Customer Application Engineer – Outside Plant Engineering (OSP)

Job Summary:
This position requires the ability to assess customer requests and requirements, and then determine the optimum solution balancing costs and network capabilities. Individual will partner with Marketing and Sales and other members of the team to respond rapidly to customer requests for solution options and pricing. Individual must be knowledgable about the current state of the TDS network and its capabilities, and must be aware of ongoing efforts to upgrade the network. Individual must be familiar with TDS Telecom’s commercial products and services, and have a clear understanding of the network infrastructure required to support those products in each market. Individual must be capable of creating high level OSP designs and estimating costs quickly, and when necessary, produce detailed Engineering Packages to drive the equipment installation and turn-up.

Job Responsibilities:

• Provide high level and detailed Outside Plant design and engineering input for all Customer Application Analysis (CAA) projects, including estimated capital costs, and allocations of those costs when needed.
• Respond quickly to CAA requests in any and all TDS markets. Current SLA is 5 days to deliver cost estimates to Marketing and Sales.
• 25% – 50% overnight travel is expected on a monthly basis.
• Produce detailed Engineering Packages on an expedited basis for all CAA projects with signed contracts.
• Work with the regional engineers and local staff as necessary to ensure that CAA projects fit into the existing network and do not collide with current build projects in progress at that location.
• Partner with Marketing and Sales to standardize the elements of the CAA estimation process (standard building blocks, standard cost estimates for each part, standard allocations, etc).
• Work with vendors to obtain quotes and issue purchase orders as necessary.

Required qualifications:
Requirements for each position are listed in the qualifications section. We will assess applicants based on skills set and years of relevant experience.

• Network Specialist
  Associate Degree AND 2 + years work experience in years of industry experience designing, deploying, and/or maintaining voice/data networks or experience in Geography Information Systems (GIS) OR 4 + years of industry experience designing, deploying, and/or maintaining voice/data networks or experience in Geography Information Systems (GIS).
• Network Specialist I
  Associate Degree AND 4 + years of industry experience designing, deploying, and/or maintaining voice/data networks or experience in Geography Information Systems (GIS)
  OR 6 + years of industry experience designing, deploying, and/or maintaining voice/data networks or experience in Geography Information Systems (GIS).
• Network Specialist II
  Bachelors degree AND 4 + years of industry experience designing, deploying, and/or maintaining voice/data networks or experience in Geography Information Systems (GIS)
  OR 8+ years of industry experience designing, deploying, and/or maintaining voice/data networks or experience in Geography Information Systems (GIS).
• Senior Network Specialist
  Bachelors degree -AND- 4+ years of industry experience designing, deploying, and/or maintaining voice/data networks or Geography Information Systems (GIS)
  OR 8+ years of industry experience designing, deploying, and/or maintaining voice/data networks or Geography Information Systems (GIS).

Other Qualifications:

• Preferred GIS Bachelors Degree
• 2+ years OSP Construction, budgeting, and permitting experience.
• Knowledge/experience of ESRI
• Core, Distribution, and Access network designs and topologies
• Broadband access technologies: DSLAMs, NAS, PON, T1 edge
• High speed data applications and CPE
• WAN technologies and protocols
• MPLS
• Ethernet switching and applications
• VoIP applications, QOS
• Transport technologies including (but not limited to) SONET, ATM, Ethernet, POS, DWDM, WDM.
• Voice Switching technologies including Legacy TDM and Softswitch technologies.
• Customer premises equipment including (but not limited to) Routers, PBX, Handsets, set-top boxes, home wiring concepts
• Knowledge and experience with process management and improvement techniques.
• Strong organizational, coordination, written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build teamwork and lead teams.
• Strong people skills and the willingness to be accountable for results.
• A proactive approach to projects and issue resolution.
• Ability to set own priorities as well as manage changing priorities for you and others and to handle several complex tasks concurrently.
• Strong presentation skills.

Benefits:
As a part of your total compensation, TDS provides a comprehensive, competitive benefit package. The benefit plans address both the immediate and long term needs that you and your family may have. Here is a sample of what we have to offer for full-time employees.

Insurance:
Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance Eligible Immediately

Paid Time Off:
Vacation, Personal Time, Sick Time, and Holidays

Investments:
401K Eligible Immediately, Pension, Employee Stock Plan, and Flexible Spending Accounts

Additional Benefits:
Education Assistance, Telephone and Internet Concessions