Senior Optical Network Engineer

Placements24; Pretoria; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health and wellness benefits

Generous leave and retirement options

Vendor certifications support

Professional development travel

Canteen subsidies

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Optical Network Engineer in Pretoria to lead design, deployment, and optimization of advanced optical transport networks. You will manage DWDM/OTN/ROADM architectures and drive performance, reliability, and scalability across critical links.

The role requires 5+ years in optical networking, hands-on experience with Ciena, Nokia, Cisco or Infinera, and strong collaboration across disciplines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in optical network engineering and design.
• Experience with DWDM, OTN, SONET/SDH and Ethernet transport.
• Hands-on experience with vendors such as Ciena, Nokia, Cisco or Infinera.
• Strong knowledge of optical power budgets and fiber optics.
• Experience with NMS and EMS systems.
• Hybrid work in Pretoria; strong communication and teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Design and architect optical transport networks, including DWDM, OTN, and ROADM technologies.
• Develop network configurations and implement new optical services and equipment.
• Perform network performance analysis, troubleshooting, and fault resolution for optical links and systems.
• Collaborate with field operations teams to ensure seamless network deployment and maintenance.
• Plan and execute network upgrades and capacity expansions.
• Stay current with advancements in optical networking technology and vendor solutions.
• Develop and maintain detailed network documentation, including design blueprints and operational procedures.
• Provide technical support and guidance to junior engineers and support staff.
• Ensure network security best practices are implemented within the optical network infrastructure.
• Contribute to capacity planning and long-term network strategy development.

Skills

Optical networking

Network performance analysis

Troubleshooting

Team collaboration

Automation scripting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications or related field

Tools

Ciena equipment

Nokia equipment

Cisco equipment

Infinera equipment

NMS/EMS systems

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a major player in the telecommunications infrastructure sector, is seeking a highly motivated Senior Optical Network Engineer to join their expanding operations based in **Pretoria**. This role is crucial for the design, implementation, and optimization of our client's optical transport networks. You will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-capacity, reliable, and scalable optical solutions that underpin critical communication services. The ideal candidate will possess a deep technical expertise in optical networking technologies, DWDM systems, and related protocols, along with a strong understanding of network performance and reliability. This position offers the chance to work on challenging projects, collaborate with industry-leading experts, and contribute to the evolution of high-speed optical communication. The **Pretoria** location provides a strategic base for operations within a growing technological hub. We are looking for an individual who can provide technical leadership and drive innovation in optical network design and deployment.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and architect optical transport networks, including DWDM, OTN, and ROADM technologies.
• Develop network configurations and implement new optical services and equipment.
• Perform network performance analysis, troubleshooting, and fault resolution for optical links and systems.
• Collaborate with field operations teams to ensure seamless network deployment and maintenance.
• Plan and execute network upgrades and capacity expansions.
• Stay current with advancements in optical networking technology and vendor solutions.
• Develop and maintain detailed network documentation, including design blueprints and operational procedures.
• Provide technical support and guidance to junior engineers and support staff.
• Ensure network security best practices are implemented within the optical network infrastructure.
• Contribute to capacity planning and long-term network strategy development.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in optical network engineering and design.
• Proven experience with DWDM, OTN, SONET/SDH, and Ethernet transport technologies.
• Hands-on experience with optical transmission equipment from vendors such as Ciena, Nokia, Cisco, or Infinera.
• Strong understanding of optical power budgets, signal impairments, and fiber optic principles.
• Familiarity with network management systems (NMS) and element management systems (EMS).
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with a methodical approach to troubleshooting.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams.
• Experience with scripting or automation for network tasks is a plus.
• Ability to work effectively in a hybrid environment, balancing remote and in-office tasks in **Pretoria**.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits package.
• Generous annual leave and retirement fund options.
• Opportunities for professional development and vendor certifications.
• Exposure to state-of-the-art optical networking technologies.
• A collaborative team environment in **Pretoria**.
• Potential for career progression into lead architect roles.
• Travel opportunities for training and conferences.
• Employee assistance program.
• Subsidized canteen services.