Transport Network Field Technician

GCS Recruitment; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 95,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

GCS Recruitment seeks an experienced Transport Network Field Technician to support carrier transport environments from DS0 to DS3 and SONET OC-192. The role covers Ethernet/IP transport and optical DWDM, with hands-on testing using OTDRs and fiber meters.

Onsite/field-based work in Queens, Nassau, Suffolk, and surrounding areas is expected. Ideal candidates will have carrier‑level experience, familiarity with Viavi ONA800 and EXFO FIP500, and the ability to troubleshoot both legacy and modern

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with legacy and modern telecom transport.
• Experience in carrier/ service-provider environments is a plus.
• Proficient in testing and fault isolation of transport networks.

Responsibilities

• Install, provision, test, maintain, and troubleshoot DS0, DS1/T1, and DS3 transport services.
• Support SONET networks from OC-3 through OC-192 including circuit turn-up and restoration.
• Troubleshoot transport alarms, degraded circuits, and synchronization issues.
• Test and troubleshoot across legacy TDM and SONET transport environments.
• Support Ethernet and IP-based transport services, including carrier Ethernet.
• Install and troubleshoot optical wavelength and DWDM services.
• Perform fiber testing and fault isolation with OTDRs and power meters.
• Work with Viavi ONA800 and EXFO FIP500 equipment.

Skills

DS0

DS1/T1

DS3/T3

OC-3/OC-192

DWDM

Fiber testing

OTDR testing

Ethernet/IP transport

Carrier Ethernet

Troubleshooting

Education

Telecom training

Military comms exp

Tools

Viavi ONA800

EXFO FIP500

Job description

Field Coverage: Queens, Nassau County, Suffolk County, and east through Montauk

Work Environment: Onsite / Field-Based

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Transport Network Field Technician with strong hands‑on knowledge of legacy and modern telecommunications transport technologies.

The primary focus of this role is supporting carrier transport environments spanning DS0, DS1, and DS3 services through SONET OC-3, OC-12, OC-48, and OC-192, alongside Ethernet, IP, wavelength, and DWDM infrastructure.

This position is ideal for a technician who has worked directly in carrier, ILEC, CLEC, MSO, or long‑haul network environments and is comfortable troubleshooting both legacy TDM transport and newer optical and packet‑based technologies.

Core Responsibilities

• Install, provision, test, maintain, and troubleshoot DS0, DS1/T1, and DS3 transport services.

• Support SONET networks from OC-3 through OC-192, including circuit turn‑up, fault isolation, testing, service restoration, and hardware replacement.

• Troubleshoot transport alarms, degraded circuits, synchronization issues, loss‑of‑signal conditions, and other service‑impacting events.

• Perform hands‑on testing and troubleshooting across legacy TDM and SONET transport environments.

• Support Ethernet and IP‑based transport services, including carrier Ethernet and packet‑based network connectivity.

• Install, troubleshoot, and maintain optical wavelength and DWDM services.

• Perform fiber testing, inspection, and fault isolation using OTDRs, optical power meters, fiber scopes, and related telecommunications test equipment.

• Work with platforms and test tools such as Viavi ONA800 and EXFO FIP500 equipment.

• Identify defective transport cards, optics, modules, shelves, and related hardware and perform replacement or escalation as required.

• Assist with transport route monitoring, outage response, network restoration, and emergency maintenance.

• Verify circuit performance and service quality following installation, repair, or restoration activities.

• Maintain accurate documentation of circuit work, testing, equipment changes, and field activity.

• Manage field spares, replacement modules, optics, tools, and truck stock required to support transport infrastructure.

Required Technical Experience

Candidates should have strong hands‑on experience with several of the following technologies:

Legacy TDM Transport

• DS0

• DS1 / T1

• DS3 / T3

• Digital cross‑connect and channelized transport environments

• Circuit testing and fault isolation

SONET

• OC‑3

• OC‑12

• OC‑48

• OC‑192

• SONET rings and transport architectures

• Alarm isolation and service restoration

• Optical interface and transport‑card troubleshooting

Optical Transport

• DWDM

• Wavelength services

• Optical transport systems

• Fiber troubleshooting

• OTDR testing

• Optical power measurement

• Fiber inspection

Packet / Ethernet Transport

• Ethernet

• Carrier Ethernet

• IP transport

• Ethernet handoffs

• Packet‑based service troubleshooting

Preferred Background

Strong candidates will typically come from a telecommunications carrier or service‑provider environment, including:

• ILECs

• CLECs

• MSOs

• Fiber‑network operators

• Long‑haul or metro transport providers

• Telecom infrastructure organizations

Relevant backgrounds may include experience with organizations such as Verizon, Altice/Optimum, Charter, Zayo, Crown Castle, Windstream, Level 3/Lumen, or similar carrier environments.

Education and Training

• Technical or vocational training in telecommunications, electronics, networking, or a related field preferred.

• Equivalent hands‑on carrier experience will be strongly considered.

• Military communications, signal, electronics, or telecommunications experience may also translate well to the role.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is someone who can comfortably move between legacy TDM, SONET, optical transport, and modern Ethernet/IP environments.

A particularly strong fit will have direct field experience troubleshooting DS1/DS3 and SONET circuits, understands how carrier transport networks are built and maintained, and can also support DWDM, wavelengths, fiber testing, and Ethernet/IP transport.

Experience with the legacy side of the network - particularly DS0, DS1, DS3, and SONET OC-3 through OC-192 - is especially valuable.

GCS is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.