Job Title: Field Engineer (CCTV, Wi-fi and Networking)
Base Location: Birmingham(mobile across UK)
Hours: Full Time (40hrs pw)
Salary: £35-42,000 DoE
Optical Express is the UK’s only complete eye care provider, and Europe’s leading private provider of laser eye surgery and premium intraocular lens and cataract surgery.
For over 35 years, millions of patients have trusted Optical Express with their eye care. Operating clinics across the UK, Ireland, and mainland Europe, Optical Express, supported by an esteemed International Medical Advisory Board, is a thought leader in the global optometry and refractive surgery industry.
We are seeking to recruit a Field Engineer who will be responsible for the installation and commissioning of CCTV, wi-Fi and networks across our estate.
This is a hands-on role, involving surveying the site, running and terminating cables through walls and ceiling voids, mounting and connecting equipment, making good any disruption to the fabric of the building, then configuring and testing the system to ensure fully operational before handover. You will be the IT team’s presence on site, you will need to have relevant knowledge to connect the installations into the wider estate and deal with any IT issues whilst on site.
Key Responsibilities
Site surveys and planning
Visit sites to survey for new CCTV, Wi-Fi and network installations: camera positions and fields of view, access point placement and coverage, cabinet and switch locations, cable routes and containment.
Produce a simple install plan and bill of materials for each job and agree it with the Head of IT before work starts.
Identify where electrical supplies, PoE budgets or structural work are needed and flag anything that needs a qualified electrician or contractor.
Cabling and physical installation
Run, dress and terminate structured cabling (Cat6/Cat6a, and fibre where required) through walls, floors, ceiling voids and external routes, using appropriate containment and fixings.
Cut and form access hatches where needed, then patch, fill, sand and decorate so the property is returned to the standard it was found in.
Mount cameras, access points, switches, cabinets and patch panels; label and document every cable, port and device.
Work safely at height and in voids, using ladders, steps and towers correctly and following site rules and risk assessments.
Understand the electrical side of an install: isolate safely, identify circuits, size and position PoE and power supplies, and know the limits of what you may do without a qualified electrician.
Commissioning and testing
Configure and commission CCTV systems: camera setup, recording schedules, retention, motion zones, user access and remote viewing.
Configure and commission Wi-Fi and network equipment (primarily Ubiquiti UniFi): controllers, switches, access points, VLANs, SSIDs, guest networks and PoE.
Test every install before handover: cable certification or verification, Wi-Fi coverage and throughput surveys, camera image quality and coverage, failover and recording checks.
Produce handover documentation: as-built drawings, device lists, IP schedules, camera schedules and test results.
Support and maintenance
Act as first-line IT presence on site during visits: swap faulty kit, troubleshoot connectivity, assist site teams with basic IT issues and report anything that needs escalation.
Carry out planned maintenance and fault visits on existing CCTV, Wi-Fi and network estate, and keep the asset register and monitoring tools up to date.
Keep van stock, tools and test equipment organised and in good order, and manage your own diary and job log.
Essential skills and experience
Proven experience installing and commissioning IP CCTV, Wi-Fi and network equipment in commercial premises.
Hands-on experience with Ubiquiti UniFi (Dream Machine / Cloud Gateway, switches, access points, UniFi Protect cameras) including controller setup, adoption, VLANs and remote management.
Confident running and terminating…