DWDM Engineer

SCALIS; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

SCALIS is seeking a highly skilled Certified DWDM Engineer to join our optical transport team. You will own the end-to-end lifecycle—design, deployment, and optimization—of our high-capacity DWDM networks. Leverage platforms such as Ciena, Nokia, or Cisco to ensure spectral efficiency and reliability.

Lead design, deployment, tuning, and integration with vendors for modern fiber plants. Ideal candidates combine deep theory with hands-on field experience across ROADM, 400G/800G, and network

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in EE/telecom or a related technical field
• Deep understanding of ITU-T G.709, WDM physics, and fiber types (G.652, G.655)
• Proficiency with Network Management Systems (NMS) and SDN controllers for optical automation
• Experience using optical modeling software (e.g., Ciena OnePlanner, Nokia 1830 EPT, or VPIphotonics)

Responsibilities

• Design and plan optical networks, including DWDM topology and capacity planning
• Perform link budget analysis, OSNR calculations, and dispersion compensation planning
• Design wavelength allocation maps for C-band and L-band expansion
• Develop resilient architectures (ROADM, ring protection, mesh) and interface with vendors
• Lead commissioning of DWDM shelves, transponders, amplifiers, and muxes
• Coordinate with hardware vendors to integrate 400G/800G optics into legacy plants
• Oversee end-to-end provisioning of services (Ethernet, OTN, Fibre Channel)
• Troubleshoot with OTDR/OSA/BERT tools and support NOC for escalations
• Monitor optical power and gain tilt over long-haul spans for signal integrity

Skills

NMS proficiency

SDN controllers

ITU-T G.709 knowledge

Optical networking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Telecommunications

Tools

Ciena OnePlanner

Nokia 1830 EPT

VPIphotonics

Job description

We are seeking a highly skilled Certified DWDM Engineer to join our optical transport team. In this role, you will be responsible for the end-to-end lifecycle—design, deployment, and optimization—of our high-capacity Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) networks.

As a \"Certified\" specialist, you are expected to bring verified expertise in industry-leading platforms (such as Ciena, Nokia, or Cisco) to ensure our fiber-optic backbone operates with maximum spectral efficiency and 99.999% reliability.

Key Responsibilities

• Network Design & Planning
• Optical Path Engineering: Conduct link budget analysis, OSNR (Optical Signal-to-Noise Ratio) calculations, and chromatic dispersion compensation planning.
• Capacity Management: Design wavelength allocation maps and manage the growth of C-band and L-band spectrum to meet increasing data demands.
• Architecture Design: Develop resilient network topologies, including ring protection (SNCP), mesh restoration, and ROADM (Reconfigurable Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer) configurations.
• Implementation & Integration
• Commissioning: Lead the physical installation, power-up, and software configuration of DWDM shelves, transponders, amplifiers (EDFAs/Raman), and multiplexers.
• Vendor Coordination: Work closely with hardware vendors to integrate new-generation coherent optics (e.g., 400G/800G+ wavelengths) into existing legacy fiber plants.
• Circuit Provisioning: Manage the end-to-end provisioning of high-bandwidth services (Ethernet, OTN, Fibre Channel) across the optical transport layer.
• Maintenance & Troubleshooting
• Advanced Diagnostics: Utilize OTDR (Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer), OSA (Optical Spectrum Analyzer), and BERT (Bit Error Rate Test) equipment to localize fiber faults and signal degradation.
• NOC Support: Act as the Tier 3 escalation point for complex optical layer incidents, performing deep-dive root cause analysis on \"flapping\" links or high Pre-FEC BER issues.
• Performance Tuning: Monitor and optimize optical power levels and gain tilt across long-haul spans to maintain signal integrity.

Required Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related technical field.
• Deep understanding of ITU-T G.709 (OTN) standards, WDM physics, and fiber types (G.652, G.655).
• Proficiency with Network Management Systems (NMS) and SDN controllers for optical automation.
• Experience using optical modeling software (e.g., Ciena OnePlanner, Nokia 1830 EPT, or VPIphotonics).

Professional Certifications (Preferred)

• Ciena: Optical Communications Professional (OC-P) or Consultant (OC-C).
• Nokia: Certified Optical Network Professional (ONP).
• Cisco: CCNP Optical or specialized Cisco Transport certificates.
• General: OTT Certified Optical Network Engineer (CONE).

The Ideal Candidate

You are a \"fiber-first\" engineer who thrives on the physics of light. You understand that a single fiber break can impact terabits of data, and you possess the meticulous attention to detail required to manage the invisible infrastructure that powers the modern internet.

Industry Insight 2026:

Preference will be given to candidates with experience in 400ZR/ZR+ pluggable optics and SDN-based optical grooming.