Optical Network Modeling Engineer

NS4 Inc; Fort Meade, Northern (MD, KY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

NS4 Inc seeks an Optical Network Modeling Engineer to support modeling, analysis, documentation, and optimization of a wavelength-based optical transport network for a U.S. customer.

You will collaborate with senior optical network engineers, provisioning, and OEM vendors to maintain accurate network representations. You will analyze inventory and configuration data, document optical paths and wavelengths, and assist with network modernization studies, topology diagrams, and engineering reviews.

Qualifications

• Exposure to DWDM, ROADM, OTN, or wavelength networking.
• Familiarity with optical fiber and basic optical network concepts.
• Experience with network inventory or network management systems.
• Experience with Python, SQL, PowerShell, or other scripting/data-analysis tools.
• Experience with Visio or other network visualization tools.
• Experience working with telecommunications, enterprise, government, or defense networks.
• Familiarity with Ethernet, IP, MPLS, or OTN technologies.
• Exposure to network planning, simulation, or modeling tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a detailed physical and logical model of the customer's wavelength network.
• Collect, organize, validate, and analyze network inventory and configuration information.
• Model optical nodes, fiber links, wavelengths, circuits, and transport equipment.
• Document end-to-end wavelength paths and associated network resources.
• Analyze wavelength utilization, network capacity, and available resources.
• Support development of network topology diagrams, engineering drawings, and network visualizations.
• Assist with what-if analysis for proposed network changes, new circuits, equipment additions, and wavelength assignments.
• Assist in evaluating impact of network outages, equipment failures, and fiber cuts.
• Develop and maintain spreadsheets, databases, scripts, and other tools used to analyze network information.
• Prepare technical documentation, reports, diagrams, and presentations.
• Participate in customer technical meetings and engineering reviews.

Skills

DWDM/ROADM/OTN exposure

Optical fiber concepts

Network inventory systems

Python/SQL/PowerShell

Network visualization tools (Visio)

Telecom/defense networks exposure

Ethernet/IP/MPLS/OTN technologies

Planning/simulation tools exposure

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering/Computer Engineering/Data Analytics/Telecommunications/IT

Tools

Visio

Scripting/Data-analysis tools

Job description

We are seeking an Optical Network Modeling Engineer to support the modeling, analysis, documentation, and optimization of a customer's wavelength-based optical transport network. The engineer will work with senior optical network engineers, provisioning, and OEM vendors to develop and maintain accurate representations of the customer's physical and logical network. The position will involve analyzing network inventory and configuration data, documenting optical paths and wavelengths, supporting network modeling and visualization, and assisting with engineering studies and network modernization activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a detailed physical and logical model of the customer's wavelength network.
• Collect, organize, validate, and analyze network inventory and configuration information.
• Model optical nodes, fiber links, wavelengths, circuits, and transport equipment.
• Document end-to-end wavelength paths and associated network resources.
• Analyze wavelength utilization, network capacity, and available resources.
• Support development of network topology diagrams, engineering drawings, and network visualizations.
• Assist with what-if analysis for proposed network changes, new circuits, equipment additions, and wavelength assignments.
• Support analysis of primary and diverse/protected wavelength paths.
• Assist with identifying capacity constraints, inefficient routing, potential single points of failure, and other network optimization opportunities.
• Perform basic optical engineering calculations under the direction of senior engineers, including fiber loss, link budgets, and optical power requirements.
• Assist in evaluating the impact of network outages, equipment failures, and fiber cuts.
• Support network modernization and migration studies.
• Develop and maintain spreadsheets, databases, scripts, and other tools used to analyze network information.
• Assist in automating repetitive network engineering and data-processing activities.
• Prepare technical documentation, reports, diagrams, and presentations.
• Participate in customer technical meetings and engineering reviews.
• Work closely with senior engineers and customer subject-matter experts to resolve network data discrepancies.
• Maintain documentation of modeling assumptions, methodologies, and results.

Desired Qualifications

• Exposure to DWDM, ROADM, OTN, or wavelength networking.
• Familiarity with optical fiber and basic optical network concepts.
• Experience with Ciena, Nokia, Infinera, Cisco, or other optical transport equipment.
• Experience with network inventory or network management systems.
• Experience with Python, SQL, PowerShell, or other scripting/data-analysis tools.
• Experience with Visio or other network visualization tools.
• Experience working with telecommunications, enterprise, government, or defense networks.
• Familiarity with Ethernet, IP, MPLS, or OTN technologies.
• Exposure to network planning, simulation, or modeling tools.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Data Analytics, Telecommunications, Information Technology, or a related technical discipline
• 1–3 years of engineering or technical experience, preferably in telecommunications, networking, data analytics, optical transport, or a related field
• Basic understanding of computer networking and telecommunications concepts
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work with large datasets and identify discrepancies or inconsistencies
• Ability to create and interpret network diagrams and technical documentation
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating with senior engineers and customer technical personnel
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills