The Telecommunications Engineer is responsible for the design, planning, and documentation of wired communication infrastructure, including outside plant (OSP) and inside plant (ISP) systems. This role is focused on developing scalable, standards-compliant network designs and producing construction-ready documentation to support installation, testing, and commissioning activities.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
- Perform technical planning, system integration, verification, and validation for Telecommunications systems and subsystems.
- Develop Telecommunications engineering design concepts and objectives including but not limited to route planning, pathway design, fibre allocation, strand management, splicing schematics, and loss budgets for both OSP (aerial and underground) and ISP Telecommunications structured cabling infrastructure.
- Assist in preparing project plans including required resources and development timelines.
- Establish design specifications and construction requirements for Telecommunication system designs by applying Telecommunication Engineering principles and industry standards.
- Develop and evaluate multiple system design alternatives and recommend optimal solutions.
- Provide cost-effective engineering solutions to complex Telecommunication infrastructure challenges.
- Investigate and determine appropriate design factors including equipment availability, material requirements, contractual specifications, and cost considerations.
- Identify potential technical risks, operational challenges, and design limitations while recommending mitigation strategies.
- Route planning and pathway design
- Fibre allocation and strand management
- Splicing schematics and enclosure layouts
- Optical loss budgets and performance criteria
- Design GPON, XGS-PON, and FTTH architectures for access networks.
- Produce detailed structured cabling system designs for commercial, industrial, and institutional environments.
- Develop designs for fibre splicing, termination, and interconnection systems, including panels, closures, and cross-connects.
- Design LAN and WAN network architectures, including redundancy, resiliency, and segmentation strategies.
- Develop Layer 2 and Layer 3 network design architectures, including topology, traffic flow, and high-level protocol considerations (no device-level configuration).
- Perform network capacity planning and infrastructure scaling analysis.
- Design data centre cabling systems and interconnect architectures.
- Develop carrier interconnection and demarcation designs, including entrance facilities and handoff points.
- Design grounding and bonding systems for telecommunications infrastructure in accordance with applicable standards.
- Coordinate with civil, structural, and electrical disciplines for overhead and underground infrastructure design.
- Define testing and acceptance criteria, including fibre certification methodologies (e.g., OTDR, loss testing).
- Ensure all designs conform to applicable codes and standards, including the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC), Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA).
- Prepare detailed engineering drawings, schematics, bills of materials, and construction work packages to support installation and commissioning.
- Define system testing requirements and acceptance criteria and provide technical direction for performance validation of deployed systems.
- Ensure all designs conform to applicable codes and standards, including the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC), Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)
- Prepare detailed technical documentation including system designs, reports, test results, and engineering calculations.
- Ensure Telecommunication system designs comply with regulatory requirements, industry standards, and service level agreements. Knowledge of the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC), Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) standards, and regulatory requirements of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) is an asset.
- Maintain accurate engineering documentation for project tracking and system lifecycle management.
- Assist with preparation of requests for proposals (RFPs), technical specifications, and vendor evaluations.
- Support vendor and contractor selection by providing technical evaluation of equipment and solutions.
- Collaboration and Technical Support
- Work collaboratively with internal departments including Sales, Service, and Project teams to support system design and implementation.
- Provide technical expertise and engineering guidance during project planning and execution.
- Assist with troubleshooting, optimization, and performance improvement of deployed systems.
- Support commissioning activities and ensure system functionality meets design specifications.
RELATIONSHIPS
The Telecommunications Engineer reports directly to the Engineering Manager.
This role works closely with:
- Sales Department
- Service Department
- Inventory Department
- Project Management
- Clients and customers
- Third-party contractors and vendors
AUTHORITY
The Telecommunications Engineer has authority to:
- Perform design activities and analysis applicable to their field of practice.
- Recommend equipment and system specifications.
- Provide technical recommendations to internal teams and project stakeholders.
- Ensure designs comply with professional engineering standards and regulatory requirements.
WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
This role primarily operates in an office environment with occasional travel to project sites or customer locations.
During site visits, the Telecommunications Engineer may be exposed to outdoor weather conditions and construction environments. Required personal protective equipment may include safety boots, safety glasses, hard hat, and high-visibility vest.
QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION
- Must have a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or related field;
- Canadian Professional Engineering Designation (P.Eng)
- Registered with APEGA or eligible for APEGA registration
EXPERIENCE
- Experience in RF system design and commissioning of technologies listed above.
- Experience with design and documentation tools such as:
- Experience with engineering document control systems such as Synergis Adept is an asset.
- Experience spanning both wireless (RF) and wired telecommunications systems is considered a strong asset. Many projects require integration between RF systems and underlying fibre/copper infrastructure, including backhaul for cellular and radio systems, DAS connectivity, and enterprise network integration.
- Candidates with multidisciplinary experience may have opportunities to contribute to cross-functional system designs and integrated infrastructure projects.
SKILLS
- Strong Telecommunications Engineering system design knowledge.
- Proficiency with engineering tools and software applications.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication abilities.
- High attention to detail and accuracy in engineering documentation.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively within project teams.
- Strong organizational and multitasking capabilities.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The Telecommunications Engineer will work in an office environment and travel to client sites and must be able to spend 98% of the day sitting, and 2% standing. The incumbent will also be required to look at a computer screen for long periods of time. There is a possibility of eye and/or joint strain related to operating computer equipment.
