ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Optical Transport Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

SAIC

Optical Transport Engineer

Chantilly, VA · Hybrid

$120K - $160K/yr

Provide engineering for optical circuit design, integration, testing, and troubleshooting efforts ... Serve as Transport Services site liaison for various locations * Update the configuration ...

SAIC

Optical Transport Engineer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$120K - $160K/yr

Provide engineering for optical circuit design, integration, testing, and troubleshooting efforts ... Serve as Transport Services site liaison for various locations * Update the configuration ...

SAIC

Optical Transport Engineer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$120K - $160K/yr

Provide engineering for optical circuit design, integration, testing, and troubleshooting efforts ... Serve as Transport Services site liaison for various locations * Update the configuration ...

3M HEALTHCARE

Optical Engineer III

Reston, VA · On-site

$85 - $134/hr

Engineers, commissions, and validates backbone optical transport systems for new builds and capacity augmentation projects * Evaluates optical performance using field measurements and network ...

Jobtailor

Lead Network Engineer - HPC

Arlington, VA · On-site

$120 - $160/hr

Architect and engineer high-bandwidth, low-latency inter-site network solutions connecting ... VPN, optical transport, and data circuit infrastructure. * Administer Linux-based networks ...

Astreya

Network Deployment Engineer II

Ashburn, VA · On-site

The Network Deployment Engineer II will design, develop, build and test systems and products based ... patch panels, and optical transport technologies * Proficiency in various operating systems

Meta

VA

$162K/yr

Network Engineer, Deployment & Support Responsibilities: * Participate in the design engineering ... optical transport technologies * Knowledge of enterprise and provider level network hardware ...

Astreya

Network Deployment Engineer II

Ashburn, VA · On-site

The Network Deployment Engineer II will design, develop, build and test systems and products based ... patch panels, and optical transport technologies * Proficiency in various operating systems

Meta

VA

$135K/yr

Network Engineer, Foundation & Support Responsibilities: * Support all aspects of data center ... optical transport technologies * Knowledge of enterprise and provider-level network hardware ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsOptical Transport Engineer JobsOptical Transport Engineer Jobs in Virginia

Optical Transport Engineer information

See Virginia salary details

$82.3K

$142.4K

$167.1K

How much do optical transport engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 25, 2026, the average yearly pay for optical transport engineer in Virginia is $142,379.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $127,900.00 and $165,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an optical transport engineer?

An Optical Transport Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining optical network infrastructure to ensure high-speed data transmission. They work with fiber-optic technology, wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM), and transport protocols to optimize network performance and reliability. Their role involves troubleshooting network issues, upgrading hardware, and collaborating with teams to support telecommunications and data center operations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an optical transport engineer?

To thrive as an Optical Transport Engineer, you need a strong grasp of optical networking concepts, fiber optic communication, and a degree in electrical engineering or a related field. Familiarity with network management systems, DWDM/ROADM technologies, and industry certifications like Cisco or Juniper are often required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help engineers excel in team environments and when troubleshooting network issues. These competencies are essential for designing, implementing, and maintaining reliable and high-capacity optical transport networks.

What are some common challenges optical transport engineers face in their daily work?

Optical Transport Engineers frequently encounter challenges such as troubleshooting complex network outages, integrating new technologies with legacy infrastructure, and ensuring minimal downtime during system upgrades or maintenance. Staying current with rapidly evolving optical technologies and adhering to strict performance and security standards also add to the complexity of the role. However, these challenges foster continuous learning and skill development, and engineers often collaborate closely with network architects, field technicians, and vendors to resolve issues efficiently. Tackling these obstacles is crucial for maintaining high-quality, reliable network services.

What are the most commonly searched types of Optical Transport Engineer jobs in Virginia?

The most popular types of Optical Transport Engineer jobs in Virginia are:

What are popular job titles related to Optical Transport Engineer jobs in Virginia?

For Optical Transport Engineer jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Optical Transport Engineer jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Optical Transport Engineer jobs in Virginia are:

Optical Transport Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Optical Transport Engineer job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $142,379 per year, or $68.5 per hour.

Optical Transport Engineer

Chantilly, VA • Hybrid

SAIC
IT Services • 10K+ employees

7.9

Company rating: 7.9 out of 10

Based on 79 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

79th of 225 rated it services

People enjoy working here

Good employer

Recommended by students

Learn more about SAICexternal

$120K - $160K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 17 days ago

Job description

Job ID: 2614407

Location: Chantilly, VA, US

Date Posted: 2026-07-24

Category: Engineering and Sciences

Subcategory: Systems Engineer

Schedule: Full-Time

Shift: Day Job

Travel: Yes - 10% of the time

Minimum Clearance Required: TS.SCI_wPoly

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: None

Potential for Remote Work: ORA_ON_SITE


Description

SAIC has an immediate opening for a Long-Haul Network Engineer with a background in Information Technology (IT) Network Engineering and Project Management to oversee the cost, schedule, and performance activities associated with procurement of Commercial Carrier long-haul circuits.  The successful applicant will participate within a team of Systems Engineers and Technical Advisors (SETAs) overseeing the design, delivery, enhancement, and recapitalization of a large-scale, physical layer infrastructure.  Ability to travel is a requirement of this position.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

The successful candidate must be able to:

  • Demonstrate a working level knowledge of high-speed, high-capacity optical communications systems and equipment
  • Demonstrate a working level knowledge of high-speed switching layer (SONET, Carrier Ethernet) technologies and architectures
  • Demonstrate a working level knowledge of installation and integration of fiber optic telecommunications systems
  • Demonstrate the ability to perform requirements analysis, schedule reviews, and cost estimations
  • Demonstrate the ability to conduct risk assessments and analysis of current and proposed architectures
  • Develop circuit specifications, test methodologies, and exercise testing techniques to verify that circuits meet all required specifications
  • Provide engineering for optical circuit design, integration, testing, and troubleshooting efforts
  • Perform technical evaluation of vendor documentation, including network designs and technical details
  • Review daily assessment reports of network health and performance, and provide technical guidance to operations personnel and vendors as necessary to resolve network performance issues
  • Independently interact with network and transport services providers to resolve network anomalies and performance issues
  • Serve as Transport Services site liaison for various locations
  • Update the configuration management database for the customer's transport network
  • Successfully work independently, as well as within team dynamics

Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Bachelors and nine (9) years or more experience; Masters and seven (7) years or more experience ; PhD or JD and four (4) years or more experience. Work experience in the areas detailed in the Description of Duties of more than eleven (11) years in lieu of a degree may be considered
  • 10-years’ experience with high-speed Terrestrial Telecommunications systems
  • PMP certification is a plus, but not required
  • ITIL certification is a plus, but not required
  • Active Top Secret (TS) / Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance with current poly

Target salary range: $120,001 - $160,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.

What SAIC employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Apply