Fiber Optic Technician

***This job is eligible for relocation assistance to aid with the costs of relocating to the Colorado Springs area.

Colorado Springs Utilities' Network Transport Services team is hiring a Fiber Optic Technician to ensure the quality and timely delivery of our fiber optic and telecommunication services. Our team is responsible for supporting the safety, reliability, and performance of our fiber, microwave, and telecommunications infrastructure. You will have the opportunity to work with a team of fiber network professionals through installing, maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing components of our fiber-optic network.

A day in the life of a Fiber Optic Technician may include:

• Reading and interpreting fiber splicing diagrams, cut sheets, prints, specifications, work scopes, and fiber optic color code charts
  
• Evaluating fiber damage and determining the best course of action for repair
  
• Performing fiber cable installation, placement, construction, maintenance, and repair
  
• Leveraging multiple splicing and termination techniques, and using multiple types of cable troubleshooting equipment
  
• Performing ring cuts, installing fiber closures, terminations, connectors, and patch panels
  
• Locating and validating conduit for fiber path feasibility, mounting fiber termination panels and splicing cabinets, bonding, and grounding fiber cables according to specifications, and operating fusion splicers and hand polishing terminations
• Assisting with pre-construction inspections of job sites to evaluate the readiness of the site for fiber installation – and helping coordinate site readiness issues with project scheduling personnel
• Troubleshooting FTTx/GPON networks
  
• Updating and creating red lines, case audits, cut sheets, as-builts, and final build sheets
  
• Providing guidance and support to Fiber Technicians on daily work and operations in the field
  
• Assisting with developing training plans for Fiber Technicians, and training and assessing Fiber Technicians to organizational and industry prep, splicing, and testing standards
  

Please note that working conditions and essential functions of performing this job include:

• This position requires possession of a valid, unrestricted driver's license
• Heavy lifting and moving of materials and equipment up to 80 pounds
• Climbing utility power poles using industry-standard climbing gear
• Climbing and standing on extension ladders up to 28 feet for long periods
• Performing work in confined spaces (e.g., bucket trucks) and trenches
• Exposure to inclement weather conditions
• Participating in a 24/7 on-call rotation, with the ability to report onsite within 30 minutes

Who You Are

• Experience with fiber splicing and installation, and a working knowledge of fiber optic networks
• Experience in troubleshooting and configuring FTTx/GPON networks is valued
• Experience with repairing fiber enclosures, dressing and prepping cables into enclosures, fanning out and preparing bare fiber, terminating connectors, mechanical/fusion splicing, pre/post-OTDR testing, and Light Source and Power Meter testing on Multimode and Single Mode fiber
• Knowledge of approved practices, procedures, tools, codes, and materials used in fiber optic cable splicing
• Outside plant fiber optic cable blowing/placement and operating electronic fusion splicing and testing equipment

Who We Are

• One of the largest four-service public utilities in the nation (over 500,000 customers)
• A national leader in reliability (power on an average of 99.991% of the time)
• Diamond Designation recipient from the American Public Power Association - a utility leader in reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvements
• Located at the base of the Rocky Mountains in one of the most desired cities to live in the United States (U.S. News & World Report, 2023)

Our Commitment to Our Employees…  
Our people are the heart and soul of Colorado Springs Utilities.  They keep the lights on, gas flowing, water coming in, and wastewater leaving.  We do not just say people are important – we prove it!  That’s why we are honored to invest in protecting the health and financial security of our employees and their families through our rich benefits program.

• Time Off – Because everybody needs time off to recharge
  • Vacation – New employees accrue 13 days of paid time off to start, while our more tenured employees accrue 24 days per year
  • Personal Leave –3 days per year of personal leave
  • Paid Holidays –12 paid holidays per year
  • Sick Leave – Accrue 12 days of sick leave annually for those days when you or a family member is feeling under the weather
  • Vacation Buy – Purchase up to 40 hours of additional vacation time
• Pension Plan – Looking forward to a comfortable lifestyle once you’re done working? The Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA) provides you with retirement benefits and peace of mind when you retire 
• Medical – Select from three comprehensive medical plans, starting at $0 per month.  Employees also enjoy access to a Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA). (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)
• Wellness Program – Voluntary wellness program that allows you and your spouse to each earn up to $500 to use towards healthcare expenses, $100 in Visa gift cards, and up to $400 in gym membership reimbursements
• Dental – Select from two dental plans, with in-network PPO preventive care covered at 100% and access to orthodontia coverage (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)
• Vision – Voluntary plan that covers full vision care services and discounts on LASIK eye surgery (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)
• Retirement Saving Programs – Supplement your pension plan with voluntary retirement programs such as the PERAPlus 401(k) and MissionSquare’s Roth IRA and 457 plans
• Disability Coverage – Short-Term (STD) and Long-Term Disability (LTD) insurance available for purchase (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Makes the going a little easier by aiding with mental health, stress management, work-life balance, financial and legal matters, and much more
• Long-Term Care Insurance (LTC) – Whether it's due to an accident or a serious illness, LTC insurance is available for purchase to help you and your loved ones (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)
• Life Insurance – Company-paid life insurance and supplemental coverage available (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)
• Tuition Reimbursement – Employees are eligible to receive up to $5,250 annually for Tuition Reimbursement
• Qualifying Public Service Employer – Payments made towards student loans may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program