Lead Electric Utility Telecom Network Architect

Lead Electric Utility Telecom Network Architect

Schedule: On Site / Hybrid considered for highly qualified candidates

Employment Type: Full-Time

We are seeking an experienced Lead Electric Utility Telecom Network Architect to design, modernize, standardize, and support telecommunications networks used in electric utility operations. This role will focus on mission‑critical communications infrastructure supporting substations, control centers, generation assets, transmission and distribution systems, field operations, protection systems, SCADA, and operational technology environments.

The ideal candidate will have deep experience with electric utility telecom architectures, including SONET, MPLS, DWDM, fiber optic transport, microwave, W-links, T-links, private operational networks, carrier services, and utility‑grade IP networks. This person will help define network standards, develop migration strategies, support RFPs and procurement, guide implementation teams, and ensure highly available, secure, and resilient communications across utility infrastructure.

This is a senior technical leadership role requiring both hands‑on network expertise and the ability to communicate effectively with engineering, operations, field, cybersecurity, executive leadership, vendors, and external partners.

This role is ideal for a senior telecom network architect who understands the unique demands of electric utility communications. The successful candidate will help modernize critical telecom infrastructure while maintaining the reliability, resiliency, and operational discipline required to support the electric grid.

The person in this role should be comfortable working across legacy and modern environments, from SONET, T‑links, W‑links, microwave, and fiber transport to MPLS, DWDM, IP routing, network automation, and utility cybersecurity.

• Lead the architecture and standardization of electric utility telecommunications networks supporting transmission, distribution, substations, control centers, and field operations.
• Design reliable, secure, and highly available utility communication networks using technologies such as SONET, MPLS, DWDM, microwave, fiber optic transport, W‑links, T‑links, carrier Ethernet, and private IP networks.
• Develop migration strategies from legacy telecom platforms to modern packet‑based utility network architectures.
• Design and support networks carrying SCADA, protection, teleprotection, metering, voice, video, security, automation, and operational data traffic.
• Develop standards for Layer 1, Layer 2, and Layer 3 communications infrastructure across utility environments.
• Design IP/MPLS, routing, switching, QoS, traffic engineering, segmentation, VPN, and encryption solutions for operational utility networks.
• Support fiber optic network planning, optical transport design, DWDM systems, microwave backhaul, and diverse path planning for critical circuits.
• Evaluate and document W‑links, T‑links, substation communications paths, and utility transport services.
• Collaborate with protection and control, substation engineering, transmission, distribution, SCADA, cybersecurity, IT, field crews, and network operations teams.
• Lead telecom architecture reviews, network design reviews, standards development, and implementation planning.
• Prepare technical specifications, design packages, diagrams, cost estimates, RFP requirements, and vendor evaluation criteria.
• Support procurement efforts for telecom equipment, carrier services, optical transport, microwave systems, MPLS services, and related infrastructure.
• Analyze network performance, capacity, resiliency, latency, jitter, path diversity, and disaster recovery requirements.
• Establish monitoring, escalation, and operational support procedures for critical communications networks.
• Identify risks in legacy telecom infrastructure and recommend modernization or replacement strategies.
• Mentor network engineers, telecom engineers, field teams, and cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate network documentation, including fiber maps, circuit inventories, rack elevations, logical diagrams, IP addressing, path diversity records, and…