Job DescriptionThe Systems Specialist serving as Lead, OSP Fiber Network Engineering, provides functional leadership and technical direction for the planning, design, implementation, governance, operational support, restoration, modernization, and lifecycle management of the Companys outside plant fiber-optic communications infrastructure. The position leads and coordinates OSP fiber engineering activities and assigned or matrixed technical resources, supports capital planning and cost estimating, establishes engineering standards and documentation controls, and develops technically sound, cost-effective recommendations that improve network reliability, resiliency, capacity, and long-term infrastructure performance.
ResponsibilitiesCore Responsibilities- Provide leadership, technical direction, and engineering oversight for OSP fiber network engineering activities and resources.
- Lead OSP fiber planning, route development, design, cost estimating, implementation, restoration support, modernization, and lifecycle management.
- Develop and maintain the long-term OSP fiber infrastructure strategy, roadmap, capacity plans, and investment priorities.
- Provides direct supervision of employees, including assigning and prioritizing work, conducting performance evaluations, coaching and development, hiring, disciplinary actions, and overall accountability for team performance and results.
- Manage multiple OSP fiber initiatives, including employee development, schedules, risks, dependencies, deliverables, contractors, and vendors.
- Provide technical direction for fiber cable, conduit systems, splicing, route diversity, testing, termination, and acceptance requirements.
- Conduct field surveys and engineering assessments to evaluate feasibility, infrastructure condition, reliability, capacity, and implementation risks.
- Develop engineering recommendations that balance operational requirements, reliability, constructability, schedule, risk, and cost.
- Support capital planning through engineering assessments, alternatives analysis, cost estimates, and project prioritization.
- Establish and maintain engineering standards, governance processes, quality controls, and documentation requirements.
- Oversee fiber installation, labeling, splicing, GIS records, and as-built documentation to ensure compliance with CCTN standards.
- Lead evaluation, remediation, upgrades, replacements, and capacity expansions based on infrastructure condition and future requirements.
- Provide technical support for troubleshooting, restoration, incident response, repairs, and corrective actions affecting OSP fiber infrastructure.
- Coordinate with internal stakeholders, contractors, and vendors while communicating project status, risks, recommendations, resource needs, and mentoring engineering staff.
QualificationsRequired Education/Experience- Master's Degree and a minimum of 2 years experience in OSP fiber engineering, telecommunications infrastructure, network engineering, utility communications, or a related technical field, including demonstrated technical leadership and cross-functional project coordination. or
- Bachelor's Degree and a minimum of 3 years experience in OSP fiber engineering, telecommunications infrastructure, network engineering, utility communications, or a related technical field, including demonstrated technical leadership and cross-functional project coordination. or
- High School Diploma/GED and a minimum of 7 years experience in OSP fiber engineering, telecommunications infrastructure, network engineering, utility communications, or a related technical field, including demonstrated technical leadership and cross-functional project coordination.
Preferred Education/Experience- Master's Degree in Engineering, Telecommunications, Technology Management, Project Management, or a related field and experience leading OSP fiber engineering activities, technical resources, contractors, or cross-functional infrastructure initiatives.
Relevant Work Experience- Knowledge of OSP fiber-optic infrastructure, including cable systems, route engineering, conduit and pathway infrastructure, splicing, termination, testing, restoration, and lifecycle management, required.
- Experience planning, designing, estimating, coordinating, and implementing OSP fiber infrastructure projects., required.
- Experience evaluating route feasibility, infrastructure condition, capacity, reliability, constructability, and implementation risks, required.
- Experience applying engineering standards, quality controls, documentation governance, and as-built requirements, preferred.
- Experience working with GIS or network-record systems used to maintain OSP fiber infrastructure information, preferred.
- Experience coordinating engineering, operations, construction, circuit design, capacity management, Supply Chain, contractors, and vendors, preferred.
- Ability to develop and communicate engineering alternatives, technical risks, cost estimates, and actionable recommendations, preferred.
- Experience developing budgetary cost estimates and supporting capital planning, project funding, or infrastructure-investment recommendations, preferred.
- Experience providing functional leadership, technical direction, coaching, and engineering work review for technical resources or cross-functional infrastructure initiatives, preferred.
- Experience developing long-term OSP fiber infrastructure strategies, implementation roadmaps, capacity plans, modernization priorities, or asset-lifecycle recommendations, preferred.
- Utility telecommunications or operational-technology communications experience, preferred.
Skills and Abilities- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Effective leadership skills
- Demonstrated problem solving skills
- Effective conflict management skills
- Develops and delivers effective presentations
- Must be proficient in Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint, etc.
- Ability to work within tight timeframes and meet strict deadlines
Licenses and Certifications- Driver's License Required
- Other: Certified Fiber Optic Technician (CFOT) Preferred
- Other: Certified Fiber Optic Specialist (CFOS) or comparable fiber certification Preferred
- Other: Project Management Professional (PMP) or comparable project management certification Preferred
Additional Physical Demands- The selected candidate will be assigned a System Emergency Assignment (i.e., an emergency response role) and will be expected to work non-business hours during emergencies, which may include nights, weekends, and holidays.
- Must be able and willing to travel within Company service territory, as needed.
- Must be able to participate in the Companys emergency management processes and storm plans as required.
- Must be able to perform field visits and site surveys at substations, Company facilities, manhole and conduit-route locations, and other OSP environments, in accordance with applicable safety, training, access, and work-practice requirements.
