Telecommunications Engineer

Pacer Group; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading telecommunications firm based in Philadelphia is seeking an experienced FTTX Optical Communications Engineer. In this hands-on role, you will design and maintain lab environments for next-generation optical and broadband technologies. The ideal candidate has over 5 years of experience in ISP or broadband environments, and a strong background in optical, Ethernet, and DOCSIS networks. Excellent technical communication skills are essential for success in this collaborative role.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in ISP, cable, or broadband networking.
• Strong hands-on knowledge of FTTX, DOCSIS, fiber, and Ethernet networks.
• Proven lab-based engineering experience in building and validating systems.

Responsibilities

• Design and maintain lab test environments for optical access networks.
• Execute lab tests and validate new hardware/software releases.
• Perform root cause analysis on escalated performance issues.
• Collaborate with teams on product validation.
• Create and maintain documentation and test plans.

Skills

FTTX knowledge

DOCSIS

Ethernet networks

Optical fundamentals

Layer 2 / Layer 3 fundamentals

Debugging complex issues

Scripting skills (Python preferred)

Linux knowledge

Technical communication

Job description

We are seeking an FTTX Optical Communications Engineer to support the design, development, and validation of next-generation optical access and broadband network technologies. This role is highly hands‑on and lab‑focused, working across fiber, DOCSIS, Ethernet, and optical systems to improve network reliability, performance, and scalability.

Responsibilities:

• Design, build, and maintain lab test environments for FTTX, DOCSIS, Ethernet, and optical access networks
• Execute and analyze lab tests, validations, and proofs‑of‑concept (PoCs) for new hardware and software releases
• Reproduce escalated network and performance issues and perform root cause analysis
• Analyze optical and network performance data, including power levels, wavelengths, and throughput metrics
• Collaborate with internal engineering teams and external vendors on product validation and requirements
• Support architecture development, technical documentation, and requirements definition
• Participate in field trials and scaling efforts, transitioning solutions from lab to production
• Create and maintain test plans, reports, and technical documentation
• Use scripting and automation to streamline testing, analysis, and workflows

Must‑Have Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in ISP, cable, broadband, or closely adjacent networking environments
• Strong hands‑on knowledge of FTTX, DOCSIS, fiber, optical access, and Ethernet networks
• Solid understanding of optical fundamentals, including power levels, wavelengths, and optics behavior
• Strong Layer 2 / Layer 3 networking fundamentals (switching, VLANs, routing)
• Proven lab‑based engineering experience building, testing, and validating network systems
• Experience in debugging complex issues and performing data‑driven root cause analysis
• Practical scripting or automation skills (Python preferred; other scripting languages acceptable)
• Working knowledge of Linux and virtualized environments
• Strong written and verbal technical communication skills