Senior Network Engineer

Windstream Holdings, Inc., is a leading provider of advanced network communications and technology solutions for consumers, small businesses, enterprise organizations and carrier partners across the U.S.

• Kinetic is a premier internet solutions provider on a mission to deliver ultra-fast, reliable internet to consumers and small businesses across the U.S., helping them Internet better™.
• Windstream Enterprise is a leading managed services provider providing strategic communications and security products to mid-size businesses and enterprise clients.
• Windstream Wholesale provides high-capacity, high-performance networking solutions and services to other telecom carriers, data centers, content providers and enterprises.

The Windstream team provides innovative software and network solutions to connect people and empower business in a world of infinite possibilities!

_________________________________________________________


About the Role:


The mission of the Transport Architecture & Standards Group is to rapidly create and deploy efficient and reliable solutions for our Consumer, Wholesale and Enterprise customers.  We continue to find ways to improve the customer experience and operate a “best-in-class” network.  We are focused on increasing value for our Customers, Employees and Shareholders.


We are looking to recruit a dynamic individual who is willing and eager to develop and support a balanced organization through new architecture, standards, and practices. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrable ability to collaborate across multiple organizations and equipment vendors to accomplish a common goal more efficiently and effectively. Experience with a multi-vendor, large-scale, multi-protocol DWDM, OTN, Layer 2, and Layer 3 network is essential. As we see a shift in the industry to more advanced routing computation, automation, and openness, we are looking for someone who can challenge the “status quo” through new ideas and new technologies to build a better, easier to operate network.


What You will Do:

• Work with our vendors on upcoming products and network development opportunities. Manage and track feature requests for product and software enhancements.
• Manage and track Field Service Bulletins and vendor related bugs. Provide a point of contact for vendors to communicate changes and updates, while working with internal Engineering and Operations groups to formulate a plan and strategy for corrective action.
• Actively monitor all in-service software loads and hardware to ensure a stable, unified production network. Assist and provide support for software upgrade roadmaps and planning. Track end of life software and hardware timelines and assist upgrade/migration planning.
• Responsible for developing and specifying best practices for device/network deployments and device configuration. Work closely with Network/Customer Engineering to identify gaps in deployment or configuration standards.
• Perform release patch testing. Assist in interop testing as needed. Act as Engineering liaison for validation testing of new configuration or hardware standards. Assist First Office Application deployment planning and testing.
• Provide Tier III/IV design and deployment support for Engineering organizations. Coordinate new product introductions and training as needed.
• Responsible for the Testing & Certification process for all new Transport Equipment & Technology


Do You Have:

• Experience with designing or deploying DWDM, OTN, or Carrier Ethernet based Transport solutions
• Ability to operate and troubleshoot Optical Transport networks and equipment
• Experience with commissioning and provisioning Optical Transport equipment
• Ability to read and analyze RFC 2544, BERT, OSA, and/or OTDR test results for span qualification
• Understanding of standards from IEEE, ITU-T, IETF, MEF
• Knowledge of TCP/IP and OSPF protocols as it relates to device management
• Basic understanding of Unix operating systems


Minimum Requirements:

College degree in Engineering or a related field and 3+ years professional level experience; or 6+ years professional level related Engineering/Technical experience; or an equivalent combination of education and professional level related Engineering/Technical experience desired.

Physical Tasks- Standing Occasionally: 0-33% | Walking Occasionally: 0-33% |Sitting Continuously: 67-100% | Bending: Occasionally: 0-33% | Crouching: Occasionally: 0-33% | Pushing-Pulling: Occasionally: 0-33% | Carrying: Occasional: 0-33% | Reaching Above Head: Occasionally: 0-33% | Lifting-Lowering >1-15 lbs: Occasionally: 0-33% | Repetitive Hand Action: Medium Dexterity: Continuously: 67-100% | Fine Manipulating: frequently: 34% - 66%

Au