Network Engineer - Optical

About the role

We are seeking a skilled and motivated Network Engineer to join our Network Operations team. In this role, you will be responsible for the deployment, monitoring, troubleshooting, maintenance, and optimization of high-capacity optical transport networks. You’ll play a critical part in ensuring network reliability, scalability, and performance for our customers and internal systems.

As a member of this team, you will have opportunities to be involved in projects related to planning, implementation, deployment, monitoring, and network operations of various optical, backbone, and edge networks. The ideal candidate is an engineer who is comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and a constantly evolving network. A fast learner, proactive, and highly motivated engineer with a proven record of implementing novel solutions and workarounds to solve unique challenges.

About Us

Molex possesses a rich heritage in the optical industry. We provide the highest performing and field-proven optical solutions, from components and modules to integrated line-cards. We offer cutting-edge wavelength management and amplifier technologies. Our comprehensive optical, mechanical, electrical, and software integration capabilities enable us to serve the needs of high-density, high-bandwidth, and flexible optical networks.

Responsibilities

• Support build activities including design, configuration, deployment, and migration in large-scale optical networks that span long-haul terrestrial and regional metros, interconnecting Data Centers and Point of Presence (POP) sites across the globe.
• Plan, schedule, and perform complex optical and backbone network deployments and migrations.
• Perform network maintenance, upgrades, and provisioning of new circuits or services.
• Work closely with NOC, field technicians, vendors, and engineering teams to resolve faults and perform root cause analysis.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to optical transport equipment and network connectivity.
• Maintain standards for all builds and design packages for metro, regional, and long-haul DWDM systems.
• Maintain and update network documentation, including fiber routes, equipment inventory, and change logs.
• Participate in on-call rotation and respond to network emergencies after hours.
• Generate implementation plans and provide technical leadership and guidance during deployment activities.
• Review and maintain acceptance documents provided by vendors and subcontractors deploying equipment on our network.
• Provide technical expertise to network provisioning engineers for troubleshooting out-of-service or faulty circuits.
• Proactively contribute to documentation, automation, and processes as they evolve.
• Support multiple stakeholder organizations by understanding, anticipating, and influencing business outcomes. Exhibit proactive communication and think with a product and customer mindset.
• Leverage a data-driven approach to influence business and network health metrics.
• Generate and analyze network performance reports; proactively identify areas for improvement.
• Travel required as needed (up to 50%).

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Optical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• At least 5 years’ experience with live network deployment, migration, and operations.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience deploying and migrating optical networks.
• Experience with optical network design, installation, and maintenance for service providers or enterprise networks.
• Experience with optical transport systems and troubleshooting.
• Experience with optical fiber types, fiber characterization, OTDR.
• Experience with optical technologies: DWDM, CWDM, ROADM, OTN, SONET/SDH, and Ethernet over fiber.
• Experience with individual components of optical networks such as Transponders, Mux/Demux, WSS, EDFA, RAMAN, OSC, OTDR.
• Experience with field-based work in POPs, carrier hotels, data centers, and Central Office environments.
• Experience with optical test equipment and optical troubleshooting using OTDR, OSA, BERT, and optical power meters.
• Proficiency with network management tools (e.g., Ciena OneControl, Infinera DNA, Nokia NFM-T).
• Experience with data center network design.
• Experience with automation/scripting (Python, Ansible) in a networking environment.
• Experience in creating, troubleshooting, and analyzing network code.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in engineering discipline.

Pay

For this role, we anticipate paying $150,000 - $180,000 per year. This role is eligible for variable pay, issued as a monetary bonus or in another form.

Benefits

Our goal is for each employee and their families to live fulfilling and healthy lives. We provide essential resources and support to build and maintain physical, financial, and emotional strength, focusing on overall wellbeing so you can focus on what matters most.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Flexible spending and health savings accounts.
• Life insurance, ADD, and disability.
• Retirement plans.
• Paid vacation/time off.
• Educational assistance.
• May include infertility assistance, paid parental leave, and adoption assistance (eligibility criteria apply).