Buried Drop Tech

Uniti; Meadville (Crawford County); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Uniti’s Kinetic team seeks a Buried Drop Technician to install buried copper, fiber, and coaxial cable from the hub to customers’ homes, delivering reliable internet, voice, and entertainment with safety and customer service at the forefront.

This entry-level, full-time role offers hands-on field work with training, potential advancement in fiber and telecommunications careers, and a pathway through a union bidding process.

Qualifications

• The ability to walk ½ mile or more while operating a drop plow that places service cable.
• Ability to work the schedule including overtime, callouts, and standby as needed.
• Basic technology and math skills.
• Ability to distinguish colors present in color-coded cable.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 70 pounds.
• Ability to successfully complete required training, including overnight travel out-of-state.
• A valid driver's license and safe driving record.
• Ability to pass pre-employment DOT physical.
• Previous experience with buried cable, fiber optic installation, utility construction, drop plow operation, trenching, boring, or telecommunications field work is helpful, but not required unless specified by the posting location.

Responsibilities

• Perform the physical installation of buried copper, fiber, and coaxial drop cable to connect Kinetic’s network to customers’ residences.
• Use your technical expertise and customer focus to create meaningful connections with customers.
• Interpret work drawings and instructions and complete necessary paperwork.
• Sell and promote Kinetic products and services.
• Train new employees in daily job functions.
• Operate hand-held computer for retrieving and clearing job tasks.
• Perform locates on underground facilities, as applicable, during job tasks, such as locating gas, power, and communication lines.
• Operate machinery including trenching and boring equipment for burying cables.
• All other tasks as assigned.

Skills

Basic technology skills

Math skills

Color discrimination

Valid driver’s license

DOT physical

Lifting 70 pounds

Job description

About the Role:

As a Buried Drop Technician on the Kinetic team, you will install buried copper, fiber, and coaxial cable from the network hub to customers’ homes. In this hands‑on field technician role, you will help connect customers to reliable internet, voice, and entertainment services through quality cable installation and a strong focus on safety and customer service.

Our Buried Drop Technicians care about technology, take pride in field work, and enjoy helping customers get connected to the products and services they value.

This role is a strong starting point for future career growth, providing hands‑on experience that may lead to advancement opportunities in other fiber optic and telecommunications careers.

This role is a safety sensitive position.

Job Type:

Entry Level Full Time

What You’ll Do:

• Perform the physical installation of buried copper, fiber, and coaxial drop cable to connect Kinetic’s network to customers’ residences.

• Use your technical expertise and customer focus to create meaningful connections with customers.
• Interpret work drawings and instructions and complete necessary paperwork.

• Sell and promote Kinetic products and services.

• Train new employees in daily job functions.
• Operate hand‑held computer for retrieving and clearing job tasks.
• Perform locates on underground facilities, as applicable, during job tasks, such as locating gas, power, and communication lines.
• Operate machinery including trenching and boring equipment for burying cables.
• All other tasks as assigned.

Do You Have:

• The ability to walk ½ mile or more while operating a drop plow that places service cable.

• Ability to work the schedule including overtime, callouts, and standby as needed.
• Basic technology and math skills.
• Ability to distinguish colors present in color‑coded cable.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 70 pounds.
• Ability to successfully complete required training, including overnight travel out‑of‑state.
• A valid driver’s license and safe driving record.
• Ability to pass pre‑employment DOT physical.

• Previous experience with buried cable, fiber optic installation, utility construction, drop plow operation, trenching, boring, or telecommunications field work is helpful, but not required unless specified by the posting location.

Even Better:

• A strong safety mindset, mechanical aptitude, and pride in completing quality work outdoors and in the field.
• Customer service experience and the ability to communicate clearly with customers while representing Kinetic professionally.

This Position Follows a Union Bidding Process

Physical Tasks

– Standing Continuously: 67-100% | Walking Continuously: 67 – 100% | Sitting Occasionally: 0-33%

Driving

- Car: Occasionally: 0-33% | Van: Continuously: 67-100% | CMV: Occasionally: 0-33% | Climbing: Continuously: 67-100% | Bending: Continuously: 67-100% | Crouching: Continuously: 67-100%| Pushing-Pulling: Continuously: 67-100% |Carrying: Continuously: 67-100% | Reaching Above Head: Continuously: 67-100% | Lifting‑Lowering >1-15 lbs: Continuously: 67-100% | >15-30 lbs: Continuously: 67-100% | >30+ lbs: Continuously: 67-100%

Repetitive Hand Action

: >Medium Dexterity: Continuously: 67-100% | >Fine Manipulating: Continuously: 67-100% |Operate Foot Control: Occasionally: 0-33%

Audio Visual Needs

- Hearing: Continuously: 67-100%| Near Vision: Continuously: 67-100%| Far Vision: Continuously: 67-100% |Peripheral Vision: Continuously: 67-100% | Depth Perception: Occasionally: 0-33% | Color Discrimination: 34 – 66%

Exposures to

: Cold: Frequently: 34-66%, Heat: Frequently: 34-66%, Dampness: Occasionally: 0-33%, Heights: Occasionally: 0-33%, Vibration: Occasionally: 0-33%, Skin Irritants: Occasionally: 0-33%, Lung Irritants: Dust: Occasionally: 0-33%, Fumes/Gases: Occasionally: 0-33%

Equipment Used in Job Performance/Working Environment

: Test Equipment, Hand and Power Tools, Van

Types of Driver’s License Required

: Driver’s License