Director of Engineering

Hunter Communications; McMinnville (OR); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

401k program with employer match

Bonuses and incentive opportunities

Job summary

Hunter Communications is seeking a Director of Engineering to lead Engineering, GIS, and Planning with a hands‑on approach. The role focuses on delivering high-quality fiber optic plant design while maintaining safety standards and controlling costs.

The leader will define performance standards, drive accountability, and foster training and effective communication across teams. The position offers a hybrid schedule out of multiple Oregon offices (Central Point, Salem, Eugene, or McMinnville) and

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in cable, fiber optic, telephony, engineering, planning, and construction.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing engineering teams.
• Ability to read telecommunications‑based technical drawings and documents.
• Experience with process improvements within the telecommunications industry.
• Advanced understanding of permitting processes for railroad, DOT, cities, counties, and pole owners.

Responsibilities

• Define, track, and ensure accountability to key production and quality metrics for engineering teams and project management.
• Oversee production of engineering work orders, ensuring compliance with standards, NESC, and ROW requirements.
• Lead all pre-construction joint-use activities and negotiate joint-use agreements as needed.
• Procure RoW permissions, easements, permits, and navigate related challenges.
• Monitor project performance, budgets, and resource allocation to ensure delivery.
• Oversee hiring, coaching, mentoring, and training; partner with HR on performance development.
• Develop SOPs to improve operational efficiency and drive continuous improvement across processes.
• Represent Hunter Communications regionally with trade groups and associations.

Skills

Leadership

Telecommunications Engineering

Project Management

GIS

Cross-functional Collaboration

Tools

Microsoft Project

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Google Workspace

Job description

Job Summary: The Director of Engineering serves a key role as a member of the Senior Leadership Team. This position requires a hands‑on leader who can effectively develop and manage Engineering, GIS, and Planning while ensuring superior quality and safety standards in the production of fiber optic plant design and engineering. This individual is responsible for establishing performance standards, driving accountability, facilitating training, fostering effective communication, and adapting to evolving business needs. An individual with a strong background in all facets of cable, fiber‑to‑the‑home, telephony, engineering, and operations, who is also an inspirational and effective leader, will be the ideal candidate.

Description

Job Summary: The Director of Engineering serves a key role as a member of the Senior Leadership Team. This position requires a hands‑on leader who can effectively develop and manage Engineering, GIS, and Planning while ensuring superior quality and safety standards in the production of fiber optic plant design and engineering. This individual is responsible for establishing performance standards, driving accountability, facilitating training, fostering effective communication, and adapting to evolving business needs. An individual with a strong background in all facets of cable, fiber‑to‑the‑home, telephony, engineering, and operations, who is also an inspirational and effective leader, will be the ideal candidate.

Location: This position may be based out of any Hunter Communications office, including Central Point, Salem, Eugene, or McMinnville, Oregon - Hybrid Schedule Available.

Responsibilities

• Define, track, and ensure accountability to key production and quality metrics for OSP engineers, GIS technicians, and project management teams.
• Oversee production of all engineering work orders within assigned geographic areas. Ensure engineering work orders are designed in compliance with company standards, NESC, municipal requirements, public ROW, and utility easements. Confirm project cost estimates are accurate and release work orders to Construction in time to meet commitment dates.
• Lead all pre‑construction joint‑use related activities.
• Collaborate with pole owners and other licensees on joint‑use efforts and issue remedies as needed.
• Work with internal staff and foreign pole owners to negotiate and/or modify joint‑use agreements as necessary.
• Partner with Engineers, GIS and Operations employees to procure necessary Right of Way (RoW) permissions, easements, permits, and navigate related challenges as they arise.
• Partner with Construction and Installation & Maintenance Management to ensure adherence to all applicable joint‑use guidelines and standards; conduct post‑construction QA/QC inspections as needed.
• Monitor project performance, budgets, and resource allocation to ensure successful delivery.
• Oversee hiring, coaching, mentoring, and training programs for employees while partnering with HR on employee performance development.
• Develop internal standard operating procedures to improve operational efficiency.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across engineering processes and team performance.
• Partner with Finance & Accounting to develop, maintain and adhere to departmental budgets.
• Represent Hunter Communications regionally with trade groups and associations as needed.

Perks

At Hunter Communications, all employees are provided a benefit package including medical, dental, vision, disability coverage, life insurance, and an employee assistance program. We offer very generous vacation, sick, and holiday time off, a 401k program with a generous employer match, and numerous bonus opportunities.

Requirements

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in all facets of cable, fiber optic, telephony engineering, planning, and construction.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing engineering teams.
• Ability to read and comprehend telecommunications‑based technical drawings and documents.
• Experience with process improvements within the telecommunications industry.
• Advanced understanding of permitting processes for railroad, DOT, cities, counties, and pole owners.
• Demonstrated experience as a metric‑driven leader with strong problem‑solving skills, balancing performance and quality while clearly communicating expectations to teams and management.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with diverse individuals, teams, managers, supervisors, and external customers across departments.
• Experience managing capital budgets.
• Strong GIS experience preferred.
• Commitment to maintaining impeccable integrity standards for self and team members.
• Ability to adapt and function effectively, with limited oversight, in challenging and changing environments.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain issues to all levels of employees.
• Ability to travel occasionally overnight.
• Valid driver’s license and safe driving record.
• Proficiency in Microsoft and Google applications, including Project, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

EOE Statement

Hunter Communications provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.