Senior Communications Engineer (Communications Engineer II)

Job Appointment: Full Time
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM. Alternate schedules may be available.
Work Location: This position reports, in- person, to 3732 SE 99th Ave, Portland, OR 97266, USA. 
Starting Pay: The City of Portland follows the Oregon Equal Pay Act. Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying.

Position Summary: 

The City is seeking a highly skilled Senior Communications Engineer to serve as a technical authority supporting critical public safety communications systems. This position provides advanced engineering expertise in the planning, design, implementation, maintenance, and modernization of complex voice, radio, and data communications infrastructure that supports emergency responders and essential City services.

As a Senior Communications Engineer, you will lead technically complex projects involving the City's public safety radio network and other mission-critical telecommunications systems. You will evaluate operational needs, develop engineering solutions, prepare technical specifications, coordinate with vendors and stakeholders, and provide expert guidance throughout the lifecycle of communications systems. This position plays a vital role in ensuring reliable, secure, and resilient communications for first responders and City operations.

• Lead the planning, design, implementation, enhancement, and maintenance of complex communications engineering projects.
• Support and maintain the City's mission-critical Public Safety Radio System and other emergency communications infrastructure.
• Design, evaluate, and troubleshoot voice, radio, microwave, fiber optic, metallic cable, paging, alarm, mobile data, and telecommunications systems.
• Translate operational and customer needs into practical engineering solutions while balancing technology, policy, budget, and operational requirements.
• Prepare engineering reports, technical specifications, drawings, schematics, and procurement documents.
• Evaluate vendor proposals and provide technical recommendations for the acquisition of communications equipment and systems.
• Serve as a technical lead on communications infrastructure projects, coordinating work with internal staff, contractors, utilities, vendors, and partner agencies.
• Ensure communications systems meet operational, regulatory, and industry standards while maintaining high levels of reliability and performance.
• Provide technical guidance, mentoring, and subject matter expertise to engineering staff and project teams.
• Support the continuous improvement and modernization of the City's communications systems through research, planning, and implementation of emerging technologies.

Ideal Candidate Profile:

The ideal candidate is an experienced communications engineering professional who enjoys solving complex technical challenges and supporting systems that are critical to public safety. They are a collaborative problem solver with strong analytical skills and the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Successful candidates will have experience designing, implementing, and maintaining large-scale communications systems and are comfortable leading projects that require independent judgment and technical leadership. They are organized, detail-oriented, and committed to providing reliable communications infrastructure that supports emergency responders and City operations.

1. Experience applying advanced communications engineering principles, methods, standards, tools, and technologies in the design, implementation, maintenance, and support of complex voice, radio, data, or telecommunications systems.
2. Experience evaluating customer or operational needs and translating them into effective communications system requirements while considering technology, operational practices, staffing, costs, and project priorities.
3. Ability to prepare clear, accurate, and comprehensive technical reports, engineering documentation, specifications, drawings, schematics, and other written communications.
4. Ability to exercise independent judgment, lead technically complex engineering projects, solve difficult technical problems, and provide expert guidance within established policies and standards.
5. Experience establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with internal customers, public safety agencies, utilities, contractors, vendors, consultants, and other stakeholders.
6. Experience supporting, maintaining, designing, implementing, or troubleshooting large-scale emergency or public safety communications systems, such as P25 radio systems, 9-1-1 communications networks, microwave transmission systems, mobile data systems, or other mission-critical telecommunications infrastructure.

• The ability to successfully pass a comprehensive police background investigation.
• A valid state driver's license and an acceptable driving record.

How to Apply:

• Submit your resume and cover letter by the closing date. Note: Do not include your age, date of birth, or the dates you attended or graduated from school. Only provide this information if it is specifically requested to meet job requirements or to follow federal, state, or local laws or rules.
• (Optional) Submit Veterans’ Preference documents, if applicable.
  If this is your first time applying with the City of Portland, or if you haven’t requested veteran preference before (and would like to now), please attach your DD214-Member 4 and/or VA Benefit Letter to your application. Once we verify your eligibility, we’ll record your veteran preference in our system, so it automatically applies to your future applications.
• Click here for application tips for resume, supplemental question response and/or cover letter.

What to Expect:

1. Application Review - Week of August 3, 2026: We'll review your application materials to ensure you meet the minimum qualifications listed above.
2. Notice/Feedback - Week of August 10, 2026: You will receive an email when the minimum qualification review is complete. If you disagree with the evaluation results, you may request a review within 14 days of the email notice, per City Administrative Rule 3.01.
3. Selection Process - Late August: The hiring bureau will review qualified applications, conduct interviews, and check references.
4. Conditional Job Offer - Final candidates may undergo a background or driving record check, depending on the position.

Questions? We're here to help!
If you have questions about this recruitment or need assistance, contact:
 TroyLynn Craft
 Senior Recruiter
 [email protected]

Learn More About:

• How to Apply Videos and Workshops
• City of Portland Core Values
• HRAR-3.01 - Recruitment Processes
• Veteran Preference Information
• Total Compensation and Benefits
• Language Pay Differential Eligibility