Outside Plant Technician I
Industry: Telecommunications
Position Type: Full-time
Location: Western North Carolina - Counties of Jackson/Macon/Swain/Graham
Years of Experience: 1-5 Years of Telecommunications Experience in Locating Fiber, Outside Fiber Plant, and Construction Projects
Required Skills: Previous Locating Experience
OVERVIEW:
An outside plant technician performs maintenance on communication equipment and cabling systems for voice, data, and video imaging. Your responsibilities will primarily be locating underground fiber/cable as well as installing, testing, troubleshooting, and repairing the cable and fiber network in all phases. Your duties involve splicing the drop into ped/case, routing the cable to the residence/business, whether that be by plowing or aerial attachments, and installing and splicing the nid. You may perform site surveys and fiber/cable locations as needed. You must stay updated on industry trends and technology and take advantage of continuing education opportunities. You must be able to work alone, be detail-oriented, and have a professional demeanor when working with coworkers and clients. You must have color vision to perceive differences in wire and fiber colors.
JOB DUTIES & QUALIFICATIONS:
· Locate fiber/cable underground.
· Monitor and inspect outside plant projects to meet network quality requirements.
· Place, rearrange, repair, and remove all outside plant structures as needed.
· Must have and maintain an excellent driving record.
· Drive to and from each work location in a company vehicle to perform work outdoors in all weather conditions.
· Must know of and abide by all National Electrical Safety codes and company safety practices.
· Climb poles, ladders, and enter tunnels, buildings, vaults, trenches, crawl spaces, or manholes to place, maintain, or remove equipment.
· Perform construction work such as digging holes, placing equipment, laying cable/fiber in the ground, unreeling, pulling, and stringing wire and cable from point to point through the conduit.
· Dismantle, move, or remove aerial, underground, or building wire, cable, associated equipment, poles, and hardware
· Work in remote and rough terrain locations.
· Operate power equipment such as compressors, pumps, blowers, winches, etc., and hydraulic equipment such as aerial lifts (buckets), mounted on trucks, etc.
· Operate heavy-duty power equipment and hand tools in the construction, repair, and maintenance of the outside plant infrastructure.
· Load tools and equipment onto trucks and or trailers
· Perform various splicing operations on Polyethylene Insulated Conductors (PIC), connected cables, and or lightguide (Fiber)
· Connect wires and cables to terminals, and attach or detach various hardware to wires, cables, buildings, or poles.
· Move and/or lift weights to 100 pounds.
· Perform work with other utilities such as gas, electricity, telecommunications, water, etc.
· Work safely in consideration of self, public, and other utility workers.
· Work outside and be exposed to all weather conditions and dirt, grease, wood preservatives, poison ivy, oak, bee stings, and other elements.
· Wear appropriate safety equipment and follow established safety practices and procedures.
· May be required to perform additional duties and tasks as required by the company.
· May be required to work day, evening, or night shifts and overtime, emergency call-outs, weekends, and holidays as assigned.
· The physical demands are representative of those that must be met to perform the essential functions of this job.
· Receive and follow verbal and written work orders and instructions from supervisors and senior employees.
· When directed, communicate and coordinate with other work groups to perform tests on work in progress or completed and obtain additional information regarding work assignments as needed.
· Perform preventative maintenance on assigned company tools, equipment, and motor vehicles.
· Perform repetitive tasks, e.g., manually burying fiber/cable or digging holes.
· It is essential to have eyesight that enables you to distinguish colors.
· You must have a valid driver’s license and a clear Motor Vehicle Record.
· You will be required to complete a bucket truck safety class as well as ladder safety and pole climbing.
· You may be required to operate and drive bucket trucks.
Due to the nature of our business model and customer base, Outside Plant Technicians must be available for both scheduled and non-scheduled network management or “on-call availability”:
- Construction and cutover activities will require after-hours work (middle of the night).
- Emergency locates and fiber cuts require a timely response 24 hours a day.
