Job Description

Access Network Engineer

Department: Engineering

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Remote

Reporting To: Craig Walker

The Access Network Engineer is responsible for the architecture, deployment, and operational support of the organization’s fiber access network. This role focuses on GPON and XGS-PON broadband platforms, including OLT systems, ONT lifecycle management, and integration with aggregation, IP routing, and subscriber management platforms.

The ideal candidate has hands-on experience operating large-scale FTTH networks, understands access network architecture and optical design, and is comfortable leveraging automation and scripting to improve operational visibility and efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, deploy, and support GPON and XGS-PON access network architectures.
• Engineer and maintain OLT platforms, PON service profiles, and subscriber provisioning templates.
• Configure and manage DBA profiles, GEM ports, VLAN tagging, service flows, and subscriber traffic policies.
• Support ONT provisioning, firmware lifecycle management, and OMCI-based configuration.
• Define and maintain PON split ratios, optical power budgets, and service capacity thresholds.
• Perform PON utilization analysis and capacity planning to support subscriber growth.

• Troubleshoot service impairments across OLT, ONT, optical distribution network (ODN), and aggregation layers.
• Analyze optical metrics including TX/RX power levels, signal degradation, and fiber path integrity.
• Support network upgrades, shelf expansions, and platform migrations.
• Perform root cause analysis for subscriber impacting issues and large-scale service events.
• Develop operational standards and procedures for access network configuration and maintenance.

• Integrate PON infrastructure with: Subscriber management platforms, DHCP / AAA systems, IP routing and aggregation layers and multicast and IPTV delivery systems.
• Support service activation workflows for residential and commercial broadband services.
• Collaborate with field engineering teams to support ODN deployments and fiber plant integration.

Automation & Network Telemetry

• Develop automation to improve access network observability and operational efficiency.
• Create scripts to collect and analyze: OLT and ONT operational metrics, optical power levels, subscriber provisioning status and firmware compliance.
• Automate operational workflows including: ONT inventory validation, provisioning audits and service configuration validation.
• Integrate network data into internal monitoring and analytics platforms.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• 5+ years of experience supporting fiber broadband access networks.
• Hands-on experience with carrier-grade PON platforms.
• Strong understanding of PON technologies, including: GPON, XGS-PON, FTTH architectures.
• Solid knowledge of networking fundamentals, including: OSI model, TCP/IP, VLAN architecture and multicast and QoS fundamentals.
• Experience troubleshooting subscriber provisioning, optical performance, and access network faults.

Technical Skills:
Access Platforms

• Experience with one or more of the following platforms: Calix (AXOS / EXA), Cisco access platforms or equivalent carrier-grade OLT systems.

Automation / Scripting

• Experience with scripting languages such as: Python or Bash
• Experience automating network operations using: SSH / CLI automation, REST APIs and data parsing and reporting tools

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience operating large-scale FTTH or broadband access networks.
• Familiarity with optical network design and fiber outside plant architecture.
• Experience supporting IPTV or multicast video delivery over PON networks.
• Exposure to network monitoring, telemetry, or analytics platforms.
• Experience supporting network automation initiatives within access engineering teams.
• Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills.
• Ability to operate effectively across engineering, operations, and field teams.
• Strong documentation and operational process development.
• Focus on network scalability, reliability, and operational efficiency.

Job Benefits

• Medical, Dental and Vision
• PTO & Holidays
• 401K + Match
• Life Insurance
• FSA & HSA
• Short Term/Long Term Disability
• Legal Plan Support & EAP