Fiber Maintenance Technician

East Central Energy•Braham, MN

5d•Onsite

About The Position

East Central Energy (ECE) is hiring a Fiber Maintenance Technician to install, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair its fiber network and member services. The role includes fiber splicing and testing, outage response, aerial and underground construction, and service installations at homes and businesses. The technician identifies network issues, restores service, supports quality construction, and ensures work is completed safely and correctly. The position is based at ECE’s Superior Operations Center in Superior, Wisconsin, and is onsite and field-based with no hybrid option. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Training may require travel to other ECE locations within the service territory. A work truck is provided for business use and must be returned to an ECE location at the end of each workday. ECE describes its culture as guided by Respect, Integrity, Courage, and Humility, and emphasizes its cooperative’s support for local initiatives and communities. The starting wage is $37.20 to $41.86 per hour, based on qualifications, education, and experience.

Requirements

A two-year technical degree and seven years of experience; or at least ten years of fiber-optic construction experience, including single-mode and multimode fiber splicing, construction, repair, bucket-truck operation, and fiber-network maintenance; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Valid driver’s license.
DOT Medical Card, or ability to obtain one within the first month of employment.
Ability to understand GPON and XGS-PON fiber-to-the-home infrastructure, including optical power behavior and loss.
Ability to identify and maintain minimum approach distances when working around aerial fiber-optic cables.
Ability to read and interpret construction prints and manufacturer specifications.
Understanding of Rural Utilities Service codes, rights-of-way, and building construction.
Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations to resolve optical-loss problems and locate faults.
Ability to communicate clearly with members, coworkers, contractors, and other audiences.
Ability to use standard office technology and work-management systems.
Ability to follow safety procedures, report unsafe conditions, and report near misses.
Ability to obtain qualifications aligned with OSHA 1910.268 for telecommunications work in the Power Supply Space.
Ability to safely perform telecommunications work, recognize hazards, follow established procedures, and maintain required distances from energized electrical equipment.

Responsibilities

Splice single-mode loose tube and ribbon fiber, replace fiber-optic connectors, and install or repair splice closures, trays, terminals, drops, and related equipment.
Use tools such as an optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) to diagnose and resolve no-light and low-light issues, locate damaged underground fiber, and restore service following outages.
Read and interpret construction prints, assist with designs and redlines, and complete aerial and underground fiber construction, including conduit, handhole, and Multiport Service Terminal placements.
Install, route, inspect, maintain, and repair aerial and underground fiber-optic cables and equipment, including work within the Power Supply Space while maintaining required safe working distances.
Install, terminate, test, troubleshoot, and repair fiber, Cat 5/6 cabling, ONTs, gateways, and Voice over Internet Protocol telephone service at homes and businesses.
Meet with members before installation or repair work, explain the planned approach, and provide information about internet services and equipment.
Request emergency locates, document outage-related incidents, isolate damaged fiber, and help oversee contractor restoration efforts.
Inspect vehicles, tools, personal protective equipment, and company-provided equipment, and follow established safety procedures.
Coordinate with the Broadband department and provide oversight and quality control for contract installation technicians.
Maintain inventory and work-order records and manage field progress using an iPad or laptop.

Benefits

100% employer-paid medical insurance.
Employer contributions to a Health Savings Account (HSA).
Dental insurance.
Vision insurance.
Short-Term Disability (STD).
Long-Term Disability (LTD).
Tuition reimbursement.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
401(k) plan with up to a 10% employer contribution.
40 hours of PTO after the first eight-hour workday, with additional PTO accrued weekly based on years of service.
Ten paid holidays.