Description

Job Summary

The Principal Engineer Data Network Planning at Lightpath plays a critical role in shaping and executing network strategies to optimize the company's next-generation fiber-optic network. This role requires a blend of technical expertise, strategic vision, and leadership skills to oversee the design, architecture, and implementation of scalable and secure network solutions.

Key responsibilities include developing and enforcing network policies, leading network platform decisions, and ensuring the network meets performance and reliability standards. The role also involves collaborating closely with various business units, including Sales Engineering, Product, and Operations, to design and deliver custom network solutions that exceed customer expectations.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in telecommunications, with extensive knowledge of network protocols (such as MP-BGP, OSPF, LDP, ISIS, SR and MPLS), experience with network devices and services, and a proven track record in managing large-scale network projects. They will also possess strong project management skills and the capability to stay ahead of industry trends and technological advancements.

The Principal Engineer will be instrumental in ensuring that Lightpath's network infrastructure is robust, scalable, and aligned with the company's strategic objectives, all while maintaining a focus on cost-effective solutions and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute network strategies that align with Lightpath's business goals, focusing on expanding and optimizing our next-generation fiber-optic network.

• Analyze and drive key decisions regarding network platforms, ensuring alignment with Lightpath's strategic goals.

• Oversee the design and architecture of network solutions, ensuring they are scalable, secure, and capable of meeting the demands of diverse customer needs.

• Experience configuring, deploying, and integrating network devices and services.

• Establish and enforce network policies, technical standards, and configuration protocols to maintain network integrity and security.

• Collaborate with the sales and customer service teams to design and deliver custom network solutions that exceed customer expectations.

• Stay abreast of the latest industry trends and emerging technologies and integrate innovative solutions into Lightpath's network infrastructure.

• Develop and manage Capital Expenditure (CapEx) budgets, ensuring cost-effective deployment of network infrastructure.

• Assess the functionality of hardware, software, and tools, ensuring they meet the network's performance and reliability standards.

• Oversee the certification process for hardware and software systems and lead the selection of new tools and technologies to support network operations.

• Evaluate new products, manage RFI/RFP processes, and oversee new feature testing to ensure compatibility with existing network infrastructure.

• Lead proof of concept initiatives and remediation testing to validate new technologies and resolve any issues before full-scale deployment.

• Develop and maintain relationships with equipment suppliers and industry research departments to keep up knowledge on technological roadmaps.

• Responsible for the support of legacy technologies and alternative replacement when needed.

• Develop and project manage programmed circuit migrations to improve the state of the core network.

• Prepare Engineering Cost and Planning estimates & Projections for Large Scale Projects and Customer Solutions.

Qualifications

• BS Degree - Engineering, Telecommunication or Computer Science or equivalent experience. Masters preferred.

• 7-10+ Years of telecommunications experience

Technology and Hardware Knowledge

• Extensive and demonstrable knowledge of MP-BGP, OSPF, LDP, ISIS, SR, MPLS, TCP/IP in a service provider/carrier network required.

• Proficient troubleshooting L2/L3 skills required.

• Adept understanding of internet routing security techniques and tools including IRR and RPKI required.

• Knowledge of QoS/CoS including traffic classification, marking, policing and shaping, queuing and hardware/software buffers required.

• Working knowledge and experience with Cisco ASR and NCS platforms, IOS-XE and IOS-XR are preferred. Knowledge of Juniper Junos and Arisa EOS is a plus.

• Extensive and demonstrable knowledge of MEF Carrier Ethernet products and standards, OAM tools including Y.1731 statistics collection, Interconnection, and Wholesale Mobile Backhaul required.

• Understanding of various service testing methodologies (RFC2544, Y.1564, RFC6349), and their key use cases and differences required

• Experience with field-based work in POPs, carrier hotels, data centers, cable head ends, and telco central office environments preferred.

• Understanding of active and passive xWDM transport systems, colored and tunable transceivers, DOM/DDM diagnostics, power and thermal management, and troubleshooting preferred

• Network lab test equipment (Keysight, Ixia, Spirent) experience desired.

• Optical circuit switch/cross-connect (OCC/OXC) experience desired.

• On-premises DDOS mitigation technology (Radware, Corero, etc.) knowledge and experience desired

• SD-WAN (Meraki, Versa, etc.) knowledge and experience desired

• Azure ExpressRoute, AWS Direct Connect, Google GCP, Oracle OCI as a service provider/carrier knowledge and experience desired.

• Python, Bash, Golang, Perl, API scripting language experience desired

Systems and Software Knowledge

• Experience with Netcracker or similar Planning and Provisioning tool

• Knowledge and working experience with network orchestration tools.

• Knowledge of performance management tools

• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Google Maps, Streets & Trips, Visio & various operational Support Systems for internal and external presentations and complex network schematics.
• This position will also accept qualified applicants who live throughout the United States.

This position is identified as being performed in/or reporting to company operations in New York State. The pay range at the time of posting in the specified locations is $145,000 - $185,000/year. Pay ranges are supplied in compliance with New York State law. Pay is competitive and based on a number of job-related factors, including skills and experience. Some of our featured benefits include medical, dental, vision insurance, yearly bonus program and company matched 401k.