Principal Network Technician

Siltt LLC; Leesburg (VA); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) matching

Competitive salary

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Paid time off

Vision insurance

Opportunity for advancement

Job summary

Siltt LLC is seeking a Principal Network Technician to oversee the installation and testing of data center infrastructure. This role requires extensive experience in structured cabling and the ability to troubleshoot complex hardware failures. Working predominantly on-site in Leesburg, VA, the position offers flexible work-from-home options with up to 75% travel for training and project site evaluations. The ideal candidate will have over 8 years of relevant experience and demonstrated leadership skills.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in data center infrastructure or telecommunications.
• Mastery of structured cabling including fusion splicing.
• Proven experience leading and training small teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead physical installation and cabling of servers and networking equipment.
• Execute physical-layer testing and troubleshoot complex faults.
• Train and mentor local staff on installation standards.

Skills

Structured cabling mastery

Expert-level proficiency with fiber diagnostic tools

Leadership and training of small teams

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

OTDR

Optical power meters

Fiber scopes

Job description

Benefits

• 401(k) matching
• Competitive salary
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Opportunity for advancement
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Overview

As a Principal Network Technician at SILTT, you are a master of physical infrastructure and the lead technical executor for our “Network Operations” pillar. You are responsible for the physical realization of our global network, specializing in the precision installation, testing, and troubleshooting of high‑density data center racks and fiber optic network infrastructure.

A Day in the Life: On any given day, you might

• Perform advanced fiber characterization at a Cable Landing Station (CLS), utilizing OTDRs and Light Source Meters to verify subsea‑to‑backhaul integrity.
• Serve as “Virtual Hands” for the NOC during a complex hardware refresh, performing card‑level swaps on Tier 1 routing equipment with zero downtime.
• Act as the Lead Trainer for a local site team, certifying them on SILTT’s specialized integration procedures and emergency recovery playbooks.
• Conduct a “Physical Layer Audit” of a commissioned site, identifying any deviations from the Technical Lead’s doctrine and correcting them on the spot.
• Troubleshoot a catastrophic fiber break or hardware failure, utilizing specialized diagnostic tools to provide a rapid, permanent fix.

Core Responsibilities

• Elite Hardware Integration

  Lead the physical installation, mounting, and cabling of servers, storage, and networking equipment in modular, colocation, and CLS environments. Ensure 100% adherence to SILTT’s standards for thermal management, labeling, and structured cabling.

• Advanced Testing & Troubleshooting

  Execute and document comprehensive physical-layer testing, including OTDR, CD/PMD, and link-loss testing for long-haul and subsea fiber. Provide expert‑level troubleshooting for complex physical faults, acting as the final escalation point for “Virtual Hands” activities.

• Franchise Training & Mentorship

  Act as a Master Trainer, deploying to global sites to train local “Integrated Operations” staff on installation and repair standards. Mentor junior technicians and contracted labor to ensure safety and quality are maintained during surge operations.

• Site Landing & Commissioning

  Support the operational launch phase of new facilities, acting as the primary working SME for physical site readiness and hardware verification.

• Documentation & Governance

  Maintain meticulous records of testing results, rack elevations, and cable schedules to ensure the “Institutional Brain” has accurate data for every site.

Basic Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in data center infrastructure, telecommunications, or high-consequence hardware integration.
• Mastery of structured cabling (fiber/copper), including fusion splicing, termination, and high‑density cable management.
• Expert-level proficiency with fiber diagnostic tools (OTDR, optical power meters, fiber scopes).
• Proven experience leading and training small teams in a field or mission‑critical environment.
• High school diploma or GED (advanced military technical training in communications/electronic maintenance highly preferred).

Advanced Certifications (Highly Valued)

• Relevant professional certifications in fiber optic/telecommunications.
• Other credentials appropriate to high-density environment work.

Working Conditions

Hybrid. The role is preferred to be performed on-site at SILTT HQ in Leesburg, VA during non-travel phases. As projects ramp up, this role will require nearly 75% travel to meet with key stakeholders, customers, attend vendor training, and conduct in-person training and evaluations on-location at various project sites worldwide.

Flexible Work Options

Flexible work-from-home options available.