Planning and Design Engineer

Planning and Design Engineer

• Title: Fiber Network Survey & Design Specialist 

• Location: Houston, TX 

• Schedule: Onsite 4 days per week 

• Hours: 6:00 AM - 3:00 PM CST 

• Employment Type: Contract (W2) 

• Pay Rate: $28.00/hour 

• Benefits: Optional Medical, Dental, Vision, and 401(k) 

Position Overview 

We are seeking an experienced Fiber Network Survey & Design Specialist to support engineering, serviceability, and network planning initiatives. The ideal candidate will bring advanced fiber optic knowledge, telecom planning and design experience, and the ability to analyze plats, public utility easements, deeds, and county assessor records to support network expansion and service delivery. 

This role is responsible for conducting serviceability reviews, survey analysis, route planning, permitting support, and engineering documentation across a variety of network products and services. Success in this position requires strong technical expertise, operational discipline, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while meeting established service level agreements (SLAs). 

Key Responsibilities 

Engineering & Survey Support 

• Own and resolve serviceability reviews, point-to-point (P2P) routing requests, and survey deliverables within established SLA targets. 

• Support survey-related activities for: 

  • Residential Fiber 

  • Commercial and SMB Fiber 

  • Metro Ethernet 

  • Cell Backhaul 

  • Managed Wave Services 

  • Dark Fiber 

  • Coaxial Network Services 

  • Sales-driven connectivity requests 

• Review and interpret plats, deeds, public utility easements, and county assessor records to support network planning and design decisions. 

• Evaluate completed survey packages and determine permit requirements. 

• Update walkout estimates when project scope exceeds base estimates. 

• Assign and manage permitting activities, including "All Permits" tasks when required. 

• Select appropriate warehouse and resource assignments to support design execution. 

• Manage information gathering, escalations, and survey quality control processes. 

• Resolve hold tasks and ensure timely progression of projects through the engineering lifecycle. 

Fiber Design & Documentation 

• Support fiber network planning, routing, and design activities. 

• Maintain accurate fiber documentation and engineering records. 

• Apply knowledge of fiber multiplexing standards, network architectures, and cable routing methodologies. 

• Design and evaluate support structures using current engineering tools and applications. 

• Create and maintain clear technical documentation, engineering updates, and stakeholder communications. 

Operational Excellence 

• Utilize reporting tools daily to manage workload and track project status. 

• Ensure all assigned Swivel tasks and Design Inbox items are completed by the end of each business day unless otherwise directed. 

• Support walkout management, Right of Entry (ROE) requests, permit coordination, quality control efforts, and operational reporting requirements. 

• Maintain compliance with established processes, standards, and performance expectations. 

• Proactively identify risks, roadblocks, and solutions to ensure SLA adherence. 

Stakeholder Collaboration 

• Serve as a trusted technical resource for internal and external stakeholders. 

• Provide guidance, recommendations, feedback, and solutions to support business objectives. 

• Conduct weekly meetings with business partners to review successes, opportunities, training needs, and process improvements. 

• Attend team meetings, business updates, and required training sessions. 

Required Qualifications 

• Advanced knowledge of fiber optic network design and construction. 

• Experience in telecommunications planning, engineering, or network design. 

• Ability to read and interpret plats, easements, deeds, engineering drawings, and schematics. 

• Strong understanding of: 

  • Fiber network design 

  • Fiber multiplexing standards 

  • Fiber documentation practices 

  • Cable routing methodologies 

  • Easement identification 

  • Support structure design 

• Experience researching county assessor, GIS, and public records systems. 

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills. 

• Ability to manage multiple priorities while meeting deadlines and SLA requirements. 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Background in map reading and utility schematics. 

• Experience with fiber walkout, permitting, and Right of Entry processes. 

• Familiarity with telecom engineering, serviceability reviews, and route planning. 

• Experience supporting large-scale fiber deployment projects. 

Professional Development Expectations 

• Take ownership of personal and professional development. 

• Identify skill gaps, training needs, and operational challenges. 

• Track progress against performance goals and development plans. 

• Seek opportunities to expand technical knowledge and business understanding. 

• Apply feedback and lessons learned to continuously improve quality, efficiency, and performance. 

• Demonstrate accountability, responsiveness, and a proactive approach to problem solving. 

Success Factors 

The successful candidate will be a highly accountable and technically skilled telecom professional who consistently delivers accurate engineering support, maintains strong SLA performance, communicates effectively with stakeholders, and takes ownership of both operational results and professional growth. 

Why Should I Apply? 

Join a team accountable for delivering accurate engineering support, maintaining SLA performance, and proactively managing workload while partnering closely with stakeholders. Apply to contribute to a disciplined, growth-focused environment with strong expectations for ownership and continuous development. 

About CEI: 

As a trusted technology partner, CEI delivers solutions that help our customers transform their business and achieve meaningful results. From strategy and custom application development through application management - our technology and digital experience services are tailored to meet each unique need of our customers. Our staffing solutions bring specialized skills to complement our customers'' workforce and project requirements. 

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