Telecommunications Outside Plant; OSP Design Engineer

Job Title

Job Overview:

Requirement/Must Have:

• 1+ years of experience in telecommunications engineering, with a strong focus on outside plant fiber optic network design and/or microwave system engineering.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics/Telecommunications Engineering, or a related field.
• Equivalent work experience combined with relevant technical training/certifications will be considered.

Responsibilities:

• Plan and engineer outside plant fiber optic networks to connect substations, generation facilities, control centers, and other utility sites.
• Design both aerial fiber and underground fiber routes.
• Develop route maps, specify fiber optic cables and hardware, create splicing and termination plans, and ensure network redundancy and resiliency.
• Oversee permitting and rights-of-way for fiber installations and ensure designs meet National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) clearances.
• 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.
• Prepare specifications for microwave radios, wave guides, and antennas consistent with industry standards.
• Plan the placement and design of telecommunications facilities at electric utility locations.
• Design and/or specify the installation of telecom support structures and prefabricated communication shelters.
• Address associated civil and site work in collaboration with civil and structural engineers.
• 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.
• Contribute to project lifecycle activities from initial scoping through commissioning.
• Develop project scopes and cost estimates for new telecom infrastructure projects.
• Create and deliver detailed engineering design packages for use by field construction crews and contractors.
• Utilize Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software and GIS mapping tools to produce route maps, floor plans, and site diagrams.
• Plan implementation schedules and participate in change management processes.

Skills:

• Extensive knowledge of fiber optic communication systems.
• Proficiency in microwave radio system design and RF engineering principles.
• Familiarity with packet-based transport networks and traditional time-division multiplexing systems.
• Solid understanding of IP networking fundamentals.

Qualification And

Education:

• Proficient in using engineering and mapping tools common to telecom and utility design.
• Experience with GIS software for route planning and asset tracking, and computer-aided design tools to develop construction drawings.
• Experience using telecom network inventory and database tools to document network elements and manage telecom assets.
• Comfortable with productivity and documentation software and collaboration platforms.
• Working knowledge of relevant industry standards and codes for telecom and utility installations.
• Familiarity with National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) guidelines and basic National Electrical Code (NEC) principles.
• Ability to design solutions that comply with safety regulations and applicable regulatory standards.