[Hiring] Network Planning Engineer I @TekWissen

Role Description

The Planning Engineer supports the sales process by developing timely, accurate, and cost-effective network build estimates for customer opportunities. Working primarily in the Capital Approval Tool (CAT), this role evaluates switched Ethernet, wavelength, and dark fiber requests and translates service requirements into practical outside plant (OSP) and inside plant (ISP) solutions and associated capital estimates.

This position operates in a high-volume, fast-paced environment with service-level commitments and changing priorities. The engineer independently reviews network records, GIS data, route files, diversity requirements, and engineering standards to determine feasibility, develop preliminary designs, estimate construction and equipment costs, document assumptions, and communicate clear recommendations to Sales and partner engineering teams.

Main Responsibilities

• Review, prioritize, and complete assigned estimation tasks in CAT within established service-level agreements and departmental performance expectations.
• Analyze customer requests for switched Ethernet, wavelength, and dark fiber services to identify OSP, ISP, electronics, capacity, and diversity requirements.
• Use NDS, 3GIS, ArcGIS, and related network inventory and mapping tools to evaluate routes, fiber availability, serving locations, network access points, existing facilities, and potential build paths.
• Read, interpret, and validate KML/KMZ files, route maps, GIS layers, design records, and other technical documentation used to support network feasibility and cost development.
• Develop preliminary OSP lateral designs from the existing network to the customer location, including proposed routing, entry paths, route footage, construction method assumptions, permitting considerations, and single- or dual-entry requirements.
• Estimate OSP construction costs using historic rates, market-specific unit costs, comparable projects, route characteristics, and sound engineering judgment. Clearly document estimate assumptions, exclusions, risks, and confidence level.
• Determine ISP requirements and provide associated cost estimates for building entrance facilities, riser or pathway work, fiber placement and termination, power, space, racks, panels, cabling, and customer-premises or central-office equipment, as applicable.
• Evaluate network and route diversity requirements, including physical path, entrance, cable, conduit, structure, and equipment considerations, and identify when additional engineering validation is required.
• Validate automated estimates and correct or replace them when network records, site conditions, unique customer requirements, or engineering standards indicate a manual estimate is needed.
• Enter accurate OSP, ISP, electronics, and other applicable costs in CAT and provide concise notes that explain the proposed solution and support Sales, Finance, and downstream implementation teams.
• Coordinate with Sales, Sales Engineering, Pricing/Offer Management, OSP Engineering, ISP Engineering, Transport, Fiber Planning, Construction, Provisioning, Product Management, and other estimating teams to resolve incomplete or conflicting requirements.
• Identify missing information, technical risks, out-of-policy requests, and dependencies early. Request clarification or engage the appropriate subject-matter expert to prevent rework and downstream delays.
• Manage multiple concurrent requests, adjust quickly to business priorities, and maintain quality and accuracy while meeting short turnaround expectations.
• Contribute to process improvement, estimating consistency, reference-rate maintenance, documentation, peer knowledge sharing, and automation opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, telecommunications, GIS, or a related field and 6+ years of relevant experience; or a master's degree and 4+ years of relevant experience; or equivalent education and directly related experience.
• Demonstrated experience in telecommunications planning, OSP/ISP engineering, network design, construction estimating, or a closely related discipline.
• Experience developing preliminary OSP fiber lateral designs and estimating construction costs using unit rates, historic costs, route footage, and project-specific assumptions.
• Working knowledge of ISP requirements and the ability to identify and estimate applicable building, central-office, and customer-premises costs.
• Ability to interpret network maps, engineering drawings, KML/KMZ files, fiber records, and route or diversity requirements.
• Working knowledge of OSP and ISP telecommunications engineering standards, terminology, construction methods, materials, permitting considerations, and building entrance practices.
• Experience using GIS and network-record systems. Applicants must be able to become proficient with NDS, 3GIS, ArcGIS, CAT, and related internal tools.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make well-supported decisions when information is incomplete or multiple solutions are possible.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a high volume of concurrent work, meet short deadlines, and maintain accuracy in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to document technical assumptions and explain complex network requirements clearly to technical and nontechnical partners.
• Ability to work independently with limited direct supervision while collaborating effectively across Sales, Engineering, Planning, Finance, and Construction teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with switched Ethernet, wavelength/DWDM, dark fiber, fiber extensions, diverse routing, or dual-entry solutions.
• Experience working capital estimates or sales-driven planning tasks in CAT or a similar workflow and approval platform.
• Experience with NDS, 3GIS, ArcGIS, Google Earth, KML/KMZ analysis, or comparable fiber inventory and geospatial tools.
• Knowledge of fiber availability analysis, cable and strand records, splicing requirements, network topology, central-office environments, and customer building entrances.
• Experience evaluating both automated and manual estimates and reconciling discrepancies in route, quantity, unit cost, or equipment assumptions.
• Familiarity with telecom construction cost drivers such as aerial versus underground placement, trenching or boring, conduit and structure use, railroad or right-of-way impacts, permitting, restoration, riser work, and building access.
• Experience supporting enterprise or wholesale customer opportunities in an SLA-driven production environment.

Company Description

TekWissen is a global workforce management provider headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan that offers strategic talent solutions to our clients world-wide.