Utility Telecommunications Engineer

Primary Talent Partners

New Orleans, LA

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JOB DETAILS

SALARY

$60–$70 Per Hour

SKILLS

Analysis Skills, Antenna, ArcGIS, Asset Management, AutoCAD, Bentley MicroStation, Best Practices, Bill of Materials (BOM), Budget Management, CAD (Computer-Aided Design) Software, CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing), Calendar Management, Change Management, Cisco Network Systems, Civil Engineering, Commissioning, Communication Systems, Construction, Construction Drawings, Corporate Communications, Cost Estimates, Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Documentation, Electrical Design, Electrical Engineering, Electrical Power Systems, Electrical Utility, Electrical Wiring, Electricity, Electronic Engineering, Energy & Utilities, Ethernet, FCC (Federal Communications Commission), Facilities Planning, Fiber Optic Cable, Fiber Optics, Geographic Information System Software, IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers), IP (Internet Protocol), Industry Standards, Licensing, MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching), Microsoft Office, Microsoft Product Family, Microsoft Visio, Microwaves, National Electrical Code, Network Configuration Management, Network Connectivity, Network Design, Operational Communications, Operational Support Systems (OSS), Physical Security, Power Outages, Power Plant, Project Estimates, Project Execution, Project Lifecycle, Project Planning, Radio Engineering, Radio Frequency, Regulations, Regulatory Compliance, SONET, Safety Codes, Safety Compliance, Spatial Data, Structural Engineering, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), System Integration (SI), Systems Engineering, TDM (Time Division Multiplexing), Technical/Engineering Design, Telecommunications, Telecommunications Equipment, Telecommunications Standards, Transportation Routing

LOCATION

New Orleans, LA

POSTED

2 days ago

Primary Talent Partners has a new contract opening for a Utility Telecommunications Engineer to join an energy and utilities company in New Orleans, LA. This is a 12-month contract to start with the potential for extensions.

Pay:$60.00 - $70.00/hr; W2 contract, no PTO, no Benefits. ACA-compliant supplemental package available for enrollment. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States and must be able to sit on Primary Talent Partners W2 without sponsorship.

Description:
Telecommunications Outside Plant (OSP) Design Engineer – External Contractor

Key Responsibilities:

Fiber Optic Network Design & Deployment: Plan and engineer outside plant fiber optic networks to connect substations, generation facilities, control centers, and other utility sites.
Design both aerial fiber (including Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) on transmission lines and All-Dielectric Self-Supporting (ADSS) cables on distribution poles) and underground fiber routes.
Develop route maps, specify fiber optic cables and hardware, create splicing and termination plans, and ensure network redundancy and resiliency to support mission-critical services (SCADA, protective relaying, corporate communications).
Oversee permitting and rights-of-way for fiber installations and ensure designs meet National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) clearances and company standards for attachment on utility infrastructure.
Microwave Radio System Engineering: Design and optimize point-to-point microwave radio links to connect remote sites and reinforce the fiber network.
Perform path surveys and line-of-sight analyses, determine appropriate tower locations and heights, select antennas and frequencies, and develop link budgets to ensure reliable, high-capacity communications.
Coordinate with frequency management and regulatory compliance (e.g., FCC licensing and interference studies) for microwave systems.
Prepare specifications for microwave radios, waveguides, and antennas consistent with company's requirements and industry standards (e.g., Telcordia).
Telecom Site & Facility Design: Plan the placement and design of telecommunications facilities at electric utility locations (substations, power plants, control centers, etc.).
Design and/or specify the installation of telecom support structures such as communications towers, poles, and antenna mounts, as well as prefabricated communication shelters, cabinets, or control house upgrades to house telecom equipment.
Address associated civil and site work – including site layout, grading, access roads, cable trenching or conduit installation, and equipment foundations – in collaboration with civil and structural engineers.
Ensure all telecom facility designs meet physical security requirements, environmental/hazard mitigation standards, and compatibility with existing utility infrastructure.
Power & Backup Systems Integration: Incorporate reliable power solutions into telecom designs to guarantee continuous operation of critical communications during power outages.
Specify and coordinate AC power feeds, DC power plants and battery backup systems, and appropriately sized standby generators for telecom sites such as repeater huts, microwave relay sites, and substation telecom rooms.
Ensure proper grounding, surge protection, and compliance with the National Electrical Code (NEC) and company's electrical standards when integrating generators and backup power equipment at communications facilities.
Project Planning and Execution Support: Contribute to project lifecycle activities from initial scoping through commissioning.
Develop project scopes and cost estimates for new telecom infrastructure projects (fiber expansions, microwave link deployments, network upgrades).
Create and deliver detailed engineering design packages (incl. construction drawings, fiber splice diagrams, equipment layouts, wiring diagrams, and bill-of-materials) for use by field construction crews and contractors.
Utilize Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software and GIS mapping tools (e.g., ESRI ArcGIS or Client Smallworld) to produce route maps, floorplans, and site diagrams. Plan implementation schedules and participate in company's change management processes – coordinating network cutovers, scheduling necessary outage clearances, and preparing method-of-procedure documents to minimize impact on energy delivery and operations.

Additional Job Details:

In office NOT REMOTE possibly hybrid LATER in office 3 days a week.

Must have:

Fiber Outside design and build experience Experience with: Cisco, Nokia and Scinea
Education & Experience: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics/Telecommunications Engineering, or a related field.
Equivalent work experience combined with relevant technical training/certifications will be considered. Demonstrated experience in telecommunications engineering, with a strong focus on outside plant fiber optic network design and/or microwave system engineering.
(A track record of several years in telecom OSP engineering or network design in a utility or similar industry is expected for this contractor role.)

Technical Proficiency in Telecom Systems:

Extensive knowledge of fiber optic communication systems (including fiber cable types, splicing techniques, connectors, and outside plant construction practices for aerial and underground installations).
Proficiency in microwave radio system design and RF engineering principles (path loss calculations, antenna propagation, frequency coordination).
Familiarity with packet-based transport networks (such as MPLS or Carrier Ethernet) and traditional time-division multiplexing (TDM) systems (e.g., SONET/SDH, DCS, channel banks) used in utility telecommunications.
Solid understanding of IP networking fundamentals and how telecom transport networks interface with IP-based systems.

Tools & Software Skills:

Proficient in using engineering and mapping tools common to telecom and utility design.
This includes experience with GIS software (such as ESRI ArcGIS or Client Smallworld) for route planning and asset tracking, and computer-aided design (CAD) tools (e.g., AutoCAD or MicroStation) to develop construction drawings.
Experience using telecom network inventory and database tools, especially ConnectMaster or similar Operational Support Systems (OSS), to document network elements and manage telecom assets, fiber routes, and circuit records.
Comfortable with productivity and documentation software (Microsoft Office suite, Visio) and collaboration platforms (e.g., Microsoft Teams).

Knowledge of Standards & Regulations:

Working knowledge of relevant industry standards and codes for telecom and utility installations.
Must be familiar with National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) guidelines for line construction and structure clearances, and basic National Electrical Code (NEC) principles for facility electrical systems.
Awareness of telecommunications standards (such as Telcordia/Bellcore standards, IEEE communications standards, and other industry best practices) is expected.
Ability to design solutions that comply with safety regulations, utility policies, and any applicable regulatory standards (e.g., NERC reliability standards) governing communications in electric power systems.

Primary Talent Partners is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity, or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

If you are a person with a disability needing assistance with the application or at any point in the hiring process, please contact us at info@primarytalentpartners.com

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Primary Talent Partners

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