Outside Plant Engineer

Ritter Communications has been at the forefront of the local communications industry for more than a century. We began providing telephone service in Northeast Arkansas in 1906. Today, Ritter Communications serves 92 communities and more than 45,000 customers across Arkansas, northeast Texas, southeast Missouri, and west Tennessee. The company has grown steadily over the years, expanding rapidly and is now the largest privately-held regional broadband fiber, telecom, video and cloud services provider in the Mid-South. Ritter invests heavily in the communities it serves by deploying proven, best-in-class infrastructure and technology, while coupling it with a world-class customer focused experience.

We are looking for an experienced Telecommunications Outside Plant Engineer to join our team in the Texarkana area.

General Summary

The OSP Engineer works closely with the OSP Engineering Manager and other OSP staff by assisting in the preparation of long range plans, exchange and system designs, forecasts, estimates, budgets, plans and specifications, inspection, testing and other related duties. This role maintains a close working relationship with the Construction team to support build activities within the network. Additional duties include contract preparation, administration and finalizing documents.

Essential Job Functions

• Plans and prepares detailed drawings and staking sheets for new construction, removal or rearrangement of existing aerial or underground lines, cable and conduits;
• Ensures compliance with RUS and industry specifications by staking all lines to be built. Organizes and files necessary paperwork and staking sheets;
• Selects routing of lines and determines equipment requirements as appropriate;
• Prepares detailed construction and installation drawings and estimates equipment, labor and material costs;
• Directs construction work activities to ensure conformance with engineering specifications;
• May supervise inspection of work orders and verifying tabulation of contractor staking sheets;
• Ensures accurate and up-to-date facility CAD maps;
• Advises and researches new technologies and identifies areas of the plant that need to be upgraded;
• Prepares work authorization request with drawings for Engineering Manager;
• Attends various meetings with management, departments and vendors to ensure company objectives are met;
• Participates in inter-departmental planning meetings to coordinate and communicate activities related to the successful completion of projects;
• Makes job safety a primary objective in all duties;
• Travels to customer sites, project areas, business related events, and other Ritter Communications locations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of telecommunications construction and engineering practices and principals;
• Knowledge of industry regulations affecting engineering projects;
• Knowledge of company products and services;
• Knowledge of company policies and procedures;
• Skill in operating various office equipment such as personal computer, various software programs, and telephone systems;
• Skill in problem identification and resolution;
• Skill in oral and written communication;
• Skill in reading and interpreting technical documents and forms including work orders, staking sheets, schematics and specification manuals;
• Ability to communicate with customers, employees, and various business contacts in a professional and courteous manner;
• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple work assignments;
• Ability to pay close attention to detail;
• Ability to work independently;
• Ability to make sound decisions using information at hand;
• Ability to work within a team environment;
• Ability to travel for business requirements; must possess a valid Driver's License with a satisfactory driving record.

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related field plus five years of telecommunications engineering experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.

Ritter Communications is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We strive to maintain a drug-free workplace.

We offer competitive compensation and an outstanding benefits package including health, dental, vision, cancer, accident and life insurance, short-term and long-term disability, 401(k) with company match, flexible spending accounts, free gym membership, company discounts, tuition reimbursement, paid training, paid leave, and much more!

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