ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Optical Network Engineer Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Hillsdale College

Network Engineer

Hillsdale, MI · On-site

As a Network Engineer, you will be responsible for designing, provisioning, monitoring, and ... Experience with Fiber Optics for inter-building campus connectivity (Single Mode, Multi-Mode ...

Corning

$104K - $125K/yr

As a Senior Data Engineer, you will design, build, optimize, and maintain scalable data pipelines ... optical-network solutions used by businesses, governments, service providers, and individuals ...

Bluebird Network

Outside Plant Engineer

Lansing, MI · On-site

The OSP Engineer provides Outside Plant Network Engineering support for all aspects of outside plant initiatives. The position will be responsible for fiber optic plant and deployments including ...

Corning

$104K - $125K/yr

As a Data Engineer, you will build, maintain, and support data pipelines and cloud-based data ... optical-network solutions used by businesses, governments, service providers, and individuals ...

Corning

$95K - $130K/yr

As a Network Security Engineer , you will be at the forefront of designing, deploying, and ... Our Optical Communications segment has evolved into a comprehensive provider of industry leading ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsOptical Network Engineer JobsOptical Network Engineer Jobs in Michigan

Optical Network Engineer information

See Michigan salary details

$72.3K

$125.2K

$146.9K

How much do optical network engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for optical network engineer in Michigan is $125,170.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $112,400.00 and $145,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an optical network engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Optical Network Engineer, you need a strong background in fiber optic communication, network design, troubleshooting, and a relevant degree in electrical engineering or a similar field. Familiarity with tools such as OTDRs, DWDM systems, network analyzers, and certifications like Cisco CCNP or similar are often required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork and communication skills help you excel in this position. These competencies ensure reliable, high-performance optical networks and successful collaboration within cross-functional technical teams.

What is an optical network engineer?

An Optical Network Engineer designs, implements, and maintains fiber-optic communication networks to ensure high-speed data transmission. They work with DWDM, CWDM, and other optical technologies to optimize network performance and scalability. Their responsibilities include troubleshooting network issues, upgrading hardware, and collaborating with other IT professionals to enhance network efficiency.

What are some common challenges faced by optical network engineers on the job?

Optical Network Engineers often work with rapidly evolving technologies and must stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in networking hardware and protocols. Common challenges include troubleshooting complex connectivity issues, ensuring minimal network downtime during upgrades or maintenance, and optimizing network performance across diverse infrastructures. The role may also involve responding to urgent issues outside of regular business hours and coordinating with other engineering teams or third-party vendors. Adaptability and a proactive approach are key to effectively managing these challenges and delivering reliable network solutions.

What are the most commonly searched types of Optical Network Engineer jobs in Michigan? The most popular types of Optical Network Engineer jobs in Michigan are:
What are popular job titles related to Optical Network Engineer jobs in Michigan? For Optical Network Engineer jobs in Michigan, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Optical Network Engineer jobs in Michigan look for? The top searched job categories for Optical Network Engineer jobs in Michigan are:
Optical Network Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Optical Network Engineer job openings in Michigan as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 6% Contract, and 5% Nights. Highlights an 95% In-person, and 5% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $125,170 per year, or $60.2 per hour.

Network Engineer

Hillsdale College

Hillsdale, MI • On-site

Full-time

Posted 16 days ago

Hillsdale College rating

5.8

Company rating: 5.8 out of 10

Based on 10 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

576th of 618 rated colleges and universities

Job description

Posting Details
Position Information
Position Title
Network Engineer
Job Description
Job Summary
Hillsdale College has an opportunity for a seasoned Network Engineer with experience in large, distributed campus environments.
As a Network Engineer, you will be responsible for designing, provisioning, monitoring, and troubleshooting the network LAN/WAN/VLAN infrastructure used across Hillsdale College's campuses. As a vital member of the Network and System Administration team, you should have a strong knowledge of network infrastructure in a large enterprise environment. You should be an expert in the design, optimization, and troubleshooting of TCP/IP networks and equipment, including switching, routing, next-gen firewall management, performance analysis, QoS, and physical infrastructure (copper, fiber). You should possess a solid understanding of modern network security design, Zero Trust architecture, and hybrid cloud networking. You will also support VoIP solutions, edge-delivered cloud services, and cloud-managed routing within our distributed campus network environment.
Essential Job Duties
  1. Implement, monitor, and manage next-gen firewalls, routers, switches, and wireless access points across the campus network infrastructure.
  2. Actively contribute to the configuration, deployment, and ongoing optimization of the Juniper Mist cloud-managed campus switching environment.
  3. Support the transition of legacy campus edge security to modern Fortinet or Juniper next-gen firewalls.
  4. Transition legacy remote access models toward identity-centric Zero Trust solutions (Cloudflare WARP, Microsoft GSA).
  5. Collaborate with the systems and data teams to configure secure, high-performance network topology between on-premises systems and Microsoft Azure / Microsoft Fabric cloud environments.
  6. Design, configure, and maintain complex switching environments and VLAN segmentation schemas to isolate campus workloads and protect student/administrative data.
  7. Manage external/internal DNS namespaces and implement edge-level redirects and traffic routing rules.
  8. Engage in proactive network monitoring and advanced troubleshooting to resolve complex connectivity issues.
  9. Recommend, schedule, and perform software/hardware upgrades, patches, reconfigurations, and capacity planning.
  10. Participate in after-hours maintenance windows and emergency response rotations as required for campus operations.

Required Qualifications
Education and Experience
Minimum Requirements
  • Experience: At least 4 years of experience as a Network Engineer in an enterprise or educational environment, with a proven track record of managing high-availability infrastructure.
  • Education: Associate degree or higher in BIS, MIS, Computer Science, or equivalent professional experience.

Desired Training and Experience
  • Relevant vendor certifications are highly desirable, including JNCIS-ENT / JNCIP-ENT (Juniper), Fortinet NSE/FCP, CCNA, CompTIA Network+, or Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer.
  • Prior experience in an educational, campus, or multi-site enterprise environment is preferred.

Other Skills
Other Skills
  • Enterprise Switching & Cloud Management: In-depth experience deploying and managing enterprise switching environments. Hands-on experience with Juniper network switches and the Juniper Mist management platform (including AI-driven optimization and analytics) is highly preferred as the College migrates to this architecture.
  • Next-Gen Firewalls (NGFW): Experience designing, configuring, and managing enterprise firewalls, including rule validation, application-level filtering, DMZ isolation, and threat protection. Familiarity with Fortinet (FortiOS) or Juniper (SRX) platforms is a major plus as we transition from legacy frameworks.
  • Modern Access Control & ZTNA: Understanding of Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) and Security Service Edge (SSE) frameworks. Experience implementing modern alternatives to traditional client VPNs, specifically Cloudflare WARP and Microsoft Global Secure Access (GSA / Entra Private Access).
  • Edge & DNS Management: Advanced familiarity with utilizing cloud-based edge networks (e.g., Cloudflare) for secure external DNS management, traffic routing, edge redirects, and Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule implementation.
  • Hybrid Cloud Networking (Azure): Solid understanding of foundational Microsoft Azure cloud networking concepts-including Virtual Networks, Network Security Groups, VPN Gateways, and ExpressRoute. Familiarity with optimizing network pathways to securely host and connect data architectures like Microsoft Fabric is highly desirable.
  • General Network Design: Micro-segmentation, VLAN design, routing protocols (OSPF, BGP), and cloud-hybrid networking architecture.
  • Physical Infrastructure: Experience with Fiber Optics for inter-building campus connectivity (Single Mode, Multi-Mode, terminations, and testing standards).
  • Analysis & Monitoring Tools: Experience with network analysis, logging, and observability tools (e.g., Wireshark, NetFlow, Splunk, Zabbix, or Mist Marvis).
  • Protocols & Core Services: Solid grasp of key network protocols including SNMP, HTTP/HTTPS, DNS, SSH, TCP/IP, and UDP.
  • Storage & Virtualization: Storage Area Network (SAN) configuration and management experience; foundational comfort with Hyper-V and hybrid Windows/Linux server environments.
  • Voice over IP: Experience configuring, optimizing, and troubleshooting network pathways and Quality of Service (QoS) for IP Telephone Systems (VoIP).
  • Compliance: Experience with regulatory frameworks (such as HIPAA or FERPA) in an educational/network environment is a plus.

Code of Commitment
Be a good representative of Hillsdale College, promoting its mission, original Articles of Association, and Staff Code of Commitment. The teaching of Christian faith shall remain a conspicuous aim of the College.
Physical Demands
Physical Requirements: Must be able to work on-site in Hillsdale, MI; able to lift or move up to 25 lbs, climb ladders, and install equipment in confined spaces (under desks, ceilings, etc.).
Posting Detail Information
Posting Number
S301P
Open Date
07/27/2026
Close Date
Open Until Filled
Yes
Special Instructions to Applicants

What Hillsdale College employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Apply