Outside Plant Design Engineer

BalsamWest FiberNET; Sylva (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Company car

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Advancement opportunity

Paid time off

Training & development

Vision insurance

Job summary

BalsamWest FiberNet is seeking an OSP Design Engineer to plan, design, permit, document, and verify outside plant telecommunications projects in Western North Carolina. You will manage route designs, material quantities, and field verifications from concept to construction packets.

Office locations include Sylva, Franklin, Bryson City, and Cherokee. This primarily in-person role requires in-office and field work, with occasional work-from-home days; you must live within the service footprint.

Qualifications

• Experience in telecommunications, outside plant construction, engineering, design, inspection, GIS, or a closely related field.
• Ability to read, understand, and interpret engineering drawings, construction plans, maps, and technical documentation.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills.
• Ability to work effectively with contractors, vendors, internal departments, governmental agencies, utilities, and other external stakeholders.
• Ability to perform field verification and inspections as required.
• Ability to learn and become proficient in new technical software, systems, and processes.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Develop outside plant route designs and construction plans in accordance with BalsamWest standards and project requirements.
• Prepare and maintain detailed design drawings, construction packets, and supporting project documentation.
• Develop material quantities and other information necessary to support project construction and planning.
• Perform field verification of completed construction to confirm that installed facilities conform to approved designs, specifications, and applicable standards.
• Review field conditions and identify necessary design adjustments or revisions.
• Maintain accurate as-built documentation and ensure completed project information is properly incorporated into BalsamWest records.
• Coordinate design and construction requirements with the Director of Outside Plant Operations and OSP Manager.

Skills

Telecom experience

Technical drawing

Tools

CAD

GIS

Job description

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Company car
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Opportunity for advancement
• Paid time off
• Training & development
• Vision insurance

OSP Design Engineer

Industry: Telecommunications

Employment Type: Full-Time

Required Skills: Minimum of 4 years of telecom experience required. Proficiency in technical/engineering drawing (CAD/GIS) required.

Reports To: Director of Outside Plant Operations

Location: Western North Carolina. Office locations: Sylva, Franklin, Bryson City, Cherokee

Work Arrangement: This is a primarily in-person role, requiring in-office and in-field work; occasional work-from-home days may be permitted. Must live within the company's service footprint.

Position Summary

The OSP Design Engineer is responsible for supporting the planning, design, permitting, documentation, and field verification of outside plant (OSP) telecommunications projects. This position carries projects from initial route design and permitting through development of construction design packets and material quantities, contractor coordination, field verification, and completion documentation.

The position works closely with the Director of Outside Plant Operations, OSP Manager, contractors, internal departments, and external agencies to ensure OSP projects are properly designed, permitted, documented, and constructed in accordance with BalsamWest standards and applicable requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

OSP Design & Engineering

• Develop outside plant route designs and construction plans in accordance with BalsamWest standards and project requirements.
• Prepare and maintain detailed design drawings, construction packets, and supporting project documentation.
• Develop material quantities and other information necessary to support project construction and planning.
• Perform field verification of completed construction to confirm that installed facilities conform to approved designs, specifications, and applicable standards.
• Review field conditions and identify necessary design adjustments or revisions.
• Maintain accurate as-built documentation and ensure completed project information is properly incorporated into BalsamWest records.
• Coordinate design and construction requirements with the Director of Outside Plant Operations and OSP Manager.

Permitting & Regulatory Coordination

• Prepare and submit permits and supporting documentation required for OSP construction projects.

Coordinate permitting activities with applicable federal, state, local, and private entities, including:

• North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT)
• Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT)
• Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT)
• Electric utility/power companies and pole attachment processes
• National Park Service
• Railroad authorities
• Other governmental agencies, utilities, property owners, or authorities as required.
• Track permit requirements, submissions, approvals, and related project documentation.
• Ensure designs and construction activities comply with applicable permitting requirements.

Contractor & Construction Coordination

• Support contractor coordination throughout the design and construction process.
• Provide contractors with approved design information and required project documentation.
• Assist with resolving design, permitting, and field-related issues that arise during construction.
• Perform field inspections and verification of completed work.
• Document discrepancies between approved designs and completed construction and coordinate appropriate corrections.
• Work with department leadership to ensure projects are completed according to established specifications and standards.

Note: Contractor solicitation, selection, award, and invoice approval remain the responsibility of the Director of Outside Plant Operations.

GIS, Documentation & Project Management

• Maintain accurate OSP records and project documentation.
• Utilize GIS and mapping systems to support design, construction, and as-built documentation.
• Maintain project files and documentation within SharePoint and the OSP Contractor Job Tracker.
• Ensure project information is complete, accurate, organized, and readily accessible.
• Follow established BalsamWest drafting, documentation, and recordkeeping standards.

Required Technical Competencies

The OSP Design Engineer must develop working proficiency in the technical systems and processes necessary to perform the position successfully, including:

• Bluebeam — drawing markup, plan review, and construction print production.
• Vetro/GIS — OSP design, mapping, and maintenance of as-built records.
• Digital drafting and drawing production — preparation of drawings in accordance with BalsamWest drafting standards.
• Permit submission systems and processes — including NCDOT, GDOT, TDOT, power company pole attachment processes, National Park Service requirements, and railroad permitting processes.
• SharePoint — project documentation and file management.
• OSP Contractor Job Tracker — project tracking, documentation, and coordination.

BalsamWest recognizes that employees transitioning into this position may not have prior working proficiency in every system or process listed above. Training, guidance, and support will be provided to help the employee develop the required knowledge and skills.

Performance Expectations

Success in this position requires the ability to progressively develop proficiency in OSP design, drafting, permitting, GIS, project documentation, and related technical systems.

During the initial period in the role, management will provide training and support and will monitor progress toward the technical competencies required for the position. Regular progress discussions may be used to identify areas of development, provide additional training or resources, and ensure expectations are clearly understood.

Proficiency in the technical tools, systems, and processes required to perform the essential functions of the position is an ongoing requirement of the role.

Required Qualifications

• Experience in telecommunications, outside plant construction, engineering, design, inspection, GIS, or a closely related field.
• Ability to read, understand, and interpret engineering drawings, construction plans, maps, and technical documentation.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills.
• Ability to work effectively with contractors, vendors, internal departments, governmental agencies, utilities, and other external stakeholders.
• Ability to perform field verification and inspections as required.
• Ability to learn and become proficient in new technical software, systems, and processes.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with outside plant telecommunications design.
• Experience with fiber optic network design or construction.
• Experience with GIS-based OSP design or mapping systems.
• Experience with Bluebeam or similar design/documentation software.
• Experience with utility pole attachment or right-of-way permitting.
• Experience working with NCDOT, GDOT, TDOT, National Park Service, railroad, or similar permitting processes.
• Experience with construction inspection, field verification, or as-built documentation.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in both an office and field environment.
• Ability to travel locally and regionally to project sites, construction locations, and other required destinations.
• Ability to conduct field inspections in varying weather and terrain conditions.
• Ability to safely perform the physical activities reasonably required to inspect and verify outside plant construction.
• Ability to use standard office equipment and computer systems for extended periods.
• Additional physical requirements may apply based on project and field conditions.

Equal Employment Opportunity

BalsamWest FiberNet, LLC is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.