Lead Planning Engineer Network Planning-Denver, CO or Dallas, TX

Lead Planning Engineer Network Planning 

About Forged Fiber  

At Forged Fiber, our mission is bold but simple: deliver fast, reliable, future-proof connectivity that builds the foundation for everything online. As we execute, we believe the right way to do something is the only way. This foundation guides how the company builds, operates, and maintains a state-of-the-art open-access fiber network platform that empowers millions. 

Forged Fiber is about more than building a network. It is about people. Every role matters. Every contribution counts. Together, employees create impact through teamwork, trust, and a shared commitment to excellence. 

The Role  

The Lead Planning Engineer, Network Planning role is a trusted technical authority, where you will define and govern how fiber networks are architected, modeled, and scaled, establishing planning standards, IT system requirements, and design frameworks that guide long‑term network investment, performance, and growth across the organization. This is a senior planning role for experienced professionals who want to shape the design, scalability, and technical foundation of the rapidly expanding Forged Fiber 37 network as we build the nation’s best open access fiber network platform—reliable, future proof infrastructure that empowers communities and unlocks next generation internet experiences. This role sits at the intersection of fiber network architecture, design strategy, and planning systems—combining deep technical design expertise with strong command of network planning tools and data platforms. 

Work Location- Hybrid, Denver, CO or Dallas, TX

The Main Responsibilities  

In this role, you will: 

• Serve as a Network Planning authority, translating business objectives, market strategy, and growth priorities into clear, actionable planning and system requirements 

• Define and document network planning standards, data models, and workflows that govern how fiber networks are designed, represented, and maintained across planning platforms 

• Act as Tier‑2 planning systems support, providing subject‑matter expertise for 3GIS and related GIS / planning tools, resolving complex data, modeling, and workflow issues beyond frontline support 

• Partner closely with IT, engineering, and vendors to define system enhancements, integrations, and configuration requirements that enable scalable and accurate network planning 

• Ensure network designs are accurately represented across planning systems, maintaining alignment between physical network architecture, logical models, and business intent 

• Translate complex planning needs into well‑defined technical requirements, user stories, and documentation to support system development, upgrades,