Optical Transport Network Engineer III

Description: On-Call: Participation in 24/7 rotation required Experience Required: 5–8+ years in Optical Transport Engineering About the Role DataField is seeking a highly skilled Telecommunications Network Engineer III with strong experience in optical transport deployment, operations, and modernization. This senior-level engineer will design, build, configure, commission, maintain, and migrate carrier-grade optical networks. The ideal candidate has hands-on experience working with major optical platforms, executing complex work packages, writing MOPs, and supporting live production transport environments. This role operates at a Tier 3 / Tier 4 engineering level and requires strong technical depth, accountability, and operational discipline. Core Technologies & Protocols Strong competency required in: • DWDM / WDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing, Flex Grid) • OTN (G.709) Optical Transport Network standards • ROADM architectures • Coherent Optics (100G, 200G, 400G, 800G, ZR/ZR+) • SONET / SDH (legacy transport & migration) • OTU / ODU provisioning • Wave turn-up and optical service configuration • Fiber characterization including Chromatic Dispersion (CD) and Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) Vendor Platform Experience Strong experience with one or more of the following: • Nokia – 1830 PSS, WaveSuite, NSP • Cisco – NCS 2000/4000 series, NCS2015, ONS 15454 • Ciena – 6500 Family, Waveserver, MCP (Blue Planet), Z-Series • Experience with multi-vendor or disaggregated optical environments preferred Key Responsibilities Network Engineering & Deployment • Design, build, configure, and commission optical transport systems • Execute optical network deployments and infrastructure upgrades • Perform A-to-Z circuit provisioning and wave turn-up • Decommission legacy platforms during modernization initiatives • Support optical migrations and capacity expansions Work Package Execution • Interpret complex work packages and network designs • Build detailed Change Requests • Develop and execute comprehensive MOPs (Method of Procedure) • Provide accurate impact statements prior to maintenance activities • Execute changes on live production circuits with zero customer-impact discipline Operations & Maintenance • Operation, administration, and maintenance of OTN/DWDM networks • Provisioning and troubleshooting optical transport systems • NMS/EMS management and performance monitoring • Capacity planning and bandwidth forecasting • Dark fiber procurement, testing, and validation • Inside Plant (ISP) coordination including rack/stack, cabling, and power requirements Troubleshooting & Support • Diagnose complex optical layer faults • Troubleshoot routing and service configuration issues • Support Tier 4 break/fix escalations • Participate in 24/7 on-call rotation Automation & Emerging Technologies Experience or familiarity with: • OpenConfig, NetConf, YANG • Python scripting for provisioning automation • Disaggregated networking architectures • Alien wavelength deployments Requirements: Required Qualifications • 5–8+ years of optical transport deployment and engineering experience • 3+ years operating and maintaining DWDM/OTN networks • Experience with carrier-grade optical network providers or vendors • Strong familiarity with OTN, SONET, DWDM, CWDM, PON • Experience building and managing optical infrastructure • Ability to manage multiple assignments in fast-paced environments • Strong documentation and communication skills • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent experience Preferred Certifications Vendor-Specific (Highly Valued): • Ciena OC-P or CE-P • Nokia ONRP • Cisco CCNP Enterprise (optical/core focus) Industry Certifications: • MEF-CECP • ETA/FOA CFOT • OCP, NONC, OTT, ONP, CONA/CONE • CCNA/CCNP (IP certifications are a plus) What We’re Looking For • Deep optical transport expertise • Strong operational discipline in live network environments • Ability to execute complex upgrades without customer impact • Self-managed, detail-oriented engineer capable of leading initiatives • Comfortable working in 24/7 production carrier environments Why Join DataField? • High-impact optical transport engineering work • Exposure to modernization and next-generation coherent optics • Opportunity to work across multi-vendor ecosystems • Competitive compensation and performance incentives • Engineering-focused environment with technical growth opportunities