LMR Performance Engineer
Harris County
Houston, TX 77032
Description
Position Description
About Harris County and Universal Services:
Harris County Universal Services (Universal Services) is transforming the way the County does business and seeking a Land Mobile Radio (LMR) Engineer to join our team.
Universal Services is the enterprise IT solutions center for the departments and offices of Harris County, providing Information Technology, Public Safety and Justice Technologies, 311 Constituent Engagement Services, Fleet Services, and Records and Information Governance Services.
Harris County is the third largest and most diverse county in the nation, with a population of more than 4.7 million. Harris County Commissioners Court, the County’s governing body, directs a budget of more than $4 billion providing essential services including flood control, infrastructure, healthcare, housing, and justice administration.
This is a great time to join Universal Services as we enhance critical services to Harris County residents and internal customers.
Position Overview:
The Land Mobile Radio (LMR) Performance Engineer is responsible for the configuration, monitoring, maintenance, and operational integrity of Harris County’s Motorola digital trunked radio system. This role ensures the availability and reliability of land mobile radio (LMR) services for first responders and public safety users.
This position requires in-depth knowledge of Motorola public safety radio systems, IP networking, RF propagation, encryption, and in-building coverage systems. The successful candidate will play a lead role in troubleshooting, maintaining system performance, coordinating upgrades, and supporting interoperability across more than 50 regional partner agencies.
Job Responsibilities:
System Administration & Monitoring
- Administer a Motorola ASTRO® 25 system, including:
Zone Controllers, Prime Site Equipment, Site Controllers
RF Sites (Simulcast and ASR)
MCC 7500 Dispatch Consoles and logging recorder interfaces
Monitor system performance using Motorola-provided tools (e.g., Unified Event Manager, Performance Management, System Health Monitor, Unified Network Configurator).- Manage system alarms and escalate issues in coordination with Motorola’s System Support Center (SSC) as needed.
Maintenance, Upgrades, and Patching
- Coordinate and perform life-cycle maintenance activities such as:
Firmware upgrades and software refreshes
Windows Server patching on Core and Prime site infrastructure
Routine failover testing of system redundancy (e.g., Prime/Secondary Zone Controllers)
Collaborate with Motorola Technical Support and Field Services during SR roll outs and major network enhancements.- Participate in testing and failover exercises to verify system redundancy and reliability.
Troubleshooting & Incident Response
- Act as Tier III support for radio system outages, degraded performance, interference issues, and encryption/key management problems.
- Analyze RF issues using field test equipment (spectrum analyzers, service monitors, test sets) and software tools (Radio Management, Coverage Analysis).
- Perform root cause analysis and produce after-action documentation for major system events.
Configuration & Engineering Support
- Assist in managing radio fleet map templates, talk group configurations, and subscriber profiles through Motorola Radio Management or CPS platforms.
- Support radio programming initiatives, encryption key loading (KVL 4000, KMF management), and template distribution.
- Work with the engineering team on capacity planning, frequency coordination, and coverage improvement initiatives.
Documentation & Compliance
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date technical documentation including:
IP addressing schemes, VLAN assignments, topology diagrams
Change management records and SR implementation logs
FCC licensing records and frequency coordination documentation
Ensure compliance with best practices such as Motorola R56 grounding and site standards.
Collaboration & Training
- Interface with system users (dispatch centers, field personnel, IT staff) to resolve issues, collect feedback, and provide guidance.
- Develop internal SOPs and training documentation for junior staff and system users.
- Participate in project teams for system expansion, site upgrades, or integration of new technologies (e.g., LTE interoperability).
- Participate in on-call rotation and support emergency operations during major events or disasters.
- Serve as a technical liaison to Harris County departments, municipal partners, and outside agencies.
Interoperability and In-Building Coverage
- Support interoperability testing with regional and mutual aid partners via ISSI/CSSI gateways.
- Collaborate with the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office and Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) on building radio coverage issues.
- Conduct or review in-building signal grid testing per NFPA 1225 and Safer Buildings Coalition standards.
Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx
If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net.
This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.
Requirements
Required Education:
- High School diploma or GED required.
Required Experience:
- Minimum seven (7) years of technical experience in telecommunications or LMR systems administration and performance engineering.
Required Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
- Experience with trunked radio systems (e.g., Motorola ASTRO 25, Harris P25) and conventional repeater systems.
- In-depth knowledge of P25 Phase I/II standards, trunking principles, and simulcast operation.
- Proficient in Motorola tools such as the Unified Event Manager, UEM Client, Fault/Performance Monitoring
- Demonstrated understanding of radio frequency (RF) propagation, site engineering, and interference mitigation.
- Familiarity with radio programming software, network monitoring tools, and drive test analysis platforms.
- Knowledge of in-building radio solutions such as BDAs, DAS, fiber DAS, and passive RF components.
- Proven ability to troubleshoot RF issues across large-scale radio networks.
- Experience coordinating with first responders, dispatch centers, and public safety stakeholders.
- Excellent interpersonal and written/oral communication skills; ability to interact effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams).
- Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative engineering team.
NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.
Preferences
Preferred Education:
- Associate or bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications, Electrical Engineering, Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field is preferred.
Preferred Experience:
- Ten (10) or more years of technical experience in telecommunications or LMR systems administration and performance engineering.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
- Preferred familiarity with the Safer Buildings Coalition, NFPA 1221/1225, and local Fire Code requirements for public safety communications.
- Experience with Motorola Radio Management, CPS, and software tools for provisioning and diagnostics.
- Experience with IP networking principles, including VLANs, QoS, firewalls, and routing protocols.
- Familiarity with encryption technologies and key management protocols (e.g., KMF, OTAR).
Licensure:
- Must possess a valid driver’s license and be able to travel within the system’s coverage area.
General Information
Location:
- 2318 Greens Rd. Houston, TX
Work Arrangement:
- Onsite 5 days/week, 8 hours/day
- May be required to work outside standard business hours
Physical Demands:
- Ability to lift at least 20 pounds and move technical equipment and boxes as needed.
- Ability to kneel, crouch, climb, twist, walk, and reach during system inspections and site visits.
- Onsite and fieldwork required; must be available for after-hours support and on-call duty, including weekends and evenings, to support emergencies or meet project deadlines.
Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.
Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.
HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Harris County offers a highly competitive benefits program, featuring a comprehensive group health plan and defined benefit retirement plan.
The following benefits are offered only to Harris County employees in regular (full-time) positions:
Health & Wellness Benefits
- Medical Coverage
- Dental Coverage
- Vision Coverage
- Wellness Plan
- Life Insurance
- Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
- Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Ten (10) days of vacation leave per year (accrual rate increases after 5 years of service)
- Eleven (11) County-observed holidays
- One (1) floating holiday per year
- Paid Parental Leave*
- Sick Leave
Retirement Savings Benefit
- 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
The following benefits are available to Harris County employees in full-time and select part-time positions:
- Professional learning & development opportunities
- Retirement pension (TCDRS defined benefit plan)
- Flexible work schedule*
- METRO RideSponsor Program*
- Participation may vary by County department. The employee benefits plans of Harris County are extended to all eligible participants across various departments with the exception of the Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, for which the cited Health & Wellness Benefits are administered through the State of Texas.
In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, group health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time. Harris County Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the County's behalf as needed.
For plan details, visit the Harris County Benefits & Wellness website:
www.benefitsathctx.com