IP Planning Engineer

Job Brief:

The National Data Planning team is accountable for managing capacity for the national data network infrastructure. The team is primarily responsible for planning and releasing projects to procure and install ethernet switch and IP routing telecommunications and information technology hardware, software, and virtual connections to meet demand for data network growth and projects. The team also supports the optimization and right-sizing of legacy networks as older services diminish in favor of newer products.

The role is critical in supporting revenue enablement on wireline, Metro access, IPVPN, and public IP platforms, ensuring the seamless execution of key projects like IP Datacenter Expansion, METRON, and VPN 400G upgrade. By planning, engineering, and deploying wireline, Metro access, and IP router and switch platforms, this role guarantees the efficient management of resources, including preparing SOW, ordering materials, space, power, and transport, MOSS and performing the PM role to oversee tasks through to final completion.

Position Objectives:

• Manage capacity per departmental guidelines, escalation procedures, and at managerial discretion
• Support infrastructure network projects in accordance with departmental and vendor guidelines, and at managerial discretion

Essential duties:

• Broad professional knowledge and skills in applying theories, concepts, principles, and methodologies of an engineering/planning discipline within information technology
• Evaluate port and bandwidth capacity utilization of network infrastructure elements
• Forecast and trend bandwidth growth to produce capacity triggers for bandwidth relief
• Develop plans to augment capacity relief as needed. Trigger projects utilizing the most feasible, practical and economical means, including performing cost/benefit analysis for multiple potential solutions
• Analyze complex networks and/or customer network environments, including planning, designing, evaluating, and making recommendations for funding and implementation
• Manage work intakes per service-level agreements and key performance indicator metrics; be highly responsive to company communication and work-related escalations
• Develop and submit monthly and annual capital budget projections and requests for assigned area of responsibility
• Partner with Strategic Planning, Architecture, Engineering, and Product Management on products and new technology deployment
• Act as a technical leader or provide work leadership for employees inside and outside of immediate work group
• Independently plan and carry out assignments in conformance with accepted policies and practices. Write processes and provide guidance/training for peer or other personnel
• Participate in or lead meetings and training sessions
• Participate in or lead special projects, per needs of the business
• Pursue personal and technical skills improvement opportunities

Required skills:

• Demonstration of critical thinking and complex analysis and solution development under the guidelines of standard practices and policies, while applying judgment to optimize solutions
• High attention to detail; able to quickly learn new systems, applications, and processes; perform complex thinking and solutions deployment in completing day to day work activities
• Must be highly responsive and able to communicate across all levels of the business (i.e., executive, market unit, technology group, cross-functional work groups, customers and the industry)
• Technical knowledge of LAN/WAN internetworking technologies and protocols, including TCP/IP, DNS, BGP, ISIS, OSPF, RSVP, MPLS, VPLS, QoS, VRRP, HSRP, STP, PPP, HDLC, POS, ATM, Ethernet, SONET/SDH, L2VPN, L3VPN, multicast, and/or IPv6
• Command line experience with two or more of the following platforms: Juniper MX, QFX, M, and/or EX series; Cisco ASR, ISR, NCS, and/or smaller series; Nokia 7750 series
• Ability to apply advanced knowledge of network principles and technologies to perform daily work functions creating plans and projects
• Must be willing and able to work individually and within a team to complete projects
• Excellent organizational and time management skills; capable of organizing and managing multiple complex assignments simultaneously, on schedule and within budget
• Highly proficient in PC software and office applications

Desired skills:

• Flexibility to work outside of "normal" business hours as needed to meet deadlines
• Project management certification
• Operational experience with Transport equipment, Ethernet switches, and IP routers
• Data analytics and/or database administration skills

Education or Equivalent Experience:

• Bachelor of Science or higher degree in a technology field of study; 8+ years' experience and at least one professional or technical certification