IT Network & Telecommunications – Senior​/Specialist

About WSDOT

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is a multimodal agency with a global reputation for excellence. Our dedicated workforce plans, designs, builds, and operates an integrated transportation system that safely and efficiently moves people and goods throughout the state. In addition to maintaining over 20,000 lane miles of state highway and 4,100 bridges, WSDOT leads an award-winning Active Transportation Plan, manages the world's longest floating bridge, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation!

WSDOT is seeking an IT Network & Telecommunications
- Senior/Specialist to support the planning, design, implementation, and maintenance of the agency's statewide telecommunications and network infrastructure. In this role, you will analyze business and technical requirements, develop and implement network solutions, oversee the installation and configuration of fiber optic, Wide Area Network (WAN), Internet, Intranet (LAN), and telecommunications systems, and ensure the reliable connectivity of critical voice, data, and video systems that support transportation operations across Washington.

As a trusted senior specialist, you will provide technical expertise to WSDOT and partner agencies, helping optimize network performance, reliability, security, and interoperability while supporting the infrastructure that connects traffic management devices, roadside technologies, and other mission-critical systems. Strong candidates will possess proficiency in enterprise networking and telecommunications, knowledge of fiber optic and LAN/WAN technologies, and the ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders to deliver secure, reliable, and resilient network solutions.

Network Services provides technical expertise, management, and strategic leadership for the agency’s Enterprise Telecommunications Services (i.e. WAN, LAN, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)), Optical Fiber Services, Telephony, and Voice Services. This Network Technician position works in the Circuit Management and Fiber Operations area. Thurston County-based staff travel statewide, maintaining services for over 230 sites in support of all agency business units.

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the IT Network & Telecommunications
- Senior/Specialist will:

• Plan, coordinate, and design the interconnection and integration of critical systems for telecommunications, voice/data/video transfer and the fiber optics infrastructure for connectivity, potentially statewide.
• Work with other division technical staff and leaders to bring all divisions under a uniform networked system of fiber optics infrastructure to ensure critical system connectivity leveraging common tactics techniques, and procedures.
• Develop, plan and design network modifications and enhancements. Evaluate integration of systems, connectivity capabilities and limitations of data transmission modes and media.
• Evaluate and determine type of communication system(s) to be networked; assess geographic layout, transmission equipment required, and fiber network over which it will operate.
• Design and configure networks and interfaces and integration to other network systems considering service requirements in the planning and design.
• Research emerging network technologies, hardware/software, available for realignment and/or improvement of the network and integration with optical fiber infrastructure. Present viable networking solution options including advantages and limitations.
• Ensure rigorous application of cybersecurity.
• Lead network infrastructure IT projects; analyze business requirements, design, plan, and lead IT projects.
• Establish project scope, stakeholder groups, timeline, deliverables.
• Configure, install, test, maintain, and manage networked systems statewide; monitor network, identify, and resolve interconnectivity and operational problems.

To be considered for this opportunity, the following competencies are required:

• Enterprise Network Engineering & Design: Progressive experience in IT network engineering methods, network configuration, design, management and troubleshooting of network technologies. Ability to design, configure, implement, manage, and troubleshoot enterprise network infrastructure.
• Fiber Optic Systems & Infrastructure: Advanced experience installing, configuring, testing, maintaining, troubleshooting, and analyzing fiber optic infrastructure and networks. Ability to perform fiber network architecture analysis and develop innovative solutions to ensure reliable, resilient connectivity.
• Network Troubleshooting & Technical Problem Solving: Experience independently diagnosing and resolving complex network, telecommunications, and fiber optic issues using specialized tools, testing equipment, and industry best practices.
• Technical Communication & Customer Service: Ability to professionally and respectfully communicate, in writing and verbally, with a diverse set of customers and…