Radio Repair Mechanic Guide

Key Job Duties

What you will act and execute daily upon appointment:

• Locate and isolate electrical or electronic defects in communication equipment using computer devices, mechanical tools, and specialized signal generators.
• Install, repair, replace, and troubleshoot mobile or marine transmitters, analog and digital UHF/VHF systems, audio amplifiers, and related intercom/clock elements.
• Perform precision tuning, alignment, and signal calibration for antenna arrays, digital sound recorders, and marine signaling apparatus.
• Mount radio hardware on municipal emergency vehicles, climbing or crawling around and beneath vehicles as required.
• Keep clear, accurate logs and make written technical reports of service actions and diagnostic findings.

Filing & Appointment Eligibility

Candidates must fulfill these rules BEFORE certification:

• Pathway 1: Five (5) years of full-time, satisfactory experience as a radio repair mechanic or as an electronic technician repairing electronic equipment; OR
• Pathway 2: At least three (3) years of full-time experience as described in Pathway 1, PLUS sufficient full-time training of a relevant nature, specializing in electronics, acquired at an approved trade, technical, or vocational high school (each year of full-time training substitutes for 6 months of required experience).
• Driver License: At the time of appointment, you must possess a valid New York State Motor Vehicle Driver License.
• Additional FCC License: Certain agency assignments require possession of a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) General Radiotelephone Operator's License, with a radar endorsement.
• City Residency: According to the official advisory, New York City residency is not required for this class of positions.

Official Exam Syllabus & Cognitive Skill Focus

Knowledge areas, trade competencies, and cognitive abilities evaluated by DCAS:

Physical Demands & Environmental Conditions

Physical activities performed and environments experienced in this role:

• Climbing high ladders and stairs to reach antenna sites or elevated communication systems.
• Lifting and carrying heavy tools, industrial batteries, heavy radio cabinets, and equipment racks.
• Climbing on top of, crawling beneath, and working inside cramped spaces of various vehicles to install or remove equipment.
• Working in adverse weather conditions, under extreme temperatures, in noisy, confined, or dusty environments.

Special Working Conditions

Operational environments and agency-specific criteria:

• Shift Duties: Appointees may be required to work non-standard shifts, including nights, Saturdays, Sundays, and major holidays.