State of Maryland

A Computer Network Specialist I is the intermediate level of work planning, integrating and maintaining software or hardware for local or wide area computer networks to include operating systems software and network communications software. Employees in this classification do not supervise other Computer Network Specialists.

Employees in this classification receive moderate supervision from a Computer Network Specialist Supervisor or other data processing administrator.  The work is performed in normal office settings and at users' work sites in offices.  When at users' sites, the work may involve running cables through ceilings and floors resulting in exposure to moderate amounts of dust, dirt, and insulation.  When performing these duties, employees in this classification wear specialized safety equipment including hard hats, goggles and masks.  When at users' sites, the work may involve exposure to electrical wires and outlets, and safety procedures must be strictly followed.  The work may require moving computers and printers weighing up to 80 pounds.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Computer Network Specialist Trainee, Computer Network Specialist I and Computer Network Specialist II are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Computer Network Specialist Trainee learns to perform duties under close supervision.  The Computer Network Specialist I performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed.  The Computer Network Specialist II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision. 

Consults with users to discuss local or wide area computer network software and hardware needs, to assess existing software and hardware and to survey the locations of new network sites;

Designs the structure of local or wide area computer networks and prepares plans, reports and diagrams documenting the type and location of software and hardware;

Installs operating system software and network communications software for computer networks;

Installs applications software and customizes as required;

Configures network software and hardware to provide for efficient and effective network performance and data security;

Prepares and assembles technical documentation and user documentation for network software and hardware;

Monitors the performance of the network software and hardware through network management and diagnostic programs and utilities;

Adjusts the network for maximum efficiency, maintains and analyzes records of network activity, and recommends and implements network software and hardware upgrades;

Diagnoses network software and hardware problems and makes repairs and adjustments or obtains service from software and hardware vendors and maintenance vendors;

Runs backups of network data, archives data as required and develops and maintains disaster recovery plans;

Enters users and their network privileges onto the network and provides ongoing user support;

Oversees the installation of network hardware;

Reviews technical manuals and other technical literature and attends workshops, seminars and training classes to learn various network systems used by the agency and to keep abreast of the latest developments in computer network technology;

May train users in computer network software and hardware;

May develop and program applications software;

May install and maintain network hardware such as printers, scanners or other networked devices;

May install and maintain communications links to mainframe computers;

May direct support staff responsible for user support, hardware installation, data entry and other support functions;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the structure of local or wide area computer networks;

Knowledge of computer operating systems software, network communications software and applications software;

Knowledge of the functions and capabilities of local or wide area computer network hardware, such as cables and other transmission media, connectors, communications devices, multi-station access units, file servers, printers, disk drives, network cards and emulators;

Knowledge of the principles and practices of data communications;

Knowledge of generally accepted computer programming languages or other developmental tools;

Skill in planning, integrating and maintaining local or wide area computer network software and hardware;

Skill in configuring local or wide area computer network software and hardware for efficient and effective network performance;

Skill in adjusting local or wide area computer network components and in diagnosing and correcting network software and hardware problems;

Ability to communicate and establish and maintain effective working relationships with network users, vendor representatives and customer Engineers.

Experience: Two years of experience, six months of experience planning, integrating and maintaining software and hardware for local or wide area computer networks and an additional eighteen months of experience converting data from project specifications by preparing program code using generally accepted computer programming languages or other developmental tools; planning, installing and maintaining data communications network lines and devices; or evaluating, implementing and maintaining computer hardware and software.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute completion of high school or high school equivalency certificate and fifteen credit hours from an accredited college or university in systems analysis and applications programming using generally accepted computer programming languages or other developmental tools for the additional eighteen months of the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute completion of high school or high school equivalency certificate and completion of a certification program in Network Administration, such as Certified Novell Administrator (CNA), Microsoft Certified Product Specialist NT 4.0 Administrator or equivalent certification program for the additional eighteen months of the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute experience in one of the following areas on a year-for-year basis for a high school education: operating computer systems, scheduling, controlling input and output or maintaining backups or data storage, processing data on computer systems, evaluating, implementing and maintaining computer hardware and software or converting data from project specifications by developing programs using generally accepted computer programming languages or other developmental tools.

4. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree in computer information technology, management information systems, or other information technology related field, including course work in local or wide area computer network, from an accredited college or university and six months of experience planning, integrating and maintaining software and hardware for local or wide area computer networks for the required experience.

5. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Network Analyst classifications or Network Integration and Management specialty codes in the Information Technology field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education. 

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies.  Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit G, Engineering, Scientific and Administrative Professionals classes.  As provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series. NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series. In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.