SYNOPSIS
A Wireless Specialist, also
known as a wireless engineer, is an IT professional who designs and manages an
organization’s wireless infrastructure. This includes choosing the wireless
hardware, protocols and systems, locking down those systems to non authorized
users, and staying focused on keeping those systems flexible for users yet
secure from predators.
Duties of a wireless
specialist include the analysis of an organization’s wireless requirements,
rating the tradeoffs of available solutions, choosing a solution, and
implementing, configuring and maintaining that solution. This role has overlap
with that of a network engineer and information security specialist. It is a
high level role that requires a very good understanding of networking, both
hardware, and operating systems, as well as the growing options in the wireless
world. Strong interpersonal skills are also needed, as a wireless specialist
must be able to convey to management both the benefits and risks of introducing
a wireless network to the organization. A wireless specialist must also be able
to work well with network administrators and network engineers. As application
developers think of new applications to tie in with wireless networks, some
knowledge of application development serves as a bonus to prospective
candidates.
A person may consider
entering this field after attaining a Computer Science or Computer Engineering
university degree or a one or two year computer diploma from a local technical
institute. However, some candidates may excel at this role through dedicated
self study and certification as it’s such a new field. As well, this person
should be proactive when it comes to planning and testing the wireless network
to ensure that only appropriate users can access the network. Candidates for
this job role should also be good troubleshooters in order to debug problems in
the wireless network as well as be creative in terms of finding solutions in
this burgeoning field.
A wireless specialist often starts
out as a network engineer and may move on to specializing in security across
all networks, not just wireless ones, or else move towards IT management or
even technical training. Whichever path they take, these professionals tend to
be at the high end of the IT pay scale.
Salary information is so
dependent on an IT professional’s particular skill set, experience and geographic
location. However, experienced wireless specialists can attain salaries of $70,000
or $80,000 USD or higher.  |
