Fiber Engineer

Job Description: Operations - Network Planning & Engineering

Position Title: Technical Fiber Engineer

Location: Atlanta, GA

Reports To: Director of Service Delivery

Employment Type: Full-Time

Summary: Responsible for design verification, field validation, testing and documentation of telecom fiber-optic plant to ensure serviceability and compliance with carrier specifications and industry standards. Focus areas: link loss budgets, route/as-built records, terminations, splices, and test result reporting for access, metro and transport networks.

Key Responsibilities:

· Develop and verify link loss budgets for single-mode telecom links (CWDM/DWDM where applicable), accounting for connector/splice loss, fiber attenuation, patching, transceiver budgets and engineering margin.

· Document fiber routes and cable plant: ducts, conduits, handholes/manholes, aerial strand, pole attachments, splice enclosures, cabinet and POP locations; produce accurate as-built route maps and GIS updates.

· Create and maintain detailed termination documentation: ODF/patch panel assignments, connector types (LC, SC, MPO), port mappings, labeling schemes and rack/room locations tied to service IDs.

· Record splice details for fusion and mechanical splices: splice ID, enclosure location, fiber core IDs, splice map, splice loss values and photos; maintain splice database.

· Perform and document fiber testing: OTDR traces (bi-directional), insertion loss, return loss, continuity and polarity checks; produce standardized test certificates with pass/fail assessment and corrective action recommendations.

· Ensure test procedures and acceptance criteria align with carrier SLAs and standards (TIA, ITU, Telcordia GR-20/326 as applicable).

· Maintain centralized documentation repositories (GIS, FPMS, or document management systems) and enforce naming/versioning conventions for telecom operations.

· Coordinate with design engineering, construction crews, provisioning, and NOC to validate builds, reconcile discrepancies and support turn-up activities.

· Provide technical support for fault isolation, restoration, and capacity upgrades; advise on fiber health, aging, and lifecycle considerations.

· Train field technicians on testing protocols, documentation standards and safety procedures.

Required Qualifications:

· Associate or Bachelor’s in Telecommunications, Electrical Engineering or equivalent experience in telecom fiber networks.

· 3+ years telecom fiber plant experience (access, metro, or transport).

· Hands-on proficiency with OTDRs, power meters, light sources, and insertion-loss test kits.

· Demonstrated ability to produce and validate link loss budgets for carrier-class services.

· Experience with GIS, fiber plant management systems (FPMS) and MS Office.

· Knowledge of telecom cabling standards and carrier acceptance criteria (Telcordia, ITU-T, TIA).

Preferred Qualifications:

· FOA CFOT, ETA, or Telcordia-related certifications.

· Experience with DWDM/CWDM systems, ODN planning for PON deployments, and multi-service transport requirements.

Key Skills:

· Strong attention to detail, analytic troubleshooting, clear technical documentation and cross-team communication.

· Field-capable: boots-on-ground verification, working in manholes/handholes and aerial environments while following safety rules.

· Ability to prioritize work across multiple provisioning/maintenance projects and meet SLA-driven timelines.

Deliverables / Metrics:

· Completed link loss budgets and acceptance reports per circuit build.

· Up-to-date as-built route maps and GIS entries after installation.

· Comprehensive termination and splice logs and centralized splice database entries.

· Standardized OTDR/IL/RL test certificates with remediation actions and closure evidence.

· SLA compliance and documentation accuracy targets as defined by the operator.

Location & Travel:

· Office based role with regular site visits across metro/region

· Ability to travel for site walks, inspections, and audits.

Reporting:

· Reports to: Director of Service Delivery