Senior Fiber Construction Technician

About the role

At TDS Telecom, connecting people is at the heart of everything we do. We are forward thinkers who leverage cutting-edge fiber internet technology to strengthen communities. The Senior Fiber Construction Technician oversees the construction and maintenance of PON/fiber network communications facilities in TDS Telecom serving areas. This role performs advanced operation of construction equipment, manages projects, coordinates with internal and external resources, and ensures team safety and protocol compliance.

Responsibilities

• Receives maps and staking sheets for full construction projects and ensures projects are built with limited guidance from supervisors.
• Communicates updates to the project team as required.
• Manages daily and weekly project work based on deadlines, material and equipment availability, weather, and other factors.
• Coordinates with supervisors to ensure continual supply of work and availability of materials.
• Drafts and submits redlines upon completion of projects.
• Ensures locates are performed on time and prior to team and equipment arriving at the worksite.
• Engages municipalities, utility companies, suppliers, contractors, and property owners to coordinate project tasks and avoid disputes.
• Reads construction plans and municipality permits, and determines approach for completing work.
• Maintains all project documentation and records costs of project materials and material transfers.
• Ensures DOT inspections are performed on equipment.
• Works with project managers to ensure projects remain on schedule and within budget.
• Performs general construction labor in various weather conditions while utilizing safety fundamentals.
• Operates trenchers, backhoes, end loaders, plows, and other excavating equipment to construct and maintain outside plant cable facilities.
• Operates all test equipment associated with outside plant facilities and construction duties.
• Installs, troubleshoots, tests, splices, repairs, and maintains fiber optic facilities.
• Identifies location of defective cable using various test equipment and repairs buried, aerial, underground, and/or customer cable.
• Locates cable and fiber in response to customer requests and/or construction needs.
• Performs cable fault acceptance tests on newly constructed facilities.
• Trains, monitors, and coaches team members while sharing construction knowledge and experience.
• Performs quality control inspections and makes training recommendations.
• Ensures safety protocols are enforced.
• Services, cleans, maintains, and repairs equipment.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• 2+ years of construction equipment operation utilizing various underground and aerial construction equipment such as directional drills, trencher/plow/rock saw, backhoe, or bucket trucks — OR current military service, or prior military service with honorable discharge.
• 1+ years of experience leading individuals and/or teams through mentorship, job coaching, and project management.
• Must follow TDS attendance guidelines to meet business needs, including obligations to customers.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license and remain eligible for DOT requirements.

Other Qualifications

• Ability to obtain a Class A CDL (current CDL preferred at hire; TDS will train and certify eligible associates through its in-house program).
• Physical requirements may include: climbing poles, ladders, towers, and other structures; kneeling, digging, lifting, and pulling.
• Must successfully pass all components of the Safety Training course curriculum upon hire.
• Must successfully complete customer-specific requirements, which may include a background check.

Preferred Qualifications

• 2+ years’ experience in the construction of fiber optic cable outside plant networks — OR 2+ years installation of any underground or overhead utilities.
• Understanding of telecommunication products and services.
• Proven organizational skills and ability to multi-task.
• May require occasional travel.
• Willingness to work overtime as needed.
• May be required to work various/swing shifts as business needs dictate.
• Ability to operate vehicles with manual transmissions.

If you meet the Required Qualifications but are unsure about the Other Qualifications, we encourage you to apply. Research shows many candidates hesitate to apply unless they meet 100% of the qualifications, but relevant skills and experience can still lead to success.

Benefits

Associates scheduled to work 20 or more hours per week have access to:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Life insurance.
• 401(k) plan.
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave.
• Seven paid national holidays and one floating holiday.
• Paid parental leave (6 weeks after 12 months of employment).
• Adoption and surrogacy assistance.
• Employee assistance and wellness programs.

Associates working 30 or more hours per week additionally have access to:

• Short-term and long-term disability.
• TDS service discounts.
• Education assistance.
• Paid volunteer time.

All associates may participate in Associate Resource Groups designed to encourage community and professional development.

Pay

The listed pay range reflects the minimum and maximum base salary. Actual offers will be based on factors such as skills, qualifications, experience, location, and role-specific competencies. Some positions may also offer additional compensation, such as bonuses or equity awards.

Pay Range: $30.15/Hr. - $45.23/Hr.