Onsite Wireless Installation Engineer

Wireless Installation Engineer

The Wireless Installation Engineer provides technical leadership, oversight, and quality governance for all wireless (Wi-Fi) engineering, design, survey, and installation activities across global Air Force and Space Force modernization sites. This role is responsible for coordinating wireless engineering tasks, ensuring design accuracy, validating survey data, and guiding implementation teams through installation, configuration, and optimization of the wireless infrastructure. The Wireless Installation Engineer oversees wireless engineers, survey technicians, and subcontractor wireless resources to ensure the resulting wireless network meets performance, coverage, security, and DoW compliance requirements.

Meaningful Work and Personal Impact

• Provide on-site supervision for wireless survey techs, installers, and subcontractor personnel
• Oversee end-to-end wireless lifecycle activities: predictive design, active/passive surveys, validation surveys, installation, configuration, tuning, and troubleshooting
• Ensure all wireless designs and implementation activities comply with DoW, Air Force, Space Force, and industry standards including TIA/EIA, UFC, I3A, DoW Wi-Fi security requirements, and OEM best practices
• Review, validate, and approve predictive wireless designs, heatmaps, channel plans, AP placement, and performance modeling
• Validate survey data (active, passive, and sensor-based) for accuracy, completeness, and adherence to program-specific survey guidelines
• Coordinate with the Site Implementation Lead on scheduling, resource management, risk identification, and daily task execution
• Collaborate with network engineers to ensure proper integration of Cisco 9800 wireless LAN controller (WLC) configurations with switching, routing, authentication, and security infrastructures
• Oversee quality assurance by inspecting installed APs, cabling, labeling, mounting, and wireless system configurations
• Ensure accurate documentation including RF designs, survey reports, as builts, configuration files, and post-install validation
• Support troubleshooting and root cause analysis for wireless performance, coverage, security, and spectrum issues
• Coordinate with base communications teams, cybersecurity personnel, and Government stakeholders on wireless design and deployment requirements
• Develop status reports, contribute to briefings, and support weekly project meetings and stakeholder engagements

What You'll Need to Succeed

• 5+ years experience in wireless network engineering, WLAN design, wireless survey, or enterprise wireless deployment
• BS degree or additional years of experience in Wireless Engineering in lieu of degree
• Experience leading installation teams in complex environments (DoW, federal, campus, or large scale enterprise preferred)
• Strong hands-on experience with predictive and validation wireless survey tools (Ekahau, Hamina, iBwave, or similar)
• Strong familiarity with TIA/EIA wireless-relevant standards and cabling/pathway requirements
• Understanding of RF fundamentals, antenna types, power levels, interference sources, and spectrum analysis
• Experience integrating wireless systems into enterprise authentication and network security frameworks
• Experience managing subcontractor and field technicians in installation and survey operations
• Experience supporting modernization, upgrade, or large-scale deployment projects
• Active Secret clearance

Preferred Experience

• DoW or AF/SF network modernization experience
• Direct experience with Cisco or Aruba/HPE wireless infrastructure
• Experience conducting wireless validation surveys on secure or classified networks
• Previous experience in leading installation teams and working with low voltage cable vendors

Certifications (Preferred or Required)

• Security+ CE (required or 8140 equivalent)
• CWNA (Certified Wireless Network Administrator) – strongly preferred
• CWDP, CWSP, or CWNE – highly desirable
• Ekahau ECSE (Design, Troubleshooting, or Advanced) – strongly preferred
• Cisco Wireless (e.g., CCNA Wireless, CCNP Enterprise with Wireless specialization) – preferred
• BICSI Technician, Installer 2, or other cabling-related certifications considered highly desirable

Additional Requirements

• Ability to conduct physical wireless surveys (walking, equipment transport, ceiling-level installation checks)
• Strong communication and leadership skills to guide multi-disciplinary wireless teams
• Ability to produce and validate high-quality engineering documentation
• Hiring location will be onsite at Eielson AFB in Alaska.