Network Operations Engineer

JSI invites you to join our team as a Network Operations Engineer on our Network Operations team, where you'll play a critical role in advancing broadband and telecommunications initiatives that expand connectivity and drive digital inclusion—while advancing your career within a mission-driven, growth-focused organization. About the Company: JSI is a leading full-service consulting firm specializing in broadband solutions. For over 60 years, we have provided independent communications service providers with expert financial, engineering, management, operational, regulatory, and strategic guidance. Our extensive industry knowledge and proven track record of success have empowered clients to achieve sustainable growth and profitability. With clients nationwide and a powerful presence in markets across the United States, JSI empowers rural and regional broadband providers to expand, evolve, and excel in a rapidly shifting digital world. Position Overview: As a Network Operations Engineer , you will help operate, maintain, and grow the fiber access (FTTx) networks we support for rural Internet Service Provider partners. This role can be fully remote or hybrid based out of a regional JSI office. You will be responsible for the technical and operational outcomes of your assigned partners, with a scope that ranges from day-to-day network reliability and process improvement to network architecture and long-term roadmap development. This position may be leveled as NetOps II or NetOps III, based on demonstrated experience and qualifications. All candidates must meet the Required Qualifications outlined below. Candidates whose experience also aligns with the Additional Qualifications Considered for NetOps III Level may qualify for NetOps III level. Responsibilities Design, install, and commission FTTx network infrastructure, and configure and maintain carrier-grade equipment—including routers, switches, and access equipment—from Juniper, Cisco, Arista, Nokia, ADTRAN, Calix, and other manufacturers. Serve as the primary technical point of contact for assigned partner Statements of Work and as the first tier of response for operational requests, installs, moves/adds/changes, incidents, and partner inquiries, while driving day-to-day technical operations. Maintain ongoing awareness of assigned partners’ network health, capacity, and performance through recurring monitoring and network reviews. Use these observations to identify issues, communicate status, and recommend operational improvements. Coordinate assigned project work across team members, including sequencing dependent tasks, tracking progress, and communicating status. Execute defined Methods of Procedure for equipment upgrades, firmware updates, patching, and other recurring maintenance activities. Support new partners onboarding by conducting technical audits, collecting network data, and developing remediation recommendations for identified gaps. Serve as a Tier 3 escalation resource for complex technical issues across supported partner environments. Participate in after-hours support for critical issues affecting assigned partners for which you serve as the primary technical contact. Lead partner cadence calls, deliver monthly reporting, and coordinate with partners and their vendors to resolve technical and operational issues. Assist with server migration projects, hardware lifecycle planning, and bill of materials development. Maintain an organized personal workflow by planning, tracking, and documenting work in team systems to keep progress visible and enable effective collaboration. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in engineering, networking, information technology, or a related field; equivalent combinations of technical education, certifications, and relevant professional experience will be considered. 3+ years of relevant network engineering or network operations experience. Experience serving as a primary technical point of contact and managing ongoing technical relationships with external partners or accounts. Demonstrated ability to independently organize and prioritize concurrent technical work. Solid understanding of networking fundamentals and the OSI model. Hands-on experience with Ethernet, GPON, XGS-PON, VLAN, LAG, and VRF. Experience with one or more carrier networking operating systems such as Junos OS, IOS. Working knowledge of network monitoring and analytics platforms such as LogicMonitor, PRTG, or equivalent. Strong analytical and decision-making skills, including the ability to troubleshoot complex issues and identify cause-and-effect relationships, and draw sound conclusions. Relevant data networking certifications preferred JNCIS, CCNP; and Linux certifications preferred Linux+, LFCS, RHCSA. Vendor-specific certifications such as CALIX Access Solutions, Nokia. Strong planning, prioritization, and coordination skills, including managing dependent tasks and coordinating work across a team. Clear, concise written and verbal communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences. Customer-focused approach to problem-solving and partner engagement. Team-oriented with a track record of building rapport, credibility, and trust with colleagues and partners. Reliable high-speed internet connection and a quiet, distraction-free home workspace. Benefits & Compensation Competitive salary + performance-based bonuses. Comprehensive benefits package (medical, dental, vision, 401(k)). Generous PTO and wellness opportunities. Ongoing professional development and educational opportunities.