Network (Optical Transport Engineer

Location: South Run, VA Salary: $100,000.00 USD Annually - $170,000.00 USD Annually Description: Supporting Federal Gov
Position: Network Engineer (Optical Transport)

Location: 2 days onsite in Springfield, VA

Clearance: Secret

Role Summary:
The Network Engineer will provide technical expertise in the engineering, operation, and sustainment of metropolitan-area fiber transport systems using Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM), ring-based fiber topologies, and network architectures such as Optical Transport Network (OTN) technology and SONET/SDH. This role supports mission-critical enterprise transport services across Department facilities, ensuring resilient, secure, and high-performance connectivity between IT networks.

Qualifications:

Certifications

• CCNA or equivalent (e.g., Optical transport or carrier-grade networking certifications - Ciena, Infinera, Juniper JNCIS-SP)

Skills / Experience

• Engineering familiarity with enterprise network routing and switching systems for LAN/WAN connectivity
• Hands-on experience with DWDM transport systems, optical amplifiers, multiplexers/demultiplexers, transponders, and ROADM-class equipment
• Understanding of metropolitan fiber-optic ring topologies, protection schemes, and failover mechanisms (e.g., UPSR/BLSR-style concepts and OTN equivalents: ODUk (Optical Data Unit) sub-layer protection mechanisms and ODU-MS/RING protection.)
• Knowledge of legacy or carrier-grade transport protocols analogous to Optical Transport Network (OTN) technology framing, alarms, and OAM functions

• Experience working with carrier transport systems during migration phases (e.g., transitioning services between backbone networks or protected optical segments)

Responsibilities:

• Engineer, maintain, and troubleshoot DWDM optical transport systems supporting metropolitan-area networks, including power levels, optical budgets, wavelength assignments, and fault isolation.
• Support the reliable operation of fiber-optic ring networks, including monitoring of protection switching, managing topology changes, and ensuring continuity of critical data paths.
• Diagnose transport-layer events using carrier-grade telemetry, alarm structures, and diagnostic indicators analogous to SONET (LOS, LOF, AIS, RDI, etc.).
• Develop and maintain documentation, diagrams, optical power logs, wavelength plans, and standard operating procedures.
• Provide technical input for modernization efforts involving fiber plant upgrades, DWDM system enhancements, or new optical routes.net

Medical, dental, and vision insurance are available to qualified candidates who meet eligibility requirements.

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