Senior Optical Engineer

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Design, develop, and support the ongoing expansion of Ziply Fiber’s optical transport network.

• Conduct optical link engineering, which includes wavelength and route planning, optical power and loss budgets, OSNR analysis, chromatic dispersion and PMD management, along with EDFA/Raman amplifier placement.

• Create fixed-grid and flex-grid ROADM-based DWDM topologies and specify coherent transponders and muxponders for 100G/400G wavelength services.

• Take ownership of end-to-end DWDM and optical transport solution designs in collaboration with network architecture.

• Establish technical standards and reference designs to guide implementation.

• Provide wavelength services to the core IP network while aligning with IP architecture and redundancy goals.

• Prepare comprehensive equipment installation specifications and drawings.

• Standardize methods and procedures for implementation.

• Collaborate with systems engineering to automate provisioning and turn-up tasks.

• Offer optical-layer technical guidance and mentorship; lead design and peer reviews.

• Develop multi-year optical capacity and technology roadmaps, including transitioning from legacy SONET/TDM to OTN and coherent transport.

• Lead vendor and technology evaluations and selections, which includes managing RFI/RFP processes, lab testing, proof-of-concept testing, and platform standardization.

• Commission and activate optical systems utilizing OTDRs, optical spectrum analyzers, and optical power meters.

• Validate span loss, OSNR, and channel power before activating services.

• Identify and resolve optical-layer faults across multi-vendor network segments.

• Engage in monitoring and installation of DWDM and IP network layers.

• Coordinate with third-party fiber providers for DWDM turn-up.

• Provision DWDM wavelengths for both customers and internal core-network capacity.

• Provision DWDM wavelengths and associated muxes to provide OC-192 circuits to the TDM team.

• Connect DC power to DWDM equipment and/or routers.

• Ensure new IP POPs are accessible once the DWDM network is established.

• Collaborate with core network engineering to provision capacity to maintain a congestion-free, fully protected IP network.

• Support the core IP network through the implementation of DWDM wavelengths.

• Transition deployed equipment and customer services to Network Operations.

• Maintain precise and up-to-date site records.

• Generate quote requests, purchase requests, and RFPs.

• Attend management, departmental, and vendor meetings while participating in inter-departmental planning.

• Travel to job and project sites as necessary.

• Participate in the on-call rotation for DWDM outages.

• Execute other duties as necessary to support the business and its evolving needs.

⛳️ Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.

• At least five (5) years of network engineering experience, with a minimum of three (3) years focused on DWDM and optical transport.

• Strong understanding of IP/MPLS networking, including BGP, IS-IS or OSPF, and MPLS in a packet-optical or converged core environment.

• Working knowledge of DWDM/ROADM, OTN (G.709), SONET/SDH, and coherent 100G/400G wavelength services.

• Familiarity with optical fundamentals: single-mode vs. multi-mode fiber, optical power/loss budgets, OSNR, chromatic dispersion, PMD, and optical amplification (EDFA/Raman).

• Hands-on experience with at least one major optical transport platform, such as Ciena, Nokia, Infinera, or Cisco NCS, with the ability to work across multiple vendor platforms.

• Experience using optical test equipment like OTDRs, optical spectrum analyzers, and optical power meters.

• Strong knowledge of telecommunications design, installation practices, and principles.

• Experience provisioning or commissioning telecommunications network elements like routers, switches, DSLAMs, PON, TDM, VoIP, and DWDM.

• Familiarity with equipment asset and circuit inventory systems.

• Proficiency in reading and interpreting technical documents such as vendor deployment guidelines, white papers, and configuration manuals.

• Excellent troubleshooting and analytical skills.

• Ability to work flexible hours, including nights, weekends, and on-call as required.

• Capable of driving on behalf of the company in a safe and responsible manner.

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license, auto insurance, and a satisfactory driving record.

• Must pass a pre-employment drug screening.

• Preferred: Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, telecommunications, computer science, information technology, or a related technical field.

• Preferred: Experience with scripting and automation, such as Python on Linux, and certifications like Cisco CCNP, Juniper JNCIP, or a vendor optical certification.

• Excellent time management abilities and prioritization skills.

• Strong oral and written communication skills.

• Ability to deliver outstanding customer service.

• Proficient with standard office software, including Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, Visio), and telephone systems.

🏝️ Benefits

• Medical

• Dental

• Vision

• 401k

• Flexible spending account

• Paid sick leave

• Paid time off

• Parental leave

• Quarterly performance bonus

• Training

• Career growth

• Education reimbursement programs