Telecommunications Field Engineer (Central Office Tech) – Omaha, NE

This position requires travel with overnight stays approximately 25% of the time but will vary depending on needs.

The job is based in the greater Omaha Area but will require regular travel for a coverage area including Minneapolis, Des Moines, and Kansas City. Occasional travel expected to support Illinois/Indiana markets.

Great Plains Communications is looking for an experienced Telecommunications Network Engineer to join our growing team in the Omaha NE. area.

This position will utilize and display familiarity with industry best practices, concepts and procedures while effectively configuring and maintaining equipment. Will install and repair all Central Office equipment in a neat and timely manner that promotes customer satisfaction. Will work efficiently and effectively to meet contractual Service Level Agreement (SLA) requirements. Will work with the GPC Project Management team to provide Engineering support for proposals and projects to meet customer needs. Will work closely with other GPC personnel (OSP, CATV, IP Engineering, Transport, Access, NOC, Plant Records, etc.) to install, configure, and maintain cable and equipment in the CO’s, huts, Colo’s, and other remote sites. 

Duties include:

Performs preventative maintenance on Central Office equipment on a scheduled basis as required by the Preventive Maintenance Program forms to minimize interruptions in customer service.

Performs preventative maintenance monthly on standby AC generators, battery plant, switches, DACS equipment, surge protection, Halon equipment, inverters, rectifiers, multiplexers, TA5000, and HVAC units.

Performs maintenance every 6 months on the bulk eye wash stations and gas detectors.

Inspects cabling, power connections, and the CO ground field annually.

Performs alarm interrogation on CO equipment and clears with NOC within 24 hours of

dispatched time.

Displays knowledge of TDM, IP, and Optical Test Equipment to diagnose problems and implement repair procedures.

Displays basic mechanical knowledge of gas and diesel engines used on the AC power generators to ensure availability and operation.

Displays basic knowledge of commercial AC power and how it is used in the CO to diagnose AC failures and facilitate repair.

Displays basic knowledge of electric motors and operation of HVAC units and maintenance procedures to improve reliability and shorten repair time.

Displays knowledge of CO DC battery plant and maintenance procedures to improve reliability.

Displays knowledge of Ethernet networks and IP and other protocols to connect equipment and networks.

Maintains reporting units, rectifiers, inverters, and battery plants at GPC hut locations.

Provides operational support in the Colocation, data centers, ILA Sites, and GPC huts.

Works at customer sites in the metro area on installs and troubleshooting of services.

Works away from home area for extended periods of time, which requires overnight stays.

Performs alarm monitoring and review on network equipment and clears with Repair Department within 24 hours of dispatched time.

Works outside when needed in all weather conditions.

Remains calm and focused during high pressure situations such as catastrophic Network failures and priority customer issues.

Displays knowledge of TDM, IP, Ethernet, and Optical Test Equipment.

Displays knowledge of ROADM, and fiber transport networks.

Contacts e-mail and/or voice mail a minimum of three times daily.

Answers e-mail and voice messages a minimum of three times daily.

Communicate with immediate supervisor at least once daily.

Must be flexible and willing to change work schedule with little or no notice.

Responds to NOC on all dispatched alarms and trouble reports within one hour of dispatch time.

Is available for on-call duties and acknowledges alarms and trouble reports with NOC within one hour of dispatch.

Takes call outs and acknowledges alarms 24 hours a day if available during the work week.

Covers up to 50% of statewide exchanges (approximately 40 exchanges) for weekends, PTO, training, etc. for other Telecommunications Engineering Technicians.

Install Central Office equipment by manufacturer’s specifications and GPC standards.

Prioritizes work and repair needs as the situation warrants taking SLA’s and network needs into consideration.

Repairs Central Office and remote equipment according to equipment specifications and GPC standards.

Remains calm and focused during high pressure situations such as catastrophic switch and toll network failures to promote timely repair and problem resolution.

Attend meetings as required.

Reviews Service Orders for accuracy and completeness prior to the release to the customer.

Assists OSP, Transport, Voice, and IP Engineering with design, configuration, and testing.

Provides feedback on equipment configuration files, diagrams, project ideas, etc.

Installs hardware and cable, configures and tests equipment, and performs failure/redundancy testing as needed.

Manages open projects, ensuring subtasks are completed in Project Management. 

Tracks current progress and provides updates as work is completed and changes are made.

Presents a courteous, well-groomed and professional image on and off the job

Ensures all GPC property reflects pride in the company.

Wears appropriate GPC clothing.

Maintains a clean and stocked vehicle

Performs other duties as assigned by Supervisor.

EDUCATION DESIRED

2-year Associate’s degree in Electronics, Telephony, or a related field of study

CCNA certification is a plus

EXPERIENCE DESIRED

2-3 years in field support of telephony networks

Competitive salary and benefits provided.  EOE.

High-performing network, high-performing people.

Great Plains Communications is the leading fiber-driven technology provider in the Midwest, delivering fast, reliable solutions including high-speed internet and a full suite of residential and business services to nearly 200 communities across Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa and Southeast Indiana. Powered by our 19,000-mile MEF-certified, high-capacity network, we provide state-of-the-art connectivity to homes, businesses and carriers backed by custom-built strategies, expert engineering and local support. 

What sets us apart? An unwavering commitment to customer experience. From design to deployment, maintenance and beyond, our local experts craft tailored solutions and deliver personalized, ongoing support to keep communities seamlessly connected.