Utility Telecommunications Engineer

Primary Talent Partners has a new contract opening for a Utility Telecommunications Engineer to join an energy and utilities company in Jackson, MS. This is a 12‑month contract to start with the potential for extensions.

Pay: $57.00 - $67.00/hr; W2 contract, no PTO, no Benefits. ACA‑compliant supplemental package available for enrollment. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States and must be able to sit on Primary Talent Partners W2 without sponsorship.

Telecommunications Outside Plant (OSP) Design Engineer – External Contractor

• Fiber Optic Network Design & Deployment:
  Plan and engineer outside plant fiber optic networks to connect substations, generation facilities, control centers, and other utility sites.
• Design both aerial fiber (including Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) on transmission lines and All-Dielectric Self-Supporting (ADSS) cables on distribution poles) and underground fiber routes.
• Develop route maps, specify fiber optic cables and hardware, create splicing and termination plans, and ensure network redundancy and resiliency to support mission‑critical services (SCADA, protective relaying, corporate communications).
• Oversee permitting and rights‑of‑way for fiber installations and ensure designs meet National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) clearances and company standards for attachment on utility infrastructure.
• Microwave Radio System Engineering:
  Design and optimize point‑to‑point microwave radio links to connect remote sites and reinforce the fiber network.
• Perform path surveys and line‑of‑sight analyses, determine appropriate tower locations and heights, select antennas and frequencies, and develop link budgets to ensure reliable, high‑capacity communications.
• Coordinate with frequency management and regulatory compliance (e.g., FCC licensing and interference studies) for microwave systems.
• Prepare specifications for microwave radios, wave guides, and antennas consistent with company's requirements and industry standards (e.g., Telcordia).
• Telecom Site & Facility Design:
  Plan the placement and design of telecommunications facilities at electric utility locations (substations, power plants, control centers, etc.).
• Design and/or specify the installation of telecom support structures such as communications towers, poles, and antenna mounts, as well as prefabricated communication shelters, cabinets, or control house upgrades to house telecom equipment.
• Address associated civil and site work – including site layout, grading, access roads, cable trenching or conduit installation, and equipment foundations – in collaboration with civil and structural engineers.
• Ensure all telecom facility designs meet physical security requirements, environmental/hazard mitigation standards, and compatibility with existing utility infrastructure.
• Power & Backup Systems Integration:
  Incorporate reliable power solutions into telecom designs to guarantee continuous operation of critical communications during power outages.
• Specify and coordinate AC power feeds, DC power plants and battery backup systems, and appropriately sized standby generators for telecom sites such as repeater huts, microwave relay sites, and substation telecom rooms.
• Ensure proper grounding, surge protection, and compliance with the National Electrical Code (NEC) and company's electrical standards when integrating generators and backup power equipment at communications facilities.
• Project Planning and Execution Support:
  Contribute to project lifecycle activities from initial scoping through commissioning.
• Develop project scopes and cost estimates for new telecom infrastructure projects (fiber expansions, microwave link deployments, network upgrades).
• Create and deliver detailed engineering design packages (incl. construction drawings, fiber splice diagrams, equipment layouts, wiring diagrams, and bill‑of‑materials) for use by field construction crews and contractors.
• Utilize Computer‑Aided Design (CAD) software and GIS mapping tools (e.g., ESRI ArcGIS or Client Small world) to produce route maps, floor plans, and site diagrams.
• Plan implementation schedules and participate in company's change…