Senior Optical Network Engineer

Placements24; Gqeberha; Hybrid; ZAR 700,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary commensurate with experience

Medical aid + provident fund

Hybrid work arrangement

Professional development opportunities

Exposure to advanced optical transport

Impact on critical infrastructure

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Optical Network Engineer for a hybrid role in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. You will design, deploy, and maintain advanced optical transport networks (DWDM/OTN/ROADM) and provide mentorship to junior engineers.

You will lead capacity planning, troubleshoot complex faults, and collaborate with field teams and vendors to ensure high uptime and performance in a dynamic telecommunications environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related field.
• 6+ years of hands-on experience in optical network engineering.
• Proficiency with DWDM, OTN, SONET/SDH, and other optical transport technologies.
• Experience with optical network management systems and element management systems.
• Strong understanding of fiber optic principles, testing methodologies, and troubleshooting techniques.

Responsibilities

• Design, configure, and deploy optical network systems, including DWDM, OTN, and ROADMs, for Port Elizabeth and surrounding regions.
• Develop detailed network designs, capacity plans, and implementation strategies for optical transport networks.
• Perform network troubleshooting, fault isolation, and performance analysis to ensure optimal network uptime and quality.
• Collaborate with field technicians and vendors to ensure successful network installations and upgrades.
• Stay current with optical networking technologies, industry standards, and best practices.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive network documentation, including diagrams, configurations, and procedures.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers and technicians.
• Participate in on-call rotation to support network operations outside of standard business hours.

Skills

DWDM

OTN

SONET/SDH

GMPLS control plane

ROADM architectures

Troubleshooting

Network planning

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Telecommunications

Tools

Optical network management systems

Element management systems

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a leading provider of high-speed telecommunications services, specializing in optical networking solutions. We are looking for a skilled Senior Optical Network Engineer to join our team in Port Elizabeth. This role combines critical on-site responsibilities with the flexibility of hybrid remote work. You will be instrumental in the design, implementation, and maintenance of our advanced optical transport networks, ensuring reliable and high-performance data transmission. This position requires a deep understanding of DWDM, OTN, and other optical networking technologies, along with strong troubleshooting and analytical skills. As a Senior Engineer, you will also provide technical guidance to junior team members and contribute to strategic network planning initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, configure, and deploy optical network systems, including DWDM, OTN, and ROADMs, for Port Elizabeth and surrounding regions.
• Develop detailed network designs, capacity plans, and implementation strategies for optical transport networks.
• Perform network troubleshooting, fault isolation, and performance analysis to ensure optimal network uptime and quality.
• Collaborate with field technicians and vendors to ensure successful network installations and upgrades.
• Stay current with optical networking technologies, industry standards, and best practices.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive network documentation, including diagrams, configurations, and procedures.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers and technicians.
• Participate in on-call rotation to support network operations outside of standard business hours.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related field.
• Minimum of 6 years of hands-on experience in optical network engineering.
• Proficiency with DWDM, OTN, SONET/SDH, and other optical transport technologies.
• Experience with optical network management systems and element management systems.
• Strong understanding of fiber optic principles, testing methodologies, and troubleshooting techniques.
• Familiarity with ROADM architectures and GMPLS control plane is desirable.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a hybrid environment, balancing remote tasks with on-site requirements in Port Elizabeth.

Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience and skills.
• Comprehensive medical aid and provident fund benefits.
• Hybrid work arrangement offering flexibility and work-life balance.
• Opportunities for professional development and certifications in optical networking.
• Exposure to advanced optical transport technologies and large-scale network deployments.
• Contribute to critical infrastructure supporting high-speed connectivity.