statewide microwave radio network
  • Statewide P25 VHF trunked Wisconsin Interoperable System for Communication (WISCOM) two-way radio system and tower sites
  • The Opto22 tower infrastructure alarm system
  • The Wisconsin State Patrol's (WSP) legacy conventional two-way radio system and Communication Unit dispatch centers
  • The mobile WISCOM Site on Wheels (SOW)
  • The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conventional and digital two-way radio systems
  • WSP's mobile and portable radios and vehicle repeaters
  • WSP vehicle sirens, emergency lighting systems and mobile data computer equipment
  • Technicians also repair radio equipment for other state agencies as needed

Positions:

  • Network Communications Supervisor
  • Network Communication Systems Analyst-Advanced

The Technical Services area is subdivided into three areas: Northwestern, Northeastern and Southern.

Northwest Technical Services Unit

Four technicians and one supervisor are responsible for the Northwest Technical Services area, covering 20 counties: Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland, Burnett, Washburn, Sawyer, Polk, Barron, Rusk, St. Croix, Dunn, Chippewa, Taylor, Pierce, Pepin, Eau Claire, Clark, Buffalo, Trempealeau and Jackson.

Two service shops located in Eau Claire and Spooner are responsible for service at 32 tower sites, two dispatch centers and three Safety and Weight Enforcement Facilities (SWEFs).

Northeast Technical Services Unit

Eight technicians and one supervisor are responsible for the Northeast Technical Services area, covering 29 counties: Iron, Vilas, Forest, Florence, Price, Oneida, Lincoln, Langlade, Oconto, Marinette, Marathon, Shawano, Menominee, Wood, Portage, Waupaca, Outagamie, Brown, Kewaunee, Door, Adams, Waushara, Marquette, Greek Lake, Winnebago, Fond du Lac, Calumet, Manitowoc and Sheboygan.

Five service shops located in Wausau, Tomahawk, Green Bay, Fond du Lac and Rubicon are responsible for service at 56 tower sites, one dispatch center and four Safety and Weight Enforcement Facilities (SWEFs).

Southern Technical Services Unit

Seven technicians and one supervisor are responsible for the Southern Technical Services area, covering 23 counties: La Crosse, Monroe, Juneau, Vernon, Richland, Sauk, Columbia, Dodge, Washington, Ozaukee, Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Lafayette, Dane, Green, Rock, Jefferson, Waukesha, Walworth, Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha.

Three service shops located in Tomah, DeForest and Waukesha are responsible for service at 38 tower sites, three dispatch centers, and six Safety and Weight Enforcement Facilities (SWEFs).

Statewide law enforcement communication requires effective backup systems. Network information systems (IS) specialists oversee two complex IP data networks and their corresponding statewide infrastructure. Microwave radio and proprietary fiber optics combine to create a complex IP data mesh network. Both networks provide redundancy and resiliency to State Patrol's Voice over IP (VoIP) voice radio network and State Patrol's business and partner public safety networks. Some critical services that traverse this complex information network include WISCOM, a statewide private Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone system, and wireless data networking technologies that support the Mobile Architecture for Communications Handling (MACH) system.

Positions

  • Information Systems (IS) Supervisor 2
  • IS Network Service Specialist

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