Network Operations Engineer - Network Activation

You’ll own the hands-on and automation work that brings WAN, fiber, carrier, and cloud-interconnect circuits into service. Partner with network engineers, fiber providers, cloud service providers, colocation teams, and data-center technicians to move each connection from ordered and patched to verified, stable, and ready for handoff. You’ll own Layer 1 troubleshooting and circuit bring-up while building workflows that translate reliable system or model output into precise, approved technician actions, capture field feedback, and drive each connection to a green-port handoff. The right person combines strong physical-networking judgment with practical automation skills: patch-panel and port mappings, optics and light levels, provider coordination, structured operational data, API or scripting workflows, and human-in-the-loop LLM tooling.

Responsibilities

Own Layer 1 activation and restoration for carrier circuits, dark fiber, wavelengths, Ethernet handoffs, and dedicated cloud interconnects across data centers and points of presence.;Reconcile complete A-side/Z-side as-builts: circuit IDs, LOAs/CFAs, carrier demarcations, MMR/ODF/MDF and patch-panel positions, fiber pairs, cross-connects, optics, and device ports.;Investigate no-light, low-light, wrong-port, link-flap, and error-rate issues across providers and CSPs; isolate continuity, dirty connectors, polarity, incorrect patching, incompatible optics or media, wavelength/power-budget problems, breakout, speed, and FEC/PCS mismatches.;Guide remote hands, carrier technicians, CSP operations, and colocation teams through targeted inspection/cleaning, VFL, optical power, OTDR/OLTS, approved loopback, and per-lane DOM/DDM tests.;Verify service acceptance on both sides: correct circuit and port, admin/operational state, compatible optics, light levels, speed/FEC, clean counters, stable link, and Layer 2/3 handoff readiness.;Own tickets and troubleshooting bridges through resolution; identify the blocker and A-side/Z-side owner, drive follow-ups, escalate with evidence, and prevent premature closure.;Execute smart-hands and change work safely: name the exact circuit, port, and fiber pair; protect adjacent live services; get approval before intrusive tests, repatches, shutdowns, or loopbacks; and maintain rollback.;Deliver complete production handoffs with verified mappings, provider/CSP references, test results, interface evidence, incident history, risks, and clear ownership; improve runbooks and prevent repeat faults.;Automate the full circuit-bring-up lifecycle: structure circuit, port, and patch-panel data; ingest telemetry and provider tickets; generate LLM-assisted diagnostics and technician-ready instructions; track ownership and evidence; and preserve explicit human approval for intrusive work.

Requirements

Have 3+ years of hands-on network operations, carrier activation, data-center network deployment, field engineering, optical transport, or related infrastructure experience; equivalent practical experience is valued.;Can trace an end-to-end circuit across cross-connects, fiber pairs, patch panels, carrier demarcations, optics, and both A-side and Z-side device ports.;Troubleshoot optical faults using inspection/cleaning tools, optical power meters, VFL, OLTS/OTDR evidence, DOM/DDM, interface status, and provider test results.;Understand single-mode/multimode fiber, LC and MPO/MTP connectors, duplex polarity, TX/RX paths, wavelength and power budgets, and 100G/400G/800G optics.;Have worked with carriers, colocation providers, remote hands, AWS Direct Connect, Azure ExpressRoute, or Google Cloud Interconnect, and persist through multi-party ownership gaps.;Can build practical automation with scripts, APIs, and structured data, and safely translate LLM-generated analysis into validated actions for data-center technicians.