Transport Planning Engineer

Job#: 3032119

Job Description:
Transport Planning Engineer
Role Summary

The Transport Planning Engineer supports large-scale network optimization and site exit initiatives through upfront network, asset, and financial analysis. This role focuses on evaluating legacy telecom facilities, leased fiber assets, and colocation environments to determine feasibility, cost savings, and return on investment (ROI) for potential network exits and consolidations.

Unlike traditional build-level planning roles, this position operates at a higher, market and regional analysis level, identifying opportunities to simplify the network, reduce ongoing costs, and enable informed decision-making before projects are handed off to downstream execution teams.

Key Responsibilities

Perform site and network feasibility assessments to determine whether telecom facilities, colocation sites, or leased fiber assets can be exited or consolidated.

Analyze transport networks including fiber, SONET, metro Ethernet, DWDM, wave systems, and legacy infrastructure to identify redundancy and optimization opportunities.

Evaluate leased fiber agreements, building access agreements, corporate real estate locations, and third-party colocation sites for cost-saving opportunities.

Develop business cases and ROI analyses to support data-driven go/no-go decisions for network exit and consolidation initiatives.

Apply business and financial analytics to quantify cost savings, assess risk, and support strategic decision-making.

Conduct detailed discovery using multiple tools and data sources to validate network status, contracts, space, power, and technical constraints.

Lead and facilitate cross-functional discovery calls with operations, OSP, transport, and engineering teams.

Coordinate early-stage project activities and task tracking prior to handoff to downstream execution teams.

Document findings and present clear, executive-ready recommendations to leadership and stakeholders.

Required Skills & Experience

Strong understanding of telecom transport networks, including fiber, SONET, metro Ethernet, DWDM, and legacy infrastructure.

Experience working with older telecom facilities and long-standing network environments.

Working knowledge of business analytics, financial modeling, cost-benefit analysis, or ROI development related to network initiatives.

Ability to analyze complex technical and contractual data to identify savings and consolidation opportunities.

Comfort operating independently and investigating incomplete or ambiguous information.

Strong analytical, organizational, and documentation skills.

Effective written and verbal communication skills and the ability to lead technical discussions.

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

5+ years of experience in transport planning, network planning, or telecom engineering.

Familiarity with OSP environments, leased fiber contracts, and building access agreements.

Light project or program coordination experience focused on early-stage initiatives.

Experience identifying network simplification, cost-out, or optimization opportunities in carrier environments.

What Success Looks Like in This Role

Clear identification of viable site exit and consolidation opportunities.

Development of defensible business cases that enable confident executive decisions.

Reduced downstream execution effort through upfront feasibility validation.

Measurable cost savings and network simplification results.

Apex Systems is a world-class IT services company that serves thousands of clients across the globe. When you join Apex, you become part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. We offer quality career resources, training, certifications, development opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in many awards, including ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing in Talent Satisfaction in the United States and Great Place to Work in the United Kingdom and Mexico. Apex uses a virtual recruiter as part of the application process. Click for more details.

Apex Benefits Overview: Apex offers a range of supplemental benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and other insurance plans that offer an optional layer of financial protection. We offer an ESPP (employee stock purchase program) and a 401K program which allows you to contribute typically within 30 days of starting, with a company match after 12 months of tenure. Apex also offers a HSA (Health Savings Account on the HDHP plan), a SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions, a corporate discount savings program and other discounts. In terms of professional development, Apex hosts an on-demand training program, provides access to certification prep and a library of technical and leadership courses/books/seminars once you have 6+ months of tenure, and certification discounts and other perks to associations that include CompTIA and IIBA. Apex has a dedicated customer service team for our Consultants that can address questions around benefits and other resources, as well as a certified Career Coach. You can access a full list of our benefits, programs, support teams and resources within our 'Welcome Packet' as well, which an Apex team member can provide.