Optical Network Engineer

GCS Recruitment; Ireland; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

GCS Recruitment is seeking an experienced Optical Network Engineer for a high-impact contract role in Ireland with a leading global technology company. You'll operate large-scale optical networks, ensuring traffic protection and restoration while managing software upgrades on optical platforms.

The ideal candidate should have experience with DWDM and multi-vendor environments including Ciena and Cisco. This position offers the opportunity to work with one of the most complex optical networks in the world.

Qualifications

• Experience operating DWDM optical networks over fibre infrastructure.
• Ability to manage network device software upgrades.
• Familiarity with multi-vendor environments.

Responsibilities

• Support DWDM optical networks and address network events.
• Ensure traffic protection and restoration in the network.
• Coordinate software upgrades with internal teams.

Skills

Operate and support DWDM optical networks

Handle fibre and optical network events

Perform software upgrades on optical platforms

Engage with optical equipment vendors

Tools

Ciena

Cisco

Infinera

Nokia

Job description

We're partnering with a leading global technology company to hire an experienced Optical Netwrok Engineer for a high-impact contract role. You'll be operating with one of the world's most complex, large-scale optical networks.

What you'll be doing

• Operate and support DWDM optical networks over fibre infrastructure.
• Handle fibre and optical network events (e.g. fibre cuts, degradation).
• Ensure traffic protection and restoration, including rerouting and capacity recovery.
• Perform network device software upgrades on optical platforms:
  • Upgrades are manual / semi‑manual, requiring close operational oversight.
  • Significant coordination required with internal customers and engineering teams.
  • Work is executed within approved change windows with strict change management processes.
• Identify in‑scope devices, assess impact, prepare execution plans, and carry out upgrades.
• Engage with optical equipment vendors when required.

Technology Environment

• DWDM optical transport networks
• Optical fibre infrastructure
• Multi‑vendor environments, typically including:
  • Ciena
  • Cisco
  • Infinera
  • Nokia

Nice to Have

• Exposure to large‑scale cloud provider or hyperscale environments.
• Experience in:
  • Large ISPs / telecoms (Vodafone, Three, etc.)
  • Internet / content providers
  • Comparable organisations (Microsoft, Meta, Oracle, TikTok, etc.)
• Familiarity with multi‑vendor optical networks (depth in one vendor is fine).

If you're looking for a long-term contract working with one of the leading technology companies, Apply now!

GCS is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.