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Optical Network Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Optical Engineer

Bodega Bay, CA

$153.10K - $198.20K/yr

Berkeley Lab's (LBNL) Energy Sciences Network (ESnet) Division has an immediate opening for an Optical Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will serve as a senior optical network engineer ...

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Optical Network Engineer information

See salary details

$83K

$143.6K

$168.5K

How much do optical network engineer jobs pay per year?

As of May 31, 2026, the average yearly pay for optical network engineer in the United States is $143,611.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $129,000.00 and $167,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an Optical Network Engineer job?

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 the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Optical Network Engineer position, 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 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 cities are hiring for Optical Network Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Optical Network Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Optical Network Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Optical Network Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Optical Network Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Optical Network Engineer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Optical Network Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 67% In-person, and 33% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $143,611 per year, or $69 per hour.
Optical NDE II, Optical Long Haul Network Deployment

Optical NDE II, Optical Long Haul Network Deployment

Amazon

Seattle, WA

$146.80K - $190K/yr

Full-time

Posted 13 days ago


Amazon rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 6,795 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 39 rated national retailers


Job description

Do you like to use networking concepts and system development engineering to deliver simple, sustainable and repeatable solutions. Would you like your work to play a key role in driving the stability and sustainability of next-generation IP networks?
Amazon Web Services is looking for an Optical Network Development Engineer to support and deploy one of the world's largest and most complex telecommunication networks. Our goal is to become "The Infrastructure Platform" to the world and customers demand the highest quality and reliability for their services.

As we expand at a tremendous rate it is our responsibility to maintain that quality and reliability. We look for innovative ways to automate and scale our network as we expand, while driving complex issues to resolution.
AWS Infrastructure Services owns the design, planning, delivery, and operation of all AWS global infrastructure. In other words, we're the people who keep the cloud running

We support all AWS data centers and all of the servers, storage, networking, power, and cooling equipment that ensure our customers have continual access to the innovation they rely on. We work on the most challenging problems, with thousands of variables impacting the supply chain - and we're looking for talented people who want to help.
You'll join a diverse team of software, hardware, and network engineers, supply chain specialists, security experts, operations managers, and other vital roles.

You'll collaborate with people across AWS to help us deliver the highest standards for safety and security while providing seemingly infinite capacity at the lowest possible cost for our customers. And you'll experience an inclusive culture that welcomes bold ideas and empowers you to own them to completion.
Key job responsibilities
As an Optical Deployment Engineer working within AWS Infrastructure you will:
Design of optical solutions, hands-on to support deployment and manage rollout of AWS global DWDM network;
Drive optical scaling tasks including fiber quality reviews and generate cutsheets and configs to meet the demand of AWS customers;
Define and configure management solution to support optical network remote monitoring and device visibility;
Work closely with other AWS Networking teams (field tech and fiber teams) to ensure optical network is scaled in time to support business;
Review and implement changes on optical systems using manual CLI config or automated process via script;
Ensure that optical network deployment tasks adhere to the defined AWS network standards;
Execute implementation tasks following operational excellence standards and propose improvements in AWS DWDM network quality and reliability;
Design and implement scalable operational processes to sustain and expand our optical network infrastructure;
Lead end-to-end product evaluation and drive strategic commercial tender processes, ensuring optimal vendor selection and cost efficiency
Troubleshoot complex problems on optical networks and eventually propose innovative solutions to improve the deployment agility;
Lead and execute operational excellence programs that measurably improve DWDM network quality and reliability, reducing service-impacting events and raising the bar on optical network performance;
Our ideal candidate is highly autonomous, possesses strong written and verbal communication skills, strong project management and time management skills and has a successful track record of troubleshooting complex network problems and delivering innovative solutions. The desire and ability to work in a fast paced, collaborative environment is essential

This is an amazing opportunity in terms of responsibility, interesting challenges and high visibility.
A day in the life
This role oversees deployment of Metro and Long Haul systems and all processes related to those deliverables. It includes the design of the projects, generation of all technical documents, updating internal tools, deployment of systems in the real network and handover for operations.

Also the deployment team is responsible to participate in testing new solutions and define technical requirements. Automation is a very important topic in this team to improve the deployment process, reduce the manual activities and make interaction between internal tools.
About the team
Internet Edge provides high-performing Internet connectivity for a wide range of use cases, such as retail (amazon.com), video streaming (Prime Video), content delivery (CloudFront), DNS (Route53), AWS services (such as EC2/S3), consumer devices (such as FireTV/Kindle/Echo), and more.
Within AWS Networking, the Internet Edge organization is responsible for connecting Amazon to the global Internet

With connections to thousands of unique external networks in hundreds of locations across the world, our mission is to deliver an Internet connectivity experience that sets the global standard for performance, availability, security, and cost, making Amazon the clear choice for our customers' needs.
The Long Haul Deployment team is responsible for the installation and commissioning of the DWDM systems for Optical Backbone. Our mission is to deliver unconstrained inter-regional transport at the lowest cost, with the most available product conceivable to AWS customers, making it invisible.

The team vends capacity to internet backbone customers that provides low latency, high availability and supports features our customers expect.
About AWS
Diverse Experiences
AWS values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the qualifications and skills listed in the job description, we encourage candidates to apply. If your career is just starting, hasn't followed a traditional path, or includes alternative experiences, don't let it stop you from applying


Why AWS?
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world's most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. We pioneered cloud computing and never stopped innovating - that's why customers from the most successful startups to Global 500 companies trust our robust suite of products and services to power their businesses.
Inclusive Team Culture
Here at AWS, it's in our nature to learn and be curious. Our employee-led affinity groups foster a culture of inclusion that empower us to be proud of our differences

Ongoing events and learning experiences, including our Conversations on Race and Ethnicity (CORE) and AmazeCon (gender diversity) conferences, inspire us to never stop embracing our uniqueness.
Mentorship & Career Growth
We're continuously raising our performance bar as we strive to become Earth's Best Employer. That's why you'll find endless knowledge-sharing, mentorship and other career-advancing resources here to help you develop into a better-rounded professional.
EEO/Accommodations
AWS is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace to deliver the best results for our customers

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status; we celebrate the diverse ways we work. For individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation, please let us know and we will connect you to our accommodation team. You may also reach them directly by visiting please https://www.amazon.jobs/en/disability/us.


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About Amazon

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Amazon.com, Inc., commonly known as Amazon, is an American multinational technology company. It was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 and initially started as an online marketplace for books. Since then, Amazon has expanded its operations and become one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world. Amazon's primary business is its online retail platform, where customers can purchase a vast array of products, including electronics, clothing, books, home goods, and much more. The company offers a convenient and user-friendly shopping experience, with features such as fast shipping, customer reviews, and personalized recommendations. In addition to its e-commerce platform, Amazon has diversified its business into various other areas. One of its notable ventures is Amazon Web Services (AWS), a comprehensive cloud computing platform that provides services such as storage, compute power, and database management to individuals and businesses. AWS has become a leader in the cloud computing industry, powering many websites and applications worldwide. Amazon has also developed its own consumer electronics, including the popular Amazon Kindle e-reader, Fire tablets, Fire TV streaming devices, and the Alexa-powered Echo smart speakers. The Alexa voice assistant, integrated into these devices, allows users to interact with their devices using voice commands, perform tasks, and access information. Furthermore, Amazon has expanded into media and entertainment. It operates Prime Video, a streaming service that offers a wide range of movies, TV shows, and original content. Amazon Music provides a platform for streaming and purchasing digital music, while Audible offers audiobooks and other audio content. The company's commitment to customer satisfaction and convenience is demonstrated by its membership program, Amazon Prime. Prime members receive various benefits, including free two-day shipping, access to streaming services, exclusive deals, and more.

Industry

It services, book publishers, retail, real estate and computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Seattle, WA, US