How to hire a senior telecommunications engineer

How to hire a senior telecommunications engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior telecommunications engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a senior telecommunications engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new senior telecommunications engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a senior telecommunications engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The senior telecommunications engineer hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect senior telecommunications engineer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of senior telecommunications engineers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Senior Telecommunications Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Telecommunications Engineer	Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacturing of electrical equipment, such as electric motors, radar and navigation systems, communications systems, and power generation equipment. Electronics engineers design and develop electronic equipment, such as broadcast and communications systems—from portable music players to global positioning systems (GPSs).	$43-75
   Engineering Trainee	An engineering trainee is responsible for shadowing engineers in their duties and performing administrative tasks as needed. Engineering trainees assist the engineers in inspecting construction sites and conducting field research... Show more	$20-39
   Controls Designer	Controls designers both design and draft systems of hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrical controls for equipment and machines. The designers make diagrams of the logic system for timing and sequence control... Show more	$33-58

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Telecommunication
   • VoIP
   • Avaya
   • Unity
   • PBX
   • Technical Support
   • Switches
   • Unified Communications
   • SCADA
   • Telecommunications Systems
   • CMS
   • IVR
   • Telephony Systems
   • Routers

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage T1 voice/data network circuits.
   • Design, configure, allocate and manage IP addressing and sub-netting, integrate, install and test various IP base systems.
   • Provide business consultation and program management services to the HUD OCIO to develop the HUDNET telecommunications infrastructure and manage services environment.
   • Coordinate and install data network provisioning for national data network for VoIP infrastructure.
   • Assist RF design groups with wireline backhaul solutions and proof-of-concept testing.
   • Provide leadership in the installation of T1 and ISDN lines and DS3 circuits.

   More senior telecommunications engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your senior telecommunications engineer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A senior telecommunications engineer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, senior telecommunications engineers' average salary in south dakota is 50% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level senior telecommunications engineers 42% less than senior-level senior telecommunications engineers.
   • Certifications. A senior telecommunications engineer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a senior telecommunications engineer's salary.

   Average senior telecommunications engineer salary

   $120,233yearly

   $57.80 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior telecommunications engineer salary

   $91,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 24, 2026

   Average senior telecommunications engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	District of Columbia	$164,626	$79
   2	California	$139,124	$67
   3	New Jersey	$133,705	$64
   4	Washington	$133,335	$64
   5	Texas	$132,262	$64
   6	Maryland	$130,644	$63
   7	Massachusetts	$128,906	$62
   8	Michigan	$126,521	$61
   9	Alabama	$126,320	$61
   10	Virginia	$121,324	$58
   11	Illinois	$118,754	$57
   12	Arizona	$118,733	$57
   13	Colorado	$116,607	$56
   14	New Mexico	$113,716	$55
   15	Missouri	$112,934	$54
   16	Tennessee	$110,211	$53
   17	Ohio	$110,048	$53
   18	Georgia	$109,503	$53
   19	North Carolina	$107,035	$51
   20	Oregon	$101,833	$49

   Average senior telecommunications engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Genesys	$126,743	$60.93
   2	Burns & McDonnell	$126,649	$60.89	16
   3	AbbVie	$123,967	$59.60	22
   4	Experis US Inc	$121,005	$58.18
   5	Sargent & Lundy	$120,303	$57.84	33
   6	Jacobs Engineering Group	$119,782	$57.59
   7	Salient CRGT	$119,240	$57.33
   8	Optimi	$118,674	$57.05
   9	Dewberry	$115,947	$55.74	12
   10	IPT Associates	$115,906	$55.72
   11	Booz Allen Hamilton	$114,223	$54.91	51
   12	County Of Los Angeles Public Library	$112,884	$54.27
   13	World Wide Technology	$112,555	$54.11	10
   14	Vectrus	$112,354	$54.02
   15	Power International Holding	$111,550	$53.63
   16	Kelsey-Seybold Clinic	$110,668	$53.21
   17	AT&T	$110,385	$53.07	1
   18	PTI (formerly Polymer Technologies, Inc.)	$109,615	$52.70
   19	Eversource Energy	$109,514	$52.65	24
   20	Accuver	$109,509	$52.65

4. Writing a senior telecommunications engineer job description

   A good senior telecommunications engineer job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a senior telecommunications engineer job description:

   Senior telecommunications engineer job description example

   JST is seeking a Senior Telecommunications Engineer to join our technical team within a government environment. The Telecommunications Engineer is essential to diagnosing network issues, installing and configuring telecommunications hardware, supporting software applications and making communications equipment upgrades. Qualified Telecommunications Engineers will have a solid background in installing, configuring and maintaining switches, routers and firewalls.
   
   This is a full-time position located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. JST offers a full benefit package, a collaborative work environment and strong company culture. Veterans and military spouses are encouraged to apply.
   Senior Telecommunications Engineer Responsibilities Disconnect, move and connect equipment to networks; demonstrate expertise to install, configure, and maintain these systems as well as analyze, troubleshoot, and resolve software, hardware, and network anomalies; operate and maintain computer facilities Perform communications system technical support, architecture design and troubleshooting Develop and review communication system requirements, compare potential needs with existing infrastructure, identify shortfalls and excesses, integrate communication systems to achieve interoperability and establish continuity procedures and a reference library of pertinent policies, procedures, documents and architectures to properly plan for future communication systems Develop Communication System Requirement Document (CSRD) technical solutions and Communication and Information Systems Installation Records (CSIR) Support management of COMSEC materials in support of operations to include: accounting for and inventorying COMSEC material; keying cryptographic (CRYPTO) equipment; troubleshooting system failures; destroying superseded keying material; documenting receipt, issue, inventory, and destruction of COMSEC material; creating messages for the COMSEC controlling authority's ability to issue keying material (keymat) to customers; supporting and training users responsible for keying, safeguarding, troubleshooting, and destroying CRYPTO equipment; and supporting the Government in providing regularly scheduled training to all designated personnel responsible for keying, safeguarding, troubleshooting, and destroying CRYPTO equipment IAW AFMAN 33-283. Comply with certification/education/training requirements as mandated in DoD 8570.01 M (i.e.,commercial/industry certifications)
   
   Senior Telecommunications Engineer Qualifications Associates degree in Engineering, Science, Business, IT or relevant field OR equivalent related professional experience Top Secret Clearance required IAT Level II certification (Security+ CE, CCNA, CySA+, etc) required 10+ years of professional Telecommunications experience 3+ years of experience installing and configuring switches, routers and firewalls Experience performing corrective and preventative maintenance on COMSEC equipment Must have experience keying and rekeying keycards and secure phones Outstanding Customer Service experience Professional verbal and written communication skills Strong time management
   
   Physical Demands Must be able to remain in a stationary position 75% of the time Occasionally moves about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer Frequently moves standard office equipment up to 25 pounds Must be able to work indoor conditions 90% of the time Occasional travel may be required Must be available for on-call support as needed
   
   Required Clearances and Screenings Must possess an active Top-Secret Clearance COVID 19 requirements are in line with government policies and CDC guidance
   
   About Joint Strategic Technologies (JST) No objective is beyond reach! Joint Strategic Technologies (JST) enables successful mission outcomes from the back office to the battlefield. Our team includes leading experts from military, government, and the private sector, all working together to help federal customers make a difference. Our goal is to Elevate the Impact that our employees have on our customers and treat every employee as a valued member of our team. JST empowers employees to make decisions and take action, thus improving overall organizational growth and employee development. Culture isn't something you talk about. It's something you do. JST is committed to creating a positive environment 'that reaches beyond work and careers' to support every employee's professional and personal objectives. JST values the well-being of every employee and encourages healthy lifestyles, family activities and community involvement. JST is a proud equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status. JST will not tolerate discrimination or harassment.
   
   Job Posted by ApplicantPro

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right senior telecommunications engineer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your senior telecommunications engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit senior telecommunications engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit senior telecommunications engineers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new senior telecommunications engineer

   Once you've found the senior telecommunications engineer candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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