Job Summary

Telecommunications Technician
Purdue University | West Lafayette, IN

Join a team that keeps a world-class campus connected.

At Purdue, our infrastructure powers discovery, innovation, and daily life for thousands of students, faculty, and researchers. As a Telecommunications Technician, you’ll play a hands-on role in maintaining and advancing the systems that make it all possible—working behind the scenes on technology that has a visible impact across campus. This role offers a unique blend of hands-on technical work and involvement in large-scale infrastructure projects across a major university environment. From supporting new construction to maintaining critical life safety systems, you’ll work with a wide range of technologies while contributing to ongoing upgrades and improvements that keep Purdue connected and secure. 

What You’ll Do

• Oversee, inspect, repair, and maintain telecommunications and networking systems in alignment with national and industry standards
• Perform copper and fiber optic cable testing, installation, repair, and maintenance, including outside plant systems
• Support campus construction and renovation projects, ensuring reliable integration of telecom infrastructure
• Respond to incident and service tickets, contributing to timely resolution of issues that affect campus operations
• Maintain accurate records of maintenance work and system updates
• Identify opportunities for system improvements through routine inspections and analysis

What You Bring

• Experience working with telecommunications systems, including copper and fiber optics
• Working knowledge of industry standards and best practices
• Strong troubleshooting skills and attention to detail
• Ability to manage both planned work and responsive service tasks

What You Can Expect

• A role with real, visible impact across a leading research university
• Opportunities to contribute to infrastructure that supports innovation and discovery
• A collaborative environment where your expertise helps shape campus-wide systems
• Exposure to a wide range of projects, from daily operations to large-scale installations

This position is based in West Lafayette, Indiana, with occasional travel to Purdue locations in Hammond, Westville, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, and other remote sites. The role includes participation in a 24-hour on-call rotation for emergencies and may require occasional overtime.

What We're Looking For

Education and Experience Required:

• High School Degree or High School Equivalency (HSE)
• A minimum of four (4) years of experience with networking and telecommunications systems, including cabling installation and maintenance of inside and outside plant (copper/fiber optic), Networking layer 2 hardware installation (switches and wireless access points), and applicable industry standards
• Valid driver’s license required

Skills Required:

• Knowledge of:
  • basic networking and telephony- both POTS and VoIP
  • Inside Plant communications cables- Fiber optic and copper
  • Outside Plant communications cables- Fiber optic and copper
• Excellent organizational, written, and verbal communication skills
• Excellent record keeping skills
• Must be able to:
  • work independently and in a team setting.
  • work in confined spaces and work from high places.
  • lift and carry 25 – 50 lbs. frequently and up to 60 lbs. Occasionally.
• Ability to:
  • meet deadlines
  • travel to various campus locations regularly and off site as needed.
  • work after hours on holidays and weekends, and subject to 24-hour callback for emergencies.
  • work overtime based on business need

Additional Information:

• Purdue University will not sponsor employment authorization for this position  
• A background check will be required for employment in this position
• FLSA: Non-Exempt (Eligible for Overtime)
• Retirement Eligibility:  Non-Defined Contribution Plan   
• Benefit Statement: Purdue University offers a substantial Benefit Package including medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as a generous paid time off package for sick and vacation days

Who We Are

Purdue is a community built on collaboration, with global perspectives, Boilermaker pride and endless opportunity to live, learn and grow. Join us and contribute to our culture.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Purdue University is an EOE employer.