Lead Planning Engineer Capacity Planning-Denver, CO or Dallas, TX

Lead Planning Engineer - Capacity Planning

About Forged Fiber:

Forged Fiber is dedicated to delivering fast, reliable, future-proof connectivity that powers online experiences. Our mission is guided by a commitment to excellence and a focus on empowering communities through our open-access fiber network platform.

The Role:

As a Lead Planning Engineer, Capacity Planning, you will act as a trusted technical authority and strategic advisor to leadership. Your responsibilities include setting company-wide standards for capacity management, defining long-term capacity strategies, and influencing planning policies that guide network investment and growth.

• Act as the organization’s leading authority for capacity planning, setting company-wide standards, principles, and governance models that guide how the network is designed, scaled, and funded.
• Own and evolve capacity management policy and best-practice frameworks, ensuring alignment across planning, engineering, implementation, and leadership teams.
• Define and champion long-term capacity strategy across PON and transport networks, balancing growth forecasts, performance data, operational risk, and capital efficiency.
• Establish architectural standards and decision guardrails for capacity expansion, enabling consistent, repeatable, and scalable network growth.
• Translate complex data sets—performance metrics, utilization trends, and demand signals—into clear strategic guidance that informs executive-level investment and prioritization decisions.
• Drive alignment across teams by defining planning handoff expectations, documentation standards, and governance processes that improve execution speed and quality at scale.
• Lead resolution of high-impact, cross-platform capacity challenges, focusing on systemic solutions rather than short-term fixes.
• Influence leadership decision-making as a trusted advisor, providing clear technical recommendations and trade-off analyses for long-term network strategy.
• Mentor and provide technical leadership to other planners, raising the planning maturity, consistency, and decision quality of the organization.

Required Competencies & Qualifications:

• 3+ years experience of PON network equipment design
• 3+ years experience of capacity management with emphasis on driving innovation solutions and leading the continuous process improvement
• 3+ years experience in telecom network design
• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or relevant experience

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Knowledge of network inventory and element management systems and utilizing data within systems efficiently
• Former experience using of 3GIS or equivalent GIS system
• Knowledge of Outside Plant and Fiber Optic Cable design principles
• Knowledge of open access network design principles
• Knowledge of Power BI and Power Apps
• High level of proficiency with Microsoft Excel or equivalent program
• Work independently with little or no oversight, be able to self-manage their workload and deliver all projects to meet deadlines
• Strong documentation writing and analytical skills
• Must be highly adept at collaborating with others, at all levels in the organization
• Experience with Metro/Ethernet network (a plus)

What We Look For In a Candidate:

We value honesty, respect, trust, transparency, and a growth mindset. We seek candidates who can contribute to our culture of integrity, customer obsession, and courage. We are committed to treating people as they want to be treated and operating consistently and with integrity.

Culture & Values:

Forged Fiber’s culture is built on these core values: honesty, respect, trust, transparency, and a growth mindset. We strive to treat people as they want to be treated and to operate with consistency, integrity, customer obsession, and courage.

Compensation:

This information reflects the anticipated base salary range for this position based on current national data. Individual pay is based on skills, experience, and other relevant factors. Location-based pay ranges: $100,000 annually - $160,000 annually.

Benefits:

Forged Fiber offers a comprehensive package featuring a broad range of health, life, voluntary lifestyle benefits, and other perks that enhance your physical, mental, emotional, and financial wellbeing.

What To Expect Next:

If you are selected for a position, there will be a background screen, which may include checks for criminal records and/or motor vehicle reports and/or drug screening, depending on the position requirements. Forged Fiber participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

It is the policy of Forged Fiber to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We do not tolerate unlawful discrimination in any employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, compensation, promotion, benefits, discipline, termination, job assignments or training.