Telecommunications Engineer

Job Title: Telecommunications Engineer

Location: Portland, Oregon Onsite (Occasional travel to sites required)

Duration: 12 months+

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Our client is conducting a phased telecommunications network modernization and records validation effort. Phase 1 will focus on structured field and records assessments across regional facilities to validate legacy transport services, reconcile circuit records, identify gaps, and document findings for client review before downstream planning begins. Site visits may be required to confirm service status, validate records against physical infrastructure, and support follow-up planning. Findings will be compiled, reviewed with the client for verification, and documented in relevant network management and operational support systems.

The environment includes legacy optical transport platforms, with direct SONET experience strongly preferred. This is an engineer-level engagement requiring independent analysis, documentation judgment, and the ability to work directly with client operations staff at each site — it is not a break-fix or technician position.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct structured, site-by-site field visits across regional client facilities to assess legacy transport equipment and supporting infrastructure
• Collect, reconcile, and validate circuit records from NMS platforms, OSS systems, and legacy/paper records against physical equipment and platform configurations
• Trace and document circuits on a circuit-by-circuit basis: origination, termination, intermediate nodes, protection paths, and current service status
• Identify gaps, discrepancies, and undocumented circuits between existing records and the physical network state
• Build a comprehensive, site-by-site inventory of SONET platforms, shelf configurations, line cards, protection schemes, and optical spans
• Produce clear, structured findings documentation for client review and sign-off at each phase milestone
• Facilitate working sessions with client network operations and engineering staff to verify findings and resolve discrepancies
• Maintain version-controlled, audit-ready records throughout the engagement

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• 7+ years of hands-on experience with SONET/SDH transport networks at an engineer level — design, analysis, circuit engineering, and records management (not solely installation or maintenance)
• Deep working knowledge of SONET multiplexing: DS1, DS3, OC-3, OC-12, OC-48, OC-192 and associated TDM circuit types
• Strong understanding of SONET protection architectures: UPSR, BLSR/MS-SPRing, and APS (1+1, 1:N)
• Proficiency working with SONET Network Management Systems (NMS) for circuit tracing, alarm analysis, and inventory extraction
• Demonstrated ability to read and interpret circuit records, network diagrams, cross-connect maps, and as-built documentation
• Experience with fiber optic infrastructure: span documentation, OTDR interpretation, and optical power budgets
• Ability to work independently in field-based infrastructure environments
• Strong technical writing and documentation skills — this role produces client-facing deliverables
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel to regional client sites as needed

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Legacy Optical Transport Platform Experience (Strongly Preferred):
• Hands-on experience with legacy SONET optical transport platforms, including OC-level transport systems or equivalent
• Familiarity with vendor-specific network management systems for circuit provisioning, tracing, and inventory validation
• Experience reading and interpreting platform-specific cross-connect and tributary configurations
• Understanding of shelf architecture, slot assignments, and card types common in large-scale transport environments

Industry Experience:

• Prior experience in telecom, energy, infrastructure, or other large-scale network environments
• Familiarity with operational communications circuits in large-scale infrastructure environments
• Awareness of compliance-sensitive infrastructure environments and the importance of accurate transport network records
• Experience with OSP (outside plant) fiber route documentation and GIS-based network records systems

Additional Technical:

• Experience with other SONET platforms: Ciena/Nortel heritage, Cisco ONS/NCS 15xxx, Tellabs, or ECI
• Familiarity with Ethernet over SONET / GFP encapsulation and hybrid TDM/packet transport
• Background in telecom records management or OSS data quality improvement projects

ENGINEER VS. TECHNICIAN — WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR This role requires someone who can interpret, analyze, and make engineering judgments — not just follow procedures. The right candidate will:

• Recognize when a circuit record is inconsistent with physical reality and know how to investigate and resolve the discrepancy
• Understand why a protection or resiliency scheme is configured a certain way and flag when it appears incorrect or suboptimal
• Produce documentation that is immediately usable by the client's engineering team for future planning
• Communicate findings clearly to both technical and operational stakeholders