Cable Placement Technician

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Aquila Corporation is seeking experienced and dependable Underground Cable Placement Technicians to support the construction and installation of underground fiber-optic telecommunications infrastructure. This position is responsible for safely and efficiently placing fiber through underground conduit systems using pneumatic, mechanical, and conventional cable-placement methods.

Experience operating a Larson cable/fiber placement trailer and Hurricane fiber blower is strongly preferred and is a key qualification for this position. Candidates should also have experience with, or the mechanical aptitude to operate, other fiber-blowing and cable-placement applications.

• Install underground fiber-optic cable through conduit, innerduct, and multi-duct systems.
• Set up, operate, and maintain Larson cable/fiber placement trailers and associated placement equipment.
• Set up and operate Hurricane fiber-blowing equipment safely and efficiently.
• Operate other pneumatic, hydraulic, and mechanical fiber-blowing and cable-placement systems as required.
• Properly load, secure, transport, stage, and handle fiber reels.
• Determine appropriate fiber-placement methods based on conduit size, cable type, footage, route conditions, and project specifications.
• Properly set air pressure, cable-feed speed, pushing force, and related operating parameters for successful fiber placement.
• Monitor cable tension and placement conditions to prevent excessive pulling force, kinking, twisting, fiber damage, or violation of manufacturer specifications.
• Lubricate conduit and cable when required and assist with rodding, proofing, mandreling, cleaning, and preparing conduit.
• Identify blocked, damaged, crushed, flooded, or otherwise compromised conduit and immediately communicate field issues.
• Place fiber through handholes, vaults, pedestals, cabinets, and other underground telecommunications structures.
• Maintain proper cable slack and coil management at handholes, cabinets, splice locations, and designated points.
• Assist with pull rope, mule tape, winch-assisted placement, and conventional cable-pulling methods when blowing is not appropriate.
• Support service-drop fiber placement, underground drop-bury operations, and directional drilling crews when required.
• Read and interpret construction prints, fiber routes, maps, conduit assignments, and project specifications.
• Accurately document installed footage, routes, reel assignments, redlines, photographs, and information required for project as-builts.
• Maintain assigned trucks, trailers, fiber blowers, compressors, tooling, and related equipment; perform pre-use/post-use inspections and basic troubleshooting.
• Maintain a clean, organized, safe, and professional jobsite.

• Larson cable/fiber placement trailers
• Other pneumatic fiber-blowing systems and applications
• Mechanical cable pushers and cable-placement equipment
• Air compressors used for fiber placement
• Fiber reel trailers, reel stands, reel brakes, and payout systems
• Hydraulic/mechanical cable-placement equipment and winches
• Conduit rodding, proofing, mandreling, and duct-cleaning equipment
• Pull rope, mule tape, hand tools, and power tools used in OSP construction
• Drop-bury plows and service-drop placement equipment when required

• Previous underground telecommunications, fiber construction, cable placement, or closely related experience preferred.
• Hands-on experience with Larson trailers and Hurricane fiber blowers is highly preferred.
• Working knowledge of fiber-blowing principles and proper cable-handling practices.
• Ability to safely operate compressors and understand pressure requirements associated with pneumatic fiber placement.
• Understanding of cable limitations, minimum bend radius, pulling tension, and proper fiber-handling procedures.
• Ability to read and interpret OSP construction prints and underground fiber routes.
• Ability to identify conduit, handholes, vaults, pedestals, and other telecommunications infrastructure.
• Ability to accurately document installed footage and completed cable routes for as-built records.
• Basic mechanical troubleshooting abilities.
• Ability to…