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Satellite systems technician
Hours
40-45 per week
Starting salary
£13,000 + per year
WorkDesc
The work
As a satellite systems technician you would install, repair and replace telecommunications equipment, communication networks and satellite systems.
Your work could range from installing new systems and upgrading existing set-ups for a business, to repairing and realigning equipment after storm damage on a domestic property.
Your work could involve:
- carrying out site surveys to prepare job quotes
- planning cabling networks
- installing and fixing aerials or satellite dishes to mounts
- connecting signal outlet sockets
- checking signal strength levels
- testing equipment and fixing faults.
You would use a variety of equipment, including wiring tools, power drills and signal quality meters. On larger, more complicated installations, you would have to follow detailed engineering design plans.
HoursDesc
Hours
You would normally work between 40 and 45 hours a week, including weekends and evenings. You may also have on-call duties to cover off-peak hours and emergencies.
Some of your work, such as aerial, dish or mast installation, would involve working at heights on roofs, ladders or scaffolding.
IncomeDesc
Income
- New entrants can earn from £13,000 to £16,000 a year.
- Experienced technicians can earn over £20,000.
- Technicians with planning or managerial duties can earn up to £30,000 a year.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Income
You could become a satellite technician by completing an Apprenticeship with an installation company. To get on to a scheme, you may need GCSEs in subjects like maths and English, or equivalent qualifications.
The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. To find out more about Apprenticeships, visit the Apprenticeships website.
You may be able to apply directly to companies if you have experience and/or qualifications in telecommunications, electronic/electrical engineering or electrical equipment servicing. You could take a college course to gain qualifications in these areas, for example:
- BTEC National Certificate and Diploma in Communications Technology
- BTEC National Certificate and Diploma in Electrical or Electronic Engineering
- City & Guilds (3662) Diploma in ICT Communications Systems.
The Confederation of Aerial Industries (CAI) offers short introductory courses in satellite systems installation. The courses are open to CAI members and the general public. For more information, see the CAI website.
As you will be travelling from job to job, you are likely to need a driving licence. You will also be expected to have normal colour vision.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
Once you are employed, you can work towards a range of qualifications, such as:
- NVQ Level 2 in Engineering Maintenance and Installation (Communication Electronics Maintenance)
- NVQ Level 2 and 3 in Electrical and Electronics Servicing (Signal Reception)
- City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate in Digital Television Aerial Installation
- BTEC HNC/HND in Electrical or Electronic Engineering (Communication).
You could improve your skills further by taking the City & Guilds (C&G) Level 2 Diploma for Digital Home Technology Integrators (DHTI) (7266/28). This qualification proves that you have the skills to configure the growing range of household digital electronics, including home cinema, audio, computer and satellite systems. See the C&G website for more details.
If you have completed an NVQ in this field you could apply to become a Registered Digital Installer (RDI). As well as an NVQ you will need:
- CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) clearance
- working at heights training
- public liability insurance.
Visit the Registered Digital Installer Licensing Body (RDI-LB) website for more information.
The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) website has more details on CRB clearance.
- Criminal Records Bureau
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
- an understanding of analogue and digital technology
- practical skills
- good maths skills for technical calculations and costings
- good communication and customer care skills
- a reasonable level of fitness
- a willingness to keep track of new developments
- an understanding of safe working practices.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
e-skills UK
1 Castle Lane
London
SW1E 6DR
0207 963 8920
www.e-skills.com
Confederation of Aerial Industries
Communications House
41a Market Street
Watford
Hertfordshire
WD18 0PN
Tel: 01923 803030
www.cai.org.uk
City & Guilds
1 Giltspur Street
London
EC1A 9DD
Tel: 0844 543 0000
www.cityandguilds.com
Tomorrow's Engineers
EngineeringUK
Weston House
246 High Holborn
London
WC1V 7EX
Email: careers@engineeringuk.com
Tel: 020 3206 0400
www.tomorrowsengineers.org.uk
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
The demand for digital technicians may increase between now and 2012, as the switchover from terrestrial to digital TV takes place in the UK.
Typical employers include installation companies who provide services for telecoms and cable companies, mobile phone operators, broadcasters and larger electrical retailers. You may also find opportunities with the armed forces, working on military applications of telecoms and satellite technology.
With further training, you could progress to the planning and design of telecommunications systems, or become a self-employed installation technician.
You may find the following useful for job vacancies and general reading: (links open in new window)
- CAI - (list of installation firms)
- Directgov - (Jobseekers page)
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
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Related industry information
Industry summary
Telecoms include people working in this industry, as well as people working with specialist telecoms qualifications in other sectors. The IT industry together with Telecoms is represented by e‐skills UK Sector Skills Council. The Telecoms industry is difficult to separate from the IT sector, since many of the new technologies use broadband data networks carrying high volumes of multimedia traffic. Telecoms is defined here as ‘telecoms manufacturing’ and ‘telecoms services’.
The Telecoms sector is one of the fastest changing in the UK as new technologies are being explored and developed. Migration from voice telephony to broadband data networks carry high volumes of multimedia traffic, which means that boundaries between Telecoms and IT are blurring.
Job roles are diverse, ranging from sales and customer‐facing roles to those that are highly technical. Good communication and problem‐solving skills are required as well as specialised knowledge.
Key facts:
- There is a total IT and Telecoms workforce of 1.5 million of which:
- 890,000 people are in IT and Telecoms products and services
- 600,000 IT and Telecoms professionals are working in organisations outside of the IT and Telecoms industries
- There are around 105,000 businesses in the UK offering IT and Telecoms products and services.
- IT‐intensive sectors represent 55% of the UK's total Gross Value Added.
- Less than 1% of those employed in IT and Telecoms occupations are under 18.
- 22% of companies who are trying to recruit IT and Telecoms professionals report difficulties in attracting applicants with the right skills.
- 51% of Telecoms professionals work outside of the industry.
- The Telecoms workforce accounts for 1% of the UK workforce.
- The workforce is predominately male working on a full‐time basis.
- 58% of the IT and Telecoms workforce has a degree or higher education qualification.
- The Telecoms industry is likely to grow at a rate of 0.3% per year, which is lower than the UK average growth rate of 0.5%.
- There are 8,530 telecoms manufacturing and services establishments in the UK employing 301,000 people, including 235,000 who are not Telecoms professionals.
Jobs in the Telecoms industry include: aerial rigging; equipment wirer and assembler; internal network construction; mobile switching engineer; network management; satellite communications; fibre optic installation and configuration; core access network technician; customer support; radio base station engineer; network planning.
National and regional data
Across the UK, there is an estimated IT and Telecoms workforce of 1.5 million who are predominately located in London and the South East. The IT workforce can be classified in Telecoms manufacturing and Telecoms services. The largest number of companies is located in:
- Telecoms manufacturing
- South East
- London
- South West
- East of England
- Telecoms services
- London
- South East
- East of England
- North West
Key regional facts:
- 39% of IT and Telecoms professionals are located in London and the South East
- the East of England has the third highest number of IT and Telecoms employees
- Northern Ireland, Wales and the North East combined comprise just 6% of the IT and Telecoms professionals
- 44% of all types of IT and Telecoms companies are located in London and the South East
- 38% of Telecoms manufacturing takes place in either London or the South East
- the South West and East account for just 11% each of Telecoms manufacturing
- the highest median gross weekly earnings for IT and Telecoms staff are in London, the South East and the East of England, which are all above the UK median
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey (April‐June), 2009.]
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