Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Ziply Fiber is a local internet service provider expanding its fiber network and serving communities with high-speed internet services. The Senior Optical Engineer will design, engineer, and support the company’s optical transport network, focusing on ROADM-based DWDM, OTN, and coherent 100G/400G wavelength services while providing technical leadership, mentoring, and operational support.
Responsibilities
- Perform optical link engineering — wavelength and route planning, optical power and loss budgets, OSNR analysis, chromatic dispersion and PMD management, and EDFA/Raman amplifier placement
- Design ROADM-based DWDM topologies (fixed and flex-grid) and specify coherent transponders and muxponders for 100G/400G wavelength services
- Own the end-to-end design of DWDM and optical transport solutions, developed in partnership with network architecture, and define the technical standards and reference designs that guide implementation
- Deliver wavelength services to the core IP network in a way that complements the architecture and redundancy goals for IP services
- Plan and prepare detailed equipment installation specifications and drawings
- Streamline and standardize implementation methods and procedures to support scale
- Partner with systems engineering to automate network provisioning and turn-up tasks wherever possible
- Serve as the optical-layer subject-matter expert, providing technical guidance and mentorship to engineers and leading design and peer reviews
- Develop multi-year optical capacity and technology roadmaps, including migration planning from legacy SONET/TDM toward OTN and coherent transport
- Lead vendor and technology evaluation and selection, including RFI/RFP processes, lab and proof-of-concept testing, and standardization of platforms and methods
- Commission and turn up optical systems using OTDRs, optical spectrum analyzers, and optical power meters; validate span loss, OSNR, and channel power before service activation
- Isolate and resolve optical-layer faults end-to-end across multi-vendor network segments
- Participate in the oversight and installation of DWDM and IP network layers
- Coordinate with third-party fiber providers as needed to successfully turn up DWDM systems
- Provision DWDM wavelengths for customers and for internal core-network capacity
- Provision DWDM wavelengths and associated muxes to deliver OC-192 circuits to the TDM team. The DWDM team’s minimum circuit size is OC-192/10G; smaller circuits are handled by the TDM team
- Connect DC power to DWDM equipment and/or routers
- Ensure new IP POPs are accessible once the DWDM network is in place
- Work with the core network engineering team to ensure capacity is provisioned for a congestion-free, fully protected IP network
- Support the core IP network with the implementation of DWDM wavelengths as needed for capacity
- Hand off newly deployed equipment and customer services to Network Operations for ongoing surveillance and management
- Keep all site records accurate and up to date
- Generate quote requests, purchase requests, and RFPs
- Attend meetings with management, internal departments, and vendors, and participate in inter-departmental planning to coordinate project activities and meet company objectives
- Travel to job and project sites as required
- Participate in the on-call rotation for DWDM outages
- Performs other duties as required to support the business and evolving organization
Skills
- High school diploma or GED
- Minimum of five (5) years of network engineering experience, including at least three (3) years in DWDM and optical transport
- Strong IP/MPLS networking knowledge — 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
- Understanding of 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 (e.g., Ciena, Nokia, Infinera, or Cisco NCS), with the ability to work across multiple vendor platforms
- Experience with optical test equipment such as OTDRs, optical spectrum analyzers, and optical power meters
- Strong knowledge of telecommunications design, installation practices, and principles
- Experience provisioning or commissioning telecommunications network elements such as routers, switches, DSLAMs, PON, TDM, VoIP, and DWDM
- Experience with equipment asset and circuit inventory systems
- Proficiency 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 needed
- Ability to drive on behalf of the company in a safe and responsible manner
- Must have and maintain a valid driver's license, auto insurance, and a satisfactory driving record
- Excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritize
- Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with all levels of the organization and to interact with customers and vendors in a courteous, professional manner
- Ability to provide excellent customer service
- Proficiency with standard office software, including Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, Visio), and telephone systems
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, telecommunications, computer science, information technology, or a related technical field
- Scripting and automation experience (e.g., Python on Linux) and certifications such as Cisco CCNP, Juniper JNCIP, or a vendor optical certification
Benefits
- Medical
- Dental
- Vision
- 401k
- Flexible spending account
- Paid sick leave and paid time off
- Parental leave
- Quarterly performance bonus
- Training
- Career growth and education reimbursement programs
- This is a remote position.
Company Overview