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Certified Optical Network Associate Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Dexian

Infinera Network Engineer

Park Ridge, NJ · On-site

Ciena Certified Optical Network Associate or equivalent (a plus) * Infinera product certifications (a plus) Dexian stands at the forefront of Talent + Technology solutions with a presence spanning ...

Bold Business

DWDM Engineer

Atlanta, GA

$124K - $160K/yr

Certified Optical Network Professional (ONP). * Cisco: CCNP Optical or specialized Cisco Transport certificates. * General: OTT Certified Optical Network Engineer (CONE). The Ideal Candidate You are ...

SA Technologies Inc.

Network Associate

Lincoln, NE

SAT is an Oracle Gold Partner, SAP Services Partner & IBM Certified enterprise. We guarantee you ... Candidates MUST have Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification OR CompTIA Additional ...

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Certified Optical Network Associate information

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How much do certified optical network associate jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for certified optical network associate in the United States is $17.58, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.38 and $18.99 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Certified Optical Network Associate, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Certified Optical Network Associate, you need a solid understanding of optical networking fundamentals, fiber optic technologies, and basic network troubleshooting, typically validated by a recognized certification such as the Certified Optical Network Associate (CONA). Familiarity with optical test equipment, network management systems, and industry-standard protocols is essential for daily operations. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you excel in diagnosing issues and collaborating with team members. These skills and qualifications are crucial for ensuring reliable, high-performance optical networks that support critical data transmission.

What is a Certified Optical Network Associate?

A Certified Optical Network Associate (CONA) is a professional who has demonstrated foundational knowledge and skills in optical networking technologies. This certification typically covers topics such as fiber optic principles, optical network design, installation, troubleshooting, and maintenance. CONA-certified individuals are equipped to work with optical communication systems used in telecommunications, data centers, and enterprise networks. Earning this certification validates a person's ability to support the deployment and operation of high-speed optical networks.

What are the typical career advancement opportunities for a Certified Optical Network Associate?

Certified Optical Network Associates often begin by supporting and maintaining optical network infrastructure, but with experience, they can move into roles such as Optical Network Engineer, Network Architect, or even managerial positions like Network Operations Manager. Advancement can be accelerated by gaining additional certifications, hands-on experience with advanced optical technologies, and demonstrating strong troubleshooting abilities. Many employers also encourage associates to participate in cross-functional projects, which can broaden technical expertise and leadership skills, paving the way for career growth.

What is the difference between Certified Optical Network Associate vs Optical Network Technician?

CriteriaCertified Optical Network AssociateOptical Network Technician
CertificationsTypically requires certification like ONAP or similarMay hold certifications but often less specialized
Work EnvironmentDesign, installation, and troubleshooting of optical networksFieldwork, maintenance, and repair of optical systems
Employer & IndustryTelecom providers, network service companiesTelecom, internet service providers, network contractors

The Certified Optical Network Associate focuses on designing and troubleshooting optical networks, often working in office or lab settings. In contrast, the Optical Network Technician primarily performs field maintenance and repairs. Both roles are essential in the optical network industry, but they differ in responsibilities and work environments.

Infographic showing various Certified Optical Network Associate job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Locum Tenens, 65% Full Time, and 33% Part Time. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $36,574 per year, or $17.6 per hour.

Infinera Network Engineer

Dexian

Park Ridge, NJ • On-site

Contractor

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Network Engineer to support the migration from a legacy Infinera optical transport network to the Ciena 6500 RLS and Navigator platforms. This role is crucial in ensuring a seamless transition, with some hot-cut migrations required due to lack of parallel fiber spans.
The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience with legacy Infinera systems, coupled with a working knowledge or adaptability to modern Ciena platforms. This project will span late 2025 through 2026 and involves planning, deployment, cutover execution, and escalated support across the network.
Key Responsibilities:
  • Migration Planning & Execution
    • Participate in planning and execution of site migrations from Infinera to Ciena equipment.
    • Coordinate hot-cut migrations for spans without parallel fiber.
  • Technical Implementation
    • Perform software and hardware migrations across ~50 sites per project.
    • Collaborate with Ciena optical engineers for deployment and provisioning of 6500 RLS/Navigator.
  • Equipment Decommissioning
    • Decommission and manage legacy Infinera platforms.
  • Support & Troubleshooting
    • Serve as escalation support during migrations, outages, and post-cutover stabilization.
    • Work with Professional Services and RRT/NPI teams to resolve complex issues.
  • Documentation & Reporting
    • Maintain migration runbooks, site-level migration checklists, and status reports.
    • Provide feedback to improve migration processes and tooling.
Required Experience and Skills:
Infinera Platform Experience (Required):
  • In-depth operational knowledge of the following legacy systems:
    • ATN (Passive DWDM) - ~2.7%
    • CX-1200 (12x100G) - ~19.7%
    • XT-500 (10G/100G) - ~7.2%
    • DTN (Non-Coherent DWDM) - ~34%
    • OTC (ILA Only) - ~19.7%
    • XTC-4 / XTC-10 (Coherent DWDM) - ~20.5% combined
  • Familiarity with Infinera DNA NMS for network monitoring and management.
Ciena Platform Exposure (Preferred/Desirable):
  • Basic understanding of Ciena 6500 RLS platform and Navigator NMS
  • Willingness to train up on Ciena-specific workflows, tools, and provisioning systems.
General Skills:
  • Ability to perform hot-cut migrations on active spans.
  • Strong optical transport and DWDM technology background.
  • Familiarity with CDL Engineering and migration workflows.
  • Capable of working with Professional Services and Escalation teams.
Preferred Certifications:
  • Ciena Certified Optical Network Associate or equivalent (a plus)
  • Infinera product certifications (a plus)

Dexian stands at the forefront of Talent + Technology solutions with a presence spanning more than 70 locations worldwide and a team exceeding 10,000 professionals. As one of the largest technology and professional staffing companies and one of the largest minority-owned staffing companies in the United States, Dexian combines over 30 years of industry expertise with cutting-edge technologies to deliver comprehensive global services and support.
Dexian connects the right talent and the right technology with the right organizations to deliver trajectory-changing results that help everyone achieve their ambitions and goals. To learn more, please visit https://dexian.com/ .
Dexian is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.

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