Senior Optical SME Lead

Job Title: Senior Subject Matter Expert (Optical)

Employment Type: W2 

Location: Fort Meade, MD and/or remote; Location may vary

Job Description:

Competitive Range works in partnership with the government to plan and deploy complex, IT-enabled and mission essential capabilities. It is our goal at Competitive Range to help you develop and expand your professional capabilities while working on challenging, interesting projects in a collaborative, congenial environment. 

Competitive Range Solutions requires the expertise of a Senior Subject Matter Expert (Optical) talented person to lead Optical Telecommunication efforts supporting Federal Defense customers, under the direction of Senior and Executive management. The candidate must reference their ability and experience in working in a Department of Defense (DoD) customer environment and effective integration with a government multi-contractor team. 

The Senior Subject Matter Expert (Optical) shall lead efforts pertaining to successful installation, turn-up, testing, and activation of telecommunication equipment with an emphasis on optical hardware and related components. This includes assignment of, and review of work specific to one or more locations supported by one or more Optical Installation Teams, ensuring completion of assigned projects or activities, and providing training or assistance as needed. No supervision is required to complete multiple, concurrent, or consecutive large installation efforts.

The Senior Subject Matter Expert (Optical) provides or leads in-depth analyses for translating customer unified capabilities needs into the design of networks for Optical, Circuit Switched and IP networks that support Telecommunications for classified Defense Networks which include Real Time Services such as voice and video converged with data applications end-to-end. This key resource applies extensive knowledge in at least one of the following areas to provide original and innovative solutions: 

1) network architecture

2) network interoperability, network interfaces, and network protocols 

3) transport technology

4) business organizational alignment, business process development and business case development

5) network testing

6) security

7) reliability 

8) prototyping and development of network solution

9) communications focused software engineering or software development. 

The SME candidate directs, designs, and develops network architecture plans, security, reliability, and business continuity plans, implementation or cutover plans, integration plans, and interoperability plans based for Optical networks within Federal Defense classified networks. Provides high-level strategic business consultation including organizational alignment, business process development and business case development. Provides active leadership in defining and pursuing innovative research and development projects of exceptional complexity, requiring considerable originality and ingenuity. Supervises multiple teams of specialty engineers working on highly complex network architecture and technology development & assessment projects. 

The SME Candidate will possess in-depth knowledge specific to task requirements and in multiple areas of optical technologies and network infrastructures and will have demonstrated technical leadership and in-depth analysis capability in at least one of the following areas: 

1) network architecture

2) network interoperability, network interfaces and network protocols 

3) transport technology

4) business organizational alignment, business process development and business case development

5) network testing

6) security

7) reliability

8) prototyping and development of network solutions

9) communications focused software engineering or software development. 

Capable of independent original work on specific tasks associated with one or more knowledge areas identified above.

Tasks shall include: 

• Infrastructure installation and de-installation
  • Racks
• Ironwork (ladder rack, subfloor infrastructure)
• Cable management
  • Fiber & copper management systems (i.e. Panduit raceway, Fiber Management Systems (FMS))
• DC Power cable (determining path, wax cord lacing)
• Cable Terminations, cleaning and testing
  • RJ45
• Coaxial/BNC
• Wire wrap
• Fiber Optic Cable (light levels, scoping)
• Grounding
  • HTAP
• Equipment
• Documentation Responsibilities
  • Use of Microsoft Office suite of products for: 
• Requirements review and comprehension
• Redlining
• Reporting
  • Daily Status Report (DSR) submission
• Site Completion Report (SCR) submission
• Survey Reports
• Installation of cabling DC power distribution systems
• Basic configuration and provisioning of equipment
  • DCN Suite
• Crypto
• IP
• MSPP
• MPLS

• Advanced configuration and provisioning of DWDM equipment
  • Ciena 6500 SDN
• Ciena 6500 ILA alarm clearing
• Conduct Ground Testing
• Perform and report on fiber quality assessment both in-house and cross-base to include OPM and ORL readings
• Conduct Bit Error Rate Testing (BERT)
• Conduct Optical Testing
  • Fiber optic characterization
    • Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR)
  • Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD)
  • Chromatic Dispersion (CD)
    • Review results, identify issues and provide recommended solution
  • Consolidate data and generate detailed reporting and analysis

Qualifications/Experience:

• At least 10 years of experience leading technical efforts within an Optical Network environment required.
• At least eight years of experience in the installation, turn-up, testing, activation, maintenance, repair or construction of various types of telecommunications or other electronic equipment or an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting completion of an accredited vocational or technical curriculum in telecommunications or a related discipline for the required or an equivalent combination of education and experience 
• At least four years of experience is required specific to Ciena DWDM optical platforms
• Experience supporting DISA’s networks is desired
• Demonstrated experience in advanced optical systems to include Ciena platforms such as 6500 ‘S’ shelves and RLS.
• Communicate with supporting personnel such as Node Site Coordinators, facility technicians, site security personnel, etc.
• Working Knowledge Microsoft Office Tools; specifically, Visio and Excel
• Excellent communication, effective leadership and interpersonal skills
• Must be a US Citizen
• Minimum SECRET clearance required; and be eligible for a Top-Secret clearance 

Physical Demands

• Ability to type, communicate via telephone and sit for extended periods of time.
• Ability to travel (20%-60%) via automobile and airplane with other team members to meet program requirements; as needed
• Ability to set up and ascend/descend ladders as necessary to reach overhead cabling and components undergoing installation or deinstallation.
• Ability to get down under sub-flooring as required to reach components and cabling
• Ability to lift at least 50 lbs