Maintenance Technician 2 (1104)

Ripple Fiber•Itasca, IL

19h•Onsite

About The Position

At Ripple Fiber, we deliver more than high-speed internet. We’re creating a ripple effect by producing opportunities and brighter futures for the residents of the communities we serve. Join America’s most innovative, industry-leading fiber internet company, and help shape the future. We believe the biggest wave starts as a ripple. This role involves advanced troubleshooting of optical fiber networks, including FTTH XGS-PON systems, as well as WiFi optimization. You will be responsible for maintaining and repairing outside plant fiber optic infrastructure, spanning from Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) to Optical Line Terminals (OLT). Your work will be critical in delivering fast, reliable internet service to our customers.

Requirements

1-2 years of experience in any technical fieldwork (OSP/ISP or similar).
Basic knowledge of fiber networks or WiFi
Familiarity with tools like OTDR, fusion splicers, or bandwidth testers (or eagerness to learn them).
Curiosity about TCP/IP, IP addressing, and tools like NetSpot, iPerf, or Ookla.

Nice To Haves

Certifications (preferred but not required).
FOA Certified Fiber Optic Technician (CFOT) or similar.
OSHA or safety certifications for OSP work.

Responsibilities

Dive into maintaining and fixing OSP fiber optic systems (aerial, underground, handholes, splice enclosures) with expert guidance.
Learn to locate and repair fiber faults using cool tools like OTDR, power meters, and visual fault locators.
Perform routine inspections and preventive maintenance to keep our network running smoothly.
Splice, terminate, and test fiber optic cables.
Keep detailed records of work (splicing diagrams, OTDR traces, maintenance logs) to stay organized.
Audit fiber routes and update GIS/plant documentation to keep our systems up to date.
Diagnosing and fixing issues across XGS-PON networks (from CPE to OLT) through hands-on training.
Monitor bandwidth, spot congestion, and tackle signal issues to keep connections blazing fast.
Configuring, replacing, or reprovisioning ONT’s.
Troubleshoot WiFi issues (coverage, interference, device limits) using tools like WiFi analyzers, iPerf, and Ookla.
Learn to optimize routers, channels, and settings (2.4GHz, 5GHz, WiFi 6) to boost performance.
Solve customer speed complaints by testing throughput and finding bottlenecks (CPE, wiring, or OLT).
Educate customers on WiFi best practices to make their internet experience awesome.