Director Optical Network Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

At Capgemini Engineering, the world leader in engineering services, we bring together a global team of engineers, scientists, and architects to help the world's most innovative companies unleash their potential. From autonomous cars to life-saving robots, our digital and software technology experts think outside the box as they provide unique R&D and engineering services across all industries. Join us for a career full of opportunities. Where you can make a difference. Where no two days are the same.
Location
This is an onsite role located either in Denver, CO or Mt Laurel, NJ
About the job you're considering
The Senior Engineer, Long Haul Wave is an experienced optical transport professional responsible for delivering backbone wavelength services from initial design through customer turn-up. This role owns the complete lifecycle of a wave, including feasibility analysis, end-to-end path design, provisioning across multiple optical platforms, validation, testing, and final customer acceptance.
This is a single-owner delivery model. Instead of handing work between separate design, provisioning, and testing teams, the engineer is responsible for the entire circuit across every network segment, including metro ingress, the national backbone, and metro egress. The engineer remains accountable until the service has been successfully validated and accepted.
Your role

• Design and engineer end-to-end backbone wavelength services, including feasibility studies, route selection, optical path design, reach validation, and spectrum planning.
• Perform wavelength assignment, optical spectrum optimization, and selection of transponders, muxponders, and line-side hardware based on service requirements.
• Provision and turn up wavelength services across multi-vendor optical transport networks, including Nokia and Ciena platforms.
• Configure, integrate, and maintain optical network services while ensuring consistency across vendor boundaries and transport technologies.
• Validate optical performance through power verification, performance testing, error-free burn-in, and service acceptance testing prior to customer handoff.
• Troubleshoot complex network, optical, and service-layer issues, including OSNR, dispersion, span loss, framing errors, timing issues, and alarm conditions.
• Collaborate with field operations, network operations centers (NOC), engineering teams, and vendor support organizations to resolve network issues and escalations.
• Maintain accurate engineering documentation, circuit records, implementation details, service inventories, and as-built network documentation.
• Ensure compliance with operational procedures, engineering standards, and customer acceptance criteria throughout the service delivery lifecycle.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives by identifying automation opportunities, enhancing provisioning workflows, and contributing to operational procedures and MOPs.

Your skills and experience

• 10+ years of hands-on experience engineering, provisioning, or supporting DWDM and optical transport networks in a carrier or large-scale service provider environment.
• Strong understanding of optical transport technologies, including DWDM, ROADM architectures, wavelength planning, optical amplification, regeneration, OSNR, dispersion, and optical power budgets.
• Hands-on experience provisioning and troubleshooting services on optical transport equipment from at least one major vendor, with the ability to work across multiple vendor platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot end-to-end circuits across multiple network segments while isolating faults within complex multi-vendor environments.
• Strong documentation skills and the ability to work directly with customers, operations teams, field personnel, and vendor support organizations throughout the service delivery process.
• Direct experience with Nokia 1830 PSS, PSD, PSI-M, and related optical transport platforms.
• Direct experience with Ciena 6500, Waveserver, and RLS optical platforms. Experience supporting long haul or backbone optical transport networks.
• Familiarity with optical network management and orchestration systems.
• Experience performing optical service turn-up, customer acceptance testing, and production implementations.

The base compensation range for this role in the posted location is: $73,150- $174,000/year
Capgemini provides compensation range information in accordance with applicable national, state, provincial, and local pay transparency laws. The base compensation range listed for this position reflects the minimum and maximum target compensation Capgemini, in good faith, believes it may pay for the role at the time of this posting. This range may be subject to change as permitted by law.
The actual compensation offered to any candidate may fall outside of the posted range and will be determined based on multiple factors legally permitted in the applicable jurisdiction.
These may include, but are not limited to: Geographic location, Education and qualifications, Certifications and licenses, Relevant experience and skills, Seniority and performance, Market and business consideration, Internal pay equity.
It is not typical for candidates to be hired at or near the top of the posted compensation range.
In addition to base salary, this role may be eligible for additional compensation such as variable incentives, bonuses, or commissions, depending on the position and applicable laws.
Capgemini offers a comprehensive, non-negotiable benefits package to all regular, full-time employees. In the U.S. and Canada, available benefits are determined by local policy and eligibility and may include:
• Paid time off based on employee grade (A-F), defined by policy: Vacation: 12-25 days, depending on grade, Company paid holidays, Personal Days, Sick Leave
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage (or provincial healthcare coordination in Canada)
• Retirement savings plans (e.g., 401(k) in the U.S., RRSP in Canada)
• Life and disability insurance
• Employee assistance programs
• Other benefits as provided by local policy and eligibility
Important Notice: Compensation (including bonuses, commissions, or other forms of incentive pay) is not considered earned, vested, or payable until it becomes due under the terms of applicable plans or agreements and is subject to Capgemini's discretion, consistent with applicable laws. The Company reserves the right to amend or withdraw compensation programs at any time, within the limits of applicable legislation.
Disclaimers
Capgemini is an Equal Opportunity Employer encouraging inclusion in the workplace. Capgemini also participates in the Partnership Accreditation in Indigenous Relations (PAIR) program which supports meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities across Canada by promoting fairness, accessibility, inclusion and respect. We value the rich cultural heritage and contributions of Indigenous Peoples and actively work to create a welcoming and respectful environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender identity/expression, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetics, veteran status, marital status or any other characteristic protected by law.
This is a general description of the Duties, Responsibilities and Qualifications required for this position. Physical, mental, sensory or environmental demands may be referenced in an attempt to communicate the manner in which this position traditionally is performed. Whenever necessary to provide individuals with disabilities an equal employment opportunity, Capgemini will consider reasonable accommodations that might involve varying job requirements and/or changing the way this job is performed, provided that such accommodation does not pose an undue hardship. Capgemini is committed to providing reasonable accommodation during our recruitment process. If you need assistance or accommodation, please reach out to your recruiting contact.
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Click the following link for more information on your rights as an Applicant in the United States. http://www.capgemini.com/resources/equal-employment-opportunity-is-the-law
Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner, helping organizations to accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world, while creating tangible impact for enterprises and society. It is a responsible and diverse group of 340,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong over 55-year heritage, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to unlock the value of technology to address the entire breadth of their business needs. It delivers end-to-end services and solutions leveraging strengths from strategy and design to engineering, all fueled by its market leading capabilities in AI, generative AI, cloud and data, combined with its deep industry expertise and partner ecosystem.