Optical Network Planning Engineer
By Light Professional IT Services LLC equips warfighters and federal agencies with technology and systems engineered to connect, protect, and prepare individuals and teams for evolving challenges. Headquartered in McLean, VA, By Light supports defense, civilian, and commercial IT customers worldwide.
About the role
This key position supports a major Department of Defense initiative as part of our DISA team at Ft Meade, MD. The Optical Network Technology Planning Engineer will handle all aspects of optical network equipment planning for the DOD’s global optical transport network.
The candidate will develop hardware (Major Bill of Material) deployment plans, including system configurations, routing of 10/100/400G circuits over the network, and providing plans to operations in “Wavelength Plan format” to meet service requirements. The role involves supporting DISA operations during hardware and service implementation, assessing service and strategic technology requirements, and creating deployment plans that include hardware requirements, transition plans, and service routing in Wavelength Plan format for implementation.
The engineer will provide in-depth engineering analysis, deployment, and transition plans for transport-level equipment in support of government strategic modernization efforts and interface with DISA operations and implementation vendors during execution of deployment and Wavelength Plans.
Responsibilities
- Develop hardware deployment plans, including Major Bill of Material (BOM) and system configurations.
- Route 10/100/400G circuits over the DOD’s global optical transport network.
- Provide plans to operations in “Wavelength Plan format” to meet service requirements.
- Support DISA operations during implementation of hardware and services.
- Assess service and strategic technology requirements based on government direction.
- Create deployment plans that include hardware requirements, transition plans, and service routing in Wavelength Plan format.
- Provide in-depth engineering analysis, deployment, and transition plans for transport-level equipment.
- Interface with DISA operations and implementation vendors during execution of deployment and Wavelength Plans.
Requirements
- Minimum 2 years’ experience in planning transport technologies such as Optical Transport System (DWDM), OTN/Packet switching, L1/L2 switches, and legacy SONET/SDH technologies.
- Minimum 5 years of experience in a technical or related field.
- Familiarity with ITU-T, OIF, and IETF standards.
- Knowledge of transport protocols such as ITU-T G.709, Layer 1/Layer 2 protocols, and Ethernet.
- Prior experience with major Optical Manufacturer equipment (e.g., Ciena, Cisco, Infinera, or Nokia) is a plus.
- Familiarity with QPSK and QAM is highly desirable.
- Knowledge of network management and experience with wavelength planning tools such as One Planner, Transport Planner, Ciena MCP/Navigator, Blue Planet, or Cisco Optical Network Planner.
- DoD 8570-01-M IAT Level II or higher certification, including one of the following: CCNA-Security, CySA+, GICSP, Security+, GSEC, or SSCP (or higher-level cert).
- Active Secret Clearance.