Transport Engineer

TRANSPORT ENGINEER Department: Outside Plant Reports to: Market Development Engineering Lead POSITION SUMMARY The Transport Engineer is responsible for owning the design, coordination, and delivery of the company’s transport and backhaul connectivity that enables broadband service across the network. This role serves as the critical bridge between network architecture, external transport providers, and internal service delivery teams, ensuring that the underlying transport infrastructure is designed, procured, and delivered in alignment with operational timelines and business objectives. Unlike roles focused on outside plant construction or IP network configuration, the Transport Engineer is accountable for the end-to-end lifecycle of transport connectivity—from evaluating backhaul options and engineering resilient routes, to managing carrier relationships and coordinating circuit delivery to support new markets, network expansions, and capacity upgrades. The position ensures that transport infrastructure is delivered reliably, cost-effectively, and on schedule to support service activation and ongoing network performance. RESPONSIBILITIES Backhaul Network Design & Architecture Design and engineer transport and backhaul solutions supporting IP Transit, Ethernet, and wavelength services. Develop end-to-end backhaul connectivity between data centers, headends, POPs, and aggregation sites. Design transport infrastructure using technologies such as DWDM, ROADM, Carrier Ethernet, and optical transport systems. Produce engineering documentation including network diagrams, capacity models, route designs, and technical implementation plans. Identify opportunities to improve network resiliency through route diversity, redundancy, and failover strategies. Support long-term transport capacity planning and network scalability. Vendor & Carrier Relationship Management Serve as the primary technical point of contact for transport carriers, fiber providers, and infrastructure partners. Evaluate and procure transport services including dark fiber, leased wavelengths, Ethernet circuits, and IRUs. Review vendor engineering designs, fiber routes, and construction plans to ensure compliance with network standards. Manage vendor relationships including pricing negotiations, contract coordination, and service delivery timelines. Monitor vendor performance against SLAs and coordinate resolution of delivery delays or service issues. Service Delivery & Project Management Lead transport and backhaul projects from design through service activation. Develop project scopes, timelines, and risk assessments for new transport builds, capacity upgrades, and network expansions. Coordinate across internal teams including: OSP Engineering Construction Network Engineering NOC / Operations Field Operations Manage vendor milestones to ensure timely circuit delivery and service turn-up. Provide status updates, risk assessments, and progress reports to leadership and stakeholders. Maintain project documentation including SOWs, change orders, and implementation plans. Network Planning & Optimization Analyze traffic patterns and forecast backhaul capacity needs across the network. Recommend upgrades, regrooms, and architecture improvements to maintain performance and reliability. Maintain accurate records of: Circuit inventories Fiber routes Backhaul topology Site connectivity within OSS and inventory systems. CORE COMPETENCIES There are several competencies required to be successful in this position. The following are some of the most important and definitions of each are included at the end of this job posting: Project Management, Detail-Orientation, and Business Acumen. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications, Engineering, or related field; equivalent experience may be considered. Demonstrated ability to operate independently in a fast‑moving environment 5+ years of experience in network infrastructure planning and operations, preferably within a telecom service provider. Strong understanding of Layer 1/2 transport technologies including fiber optics, DWDM, Carrier Ethernet, and MPLS. Experience working with carriers and dark fiber providers; contract negotiation and vendor management skills. Proficient in network planning tools and circuit inventory systems. Excellent project management, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Experience with GIS platforms and fiber route mapping tools. Familiarity with OSS and network inventory systems. Industry certifications such as Network+, CCNA, or JNCIA. Experience supporting ISP or broadband network deployments. JOB DETAILS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS This role requires Moderate travel up to 25% of the time for activities such as out-of-town meetings, trainings, projects, client meetings, or outreach activities. Some travel may require the employee to work weekends or holidays. Must be authorized to work in the United States. Valid Driver’s license and ability to pass an MVR screen. This is a staff position. This is an Exempt position. This is a Full-Time position. This is a Remote position. The schedule for this position is generally Monday through Friday during standard business hours but may require nighttime or weekend availability as needed to fulfill the core duties of the role. This position requires the ability to work outdoors in various extreme weather conditions, such as extreme heat or cold, rain or snow. This position requires the ability to stand, walk, and climb on uneven surfaces and ladders for extended periods of time. This position requires the ability to sit and work at a desk for extended periods of time, using a computer and other office equipment. This position requires the ability to perform fine motor tasks, such as typing or using a mouse, for extended period of time. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS Base pay is paid at an annual salary rate. The range for this position is $90,000 to $120,000 depending on experience. This position may be eligible for a 5% discretionary bonus in accordance with the Company’s bonus policy. Paid Life Insurance, medical plans, PTO, holidays. Dental and vision options. 401(k) with match. ABOUT VERO Vero Broadband was formed to fill a need in unserviceable and underserved communities where access to affordable, reliable broadband simply does not exist. Our goal is to bring the highest quality fiber optic-based broadband services to these communities. In addition, Vero strives to enhance communities by becoming an active partner in these communities by adding jobs, supporting local causes, and helping improve the connectivity of schools and rural healthcare as well. NOTICES Vero participates in E-Verify. Vero will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. For more information about E-Verify, please visit: www.e-verify.gov This position requires the ability to pass a standard background check upon offer of position. At least 2 professional references are required. CORE COMPETENCY DEFINITIONS Project Management: Employees with a competency in project management are able to develop project plans, coordinate projects, communicate changes and progress, completes project on time and budget, and generally manage project team activities. Detail-Orientation: Detail-oriented employees are accurate, punctual, self-organized, and generally highly professional. At a basic level, detail-oriented workers meet deadlines and produce work with few errors. Advanced qualities include organizing project teams to get the most out of every participant, assessing project requirements, and creating detailed plans. Business Acumen: Employees with business acumen understand business implications of decisions and will display an orientation towards profitability, or the best decision for the company. These individuals are able to demonstrate knowledge of the market and competition and align their work with the strategic goals of the company. Vero Fiber