{"id":4245363,"url":"https://alion.io/job/echostar-optical-network-engineer","title":"Optical Network Engineer","company":{"id":1846584,"name":"EchoStar","domain":"echostar.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/echostar","size_band":"201-500","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Jibe","truth_index":null},"role":"Networking","role_family":"Networking","seniority":"middle","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Englewood, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":96250,"max":137500,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":137500},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":3,"visa_sponsorship":true,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"Ansible","optional":false},{"name":"BGP","optional":false},{"name":"MPLS","optional":false},{"name":"OSPF","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"VLAN","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-12T17:57:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-11-13","last_verified_at":"2026-11-13T12:29:26Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":31,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":31},"description":"What Success Looks Like (Objectives):\nCandidates must be willing to participate in at least one in-person interview.\nThis role drives the architecture, implementation, and optimization of core transport and routed optical network infrastructure. The candidate will address challenges related to network capacity, high-availability optical ring reliability, and complex routing integration across enterprise environments. Success involves maintaining operational uptime, validating spend and circuit lifecycles, and modernizing transport workflows using automation and artificial intelligence.\nWhat Success Looks Like (Objectives):\nTake ownership of the reliability and capacity of the regional Zayo dark fiber rings and core routed optical network (RON) infrastructure within the first 90 days\nSupply advanced technical direction and leadership to junior members of the transport and data networking teams to elevate the collective technical standard\nCollaborate with various stakeholders to gather requirements and design scalable transport and routing solutions that translate business capacity needs into resilient specifications\nDrive hands-on implementation and ongoing maintenance for network transport projects, utilizing lab environments to prove out DWDM and routing designs according to rigorous validation plans\nConduct advanced enterprise-level performance tuning on optical transponders, amplifiers, and coherent routing interfaces to meet or exceed operational uptime goals; leveraging AI tools to analyze telemetry and proactively optimize network efficiency\nCore Skills, Competencies, and Key Experiences (What you’ll bring)\nCore Skills and Competencies (What you’ll bring):\nDeep practical knowledge of DWDM/CWDM architectures, optical amplification (EDFA/RAMAN), link engineering, and the Cisco ONS platform (including NCS 1000 and ONS 15454 series)\nProven track record implementing Routed Optical Networks, utilizing high-density coherent optics (ZR/ZR+) directly integrated into core routing platforms\nAdvanced expertise in Cisco service provider and enterprise routing platforms (such as Cisco 8700, ASR 9000, or Catalyst 9000 series) and segment routing or MPLS protocols\nComprehensive proficiency in designing and supporting MPLS, WAN, SD-WAN, and complex LAN/VLAN architectures\nDirect experience designing, turning up, and troubleshooting regional dark fiber topology, specifically focusing on Zayo dark fiber ring architectures, OTDR testing, and optical power budgets\nFamiliarity with network configuration automation tools (such as Ansible Tower, Python, or Cisco Catalyst Center) alongside AI application skills to streamline deployment workflows and improve network performance\nMinimum Requirements:\nMinimum Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Electrical/Telecommunications Engineering, or a related field\nMinimum Experience: 5 years of experience in Network Engineering, with a strong focus on backbone transport or service provider infrastructure\n Required Technical Skills: Must have at least 3 years of experience with:\nCisco ONS or Cisco NCS optical transport platforms\nCore routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, ISIS) and MPLS/Segment Routing\nDesigning or maintaining long-haul/metro dark fiber systems (e.g., Zayo rings)\nTelecom circuit lifecycle management and inventory tools (e.g., Calero)\nVisa sponsorship not available for this role\nSalary Range\nCompensation: $96,250.00/Year - $137,500.00/Year\nAbout Our Department\nOur Technology teams challenge the status quo and reimagine capabilities across industries. Whether through research and development, technology innovation or solution engineering, our team members play a vital role in connecting consumers with the products and platforms of tomorrow.\nAbout Our Company\nEchoStar is reimagining the future of connectivity. Our business reach spans satellite television service, live-streaming and on-demand programming, smart home installation services, mobile plans and products.\nToday, our brands include Boost Mobile, DISH TV, Gen Mobile, Hughes and Sling TV.\nBenefits\nWe offer meaningful health perks, including flexible spending accounts, HSA, a 401(k) plan with company match, employee stock purchase plan, career opportunities, and a flexible time away plan. Review a benefits summary here:EchoStar Benefits \nThe base pay range shown is a guideline. Individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, and competencies. Compensation is based on the role's location and is subject to change.\nCandidates need to successfully complete a pre-employment screen, which may include a drug test and DMV check. Our company is committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace where every individual has the opportunity to succeed. We are dedicated to providing individuals with criminal or arrest records a fair chance of employment in accordance with local, state, and federal laws.\nThis job posting will be active for a minimum of 3 days and will continue to extend by 3 days until the position is filled.\nWe pride ourselves on developing and promoting talent as an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. EchoStar will accommodate the sincerely held religious beliefs of employees if such accommodations are not undue hardships and are otherwise within the bounds of applicable law. All qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with local, state, and federal law. You may redact any information that identifies age, date of birth, or dates of school/graduation from your application documents before submission and throughout our application process.\nEchoStar will provide reasonable accommodation to otherwise qualified job applicants and employees with known physical or mental disabilities, unless doing so poses an undue hardship on the Company, poses a direct threat of substantial harm to others, or is otherwise not required by law. EchoStar has a more detailed Accommodation Policy that applies to employees. EchoStar endeavors to make echostar.com and jobs.echostar.com accessible to users. Please contact  if you would like to discuss the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process. This contact information is for accommodation requests only; do not use this contact information to inquire about the status of applications. If you have questions regarding your application or the recruitment process please email .\nClick the links to access the following statements: EEO Policy Statement, Pay Transparency, EEOC Know Your Rights (English /Spanish)\nCandidates must be willing to participate in at least one in-person interview.\nThis role drives the architecture, implementation, and optimization of core transport and routed optical network infrastructure. The candidate will address challenges related to network capacity, high-availability optical ring reliability, and complex routing integration across enterprise environments. Success involves maintaining operational uptime, validating spend and circuit lifecycles, and modernizing transport workflows using automation and artificial intelligence.\nWhat Success Looks Like (Objectives):\nTake ownership of the reliability and capacity of the regional Zayo dark fiber rings and core routed optical network (RON) infrastructure within the first 90 days\nSupply advanced technical direction and leadership to junior members of the transport and data networking teams to elevate the collective technical standard\nCollaborate with various stakeholders to gather requirements and design scalable transport and routing solutions that translate business capacity needs into resilient specifications\nDrive hands-on implementation and ongoing maintenance for network transport projects, utilizing lab environments to prove out DWDM and routing designs according to rigorous validation plans\nConduct advanced enterprise-level performance tuning on optical transponders, amplifiers, and coherent routing interfaces to meet or exceed operational uptime goals; leveraging AI tools to analyze telemetry and proactively optimize network efficiency\nCore Skills and Competencies (What you’ll bring):\nDeep practical knowledge of DWDM/CWDM architectures, optical amplification (EDFA/RAMAN), link engineering, and the Cisco ONS platform (including NCS 1000 and ONS 15454 series)\nProven track record implementing Routed Optical Networks, utilizing high-density coherent optics (ZR/ZR+) directly integrated into core routing platforms\nAdvanced expertise in Cisco service provider and enterprise routing platforms (such as Cisco 8700, ASR 9000, or Catalyst 9000 series) and segment routing or MPLS protocols\nComprehensive proficiency in designing and supporting MPLS, WAN, SD-WAN, and complex LAN/VLAN architectures\nDirect experience designing, turning up, and troubleshooting regional dark fiber topology, specifically focusing on Zayo dark fiber ring architectures, OTDR testing, and optical power budgets\nFamiliarity with network configuration automation tools (such as Ansible Tower, Python, or Cisco Catalyst Center) alongside AI application skills to streamline deployment workflows and improve network performance\nMinimum Requirements:\nMinimum Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Electrical/Telecommunications Engineering, or a related field\nMinimum Experience: 5 years of experience in Network Engineering, with a strong focus on backbone transport or service provider infrastructure\n Required Technical Skills: Must have at least 3 years of experience with:\nCisco ONS or Cisco NCS optical transport platforms\nCore routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, ISIS) and MPLS/Segment Routing\nDesigning or maintaining long-haul/metro dark fiber systems (e.g., Zayo rings)\nTelecom circuit lifecycle management and inventory tools (e.g., Calero)\nVisa sponsorship not available for this 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