Job Description

Job Summary

The Optical Network Manager is responsible for leading a team of optical network engineers who design, deploy, operate, and maintain optical transport networks. This role combines technical leadership, operational oversight, and people management to ensure the reliability, scalability, and performance of optical transport services supporting critical customer and backbone infrastructure. The manager ensures projects and operational work are executed accurately and on schedule, while maintaining high standards for documentation, change management, and network availability.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Management

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team responsible for optical transport network deployment, provisioning, and operations
• Assign work, prioritize tasks, and ensure timely execution of projects and operational activities
• Provide technical guidance and escalation support for complex optical network issues
• Conduct performance reviews, coaching, and skills development for team members
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement

Optical Network Design, Build & Maintenance

• Oversee the design, build, configuration, and maintenance of optical transport networks
• Ensure successful commissioning of hardware and completion of Operational Readiness Tests (ORTs)
• Manage decommissioning of obsolete or end-of-life optical equipment
• Ensure network builds align with engineering standards, capacity plans, and business objectives

Project Execution & Change Management

• Oversee execution of complex work packages received through workflow tools
• Validate Project Development Guides (PDGs) against existing physical and logical network infrastructure
• Ensure material orders are accurate and equipment aligns with project requirements
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to complete work requests efficiently
• Review and approve detailed Methods of Procedure (MOPs)
• Ensure proper execution of changes through the Change Request (CRQ) process

Network Deployment & Operations

• Oversee deployment and provisioning of optical network elements and services, including:
  • Ethernet services
  • Wavelength services
  • OTN circuits
• Ensure scheduled maintenance activities are planned and executed successfully, including:
  • Network augments
  • Capacity optimizations
  • Troubleshooting during maintenance windows

Technical Oversight & Escalation

• Provide support for operational teams
• Guide troubleshooting and provisioning activities involving key optical platforms, including:
  • Nokia PSS
  • Cisco NCS2015
  • Ciena 6500
• Ensure critical network changes on live customer circuits are executed without impacting unaffected services

Documentation & Compliance

• Ensure accurate documentation, ticket updates, and complete records for all assignments
• Enforce adherence to operational procedures, engineering standards, and audit requirements

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in optical transport deployment, operations, and maintenance
• Experience working with optical network providers or vendors in engineering or operational roles
• Strong hands-on knowledge of optical networking infrastructure and systems
• Experience with Nokia PSS, Cisco NCS2015, and Ciena 6500 platforms
• In-depth knowledge of OTN, SONET, and DWDM technologies
• Understanding of routing concepts, optical transport systems, provisioning, and troubleshooting
• Ability to manage and execute critical changes on live networks
• Strong organizational and multitasking skills in a fast-paced environment; will need the ability to interact with customer leadership regularly
• Ability to interpret complex work packages and deliver projects on schedule

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing or supporting large-scale optical transport networks
• Familiarity with common optical service configurations and architectures
• Demonstrated leadership or people management experience
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to make independent technical decisions

Additional Requirements

• Ability to respond to escalations or network events when necessary, including during maintenance windows

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