Outside Plant Engineer III

Higher Recruitment, Inc.; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Opportunity to influence engineering standards

Blend of technical work and leadership

Contributions to community-serving projects

Job summary

A leading telecom recruitment firm is seeking an experienced FTTH Engineer based in Richmond, Virginia. This role involves leading the engineering lifecycle of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) projects, providing technical oversight, and ensuring design accuracy. Ideal candidates will have at least 5 years of experience in outside plant design and a relevant degree. This position offers a unique chance to work on impactful projects serving underserved communities while influencing engineering standards and vendor performance.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in Outside Plant (OSP) design and engineering.
• Experience supporting or leading regional FTTH network design.
• At least 1 year of GIS experience (utility or telecom preferred).

Responsibilities

• Lead and review outside plant fiber designs.
• Provide technical oversight for multiple concurrent FTTH projects.
• Ensure engineering outputs meet internal standards.

Skills

OSP design

QA/QC processes

Geospatial Information Systems (GIS)

Analytical skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

ArcGIS

AutoCAD

3GIS

OSPInsight

Job description

Our growing telecom client is looking for an experienced, FTTH Engineer to join their team! The OSP Engineer III i is responsible for leading the engineering lifecycle of FTTH projects—from design through construction support. This position provides technical oversight for internal designers and external engineering vendors, ensures design accuracy through QA/QC processes, and supports multiple active projects simultaneously.

You’ll play a hands‑on role in producing and reviewing OSP designs while also helping establish consistent standards, documentation, and reporting across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and review outside plant fiber designs in alignment with industry standards and jurisdictional requirements
• Provide technical oversight for multiple concurrent FTTH projects
• Review engineering drawings, construction documents, and permit packages for accuracy and compliance
• Ensure engineering outputs meet internal standards through QA/QC checklists and processes
• Interpret, revise, and validate splicing diagrams and fiber schematics
• Review bills of material (BOMs) and associated labor estimates tied to design packages
• Evaluate and quality‑check make‑ready engineering (MRE) and make‑ready construction (MRC) documentation
• Analyze utility maps, right‑of‑way data, and pole records to support accurate designs
• Maintain project status tracking and weekly/monthly engineering reports
• Coordinate with internal teams and external engineering vendors to meet project timelines
• Utilize GIS and CAD platforms to support design, documentation, and data accuracy
• Perform data validation, georeferencing, digitizing, and GPS edits of telecom infrastructure
• Support field data collection and ensure accurate integration into engineering systems
• Maintain and improve engineering procedures and documentation
• Adhere to all safety policies and contribute to a strong safety culture

Tools & Technologies

Experience with some or all of the following is preferred:

• GIS/CAD Platforms: ArcGIS, ArcGIS Online, AutoCAD, Trimble
• Fiber / Utility Systems: 3GIS, OSPInsight, GE Smallworld (or similar)
• Document Management Systems and digital filing workflows

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Geography, Computer Science, Environmental Science, or related field (Equivalent industry experience will be considered)
• 5+ years of experience in Outside Plant (OSP) design and engineering
• Experience supporting or leading regional FTTH network design
• At least 1 year of GIS experience (utility or telecom preferred)
• Proven experience with QA/QC of utility or telecom engineering drawingsStrong ability to manage priorities, meet deadlines, and work independently
• Effective communicator with the ability to collaborate across internal teams and external partners
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Willingness to travel as needed to support projects

Why This Role

• Work on high‑impact FTTH deployments that directly serve underserved communities
• Join a team that values quality engineering and long‑term network reliability
• Opportunity to influence standards, processes, and vendor performance
• Blend of hands‑on technical work and leadership‑level responsibility