Network Operations Engineer, Network Activation

OpenAI • San Francisco, CA

4d • $157,000 - $221,000

About The Position

This role focuses on the hands-on and automation aspects of bringing network circuits (WAN, fiber, carrier, and cloud-interconnect) into service. The Network Operations Engineer will collaborate with various teams and providers to ensure connections are verified, stable, and ready for use. Key responsibilities include Layer 1 troubleshooting, circuit bring-up, and developing workflows for precise technician actions, feedback capture, and successful handoffs. The ideal candidate will possess strong physical networking judgment combined with practical automation skills, including proficiency with patch panels, optics, provider coordination, operational data, scripting, and LLM tooling.

Requirements

• Have 3+ years of hands-on network operations, carrier activation, data-center network deployment, field engineering, optical transport, or related infrastructure experience; equivalent practical experience is valued.
• Can trace an end-to-end circuit across cross-connects, fiber pairs, patch panels, carrier demarcations, optics, and both A-side and Z-side device ports.
• Troubleshoot optical faults using inspection/cleaning tools, optical power meters, VFL, OLTS/OTDR evidence, DOM/DDM, interface status, and provider test results.
• Understand single-mode/multimode fiber, LC and MPO/MTP connectors, duplex polarity, TX/RX paths, wavelength and power budgets, and 100G/400G/800G optics.
• Have worked with carriers, colocation providers, remote hands, AWS Direct Connect, Azure ExpressRoute, or Google Cloud Interconnect, and persist through multi-party ownership gaps.
• Can build practical automation with scripts, APIs, and structured data, and safely translate LLM-generated analysis into validated actions for data-center technicians.

Responsibilities

• Own Layer 1 activation and restoration for carrier circuits, dark fiber, wavelengths, Ethernet handoffs, and dedicated cloud interconnects across data centers and points of presence.
• Reconcile complete A-side/Z-side as-builts: circuit IDs, LOAs/CFAs, carrier demarcations, MMR/ODF/MDF and patch-panel positions, fiber pairs, cross-connects, optics, and device ports.
• Investigate no-light, low-light, wrong-port, link-flap, and error-rate issues across providers and CSPs; isolate continuity, dirty connectors, polarity, incorrect patching, incompatible optics or media, wavelength/power-budget problems, breakout, speed, and FEC/PCS mismatches.
• Guide remote hands, carrier technicians, CSP operations, and colocation teams through targeted inspection/cleaning, VFL, optical power, OTDR/OLTS, approved loopback, and per-lane DOM/DDM tests.
• Verify service acceptance on both sides: correct circuit and port, admin/operational state, compatible optics, light levels, speed/FEC, clean counters, stable link, and Layer 2/3 handoff readiness.
• Own tickets and troubleshooting bridges through resolution; identify the blocker and A-side/Z-side owner, drive follow-ups, escalate with evidence, and prevent premature closure.
• Execute smart-hands and change work safely: name the exact circuit, port, and fiber pair; protect adjacent live services; get approval before intrusive tests, repatches, shutdowns, or loopbacks; and maintain rollback.
• Deliver complete production handoffs with verified mappings, provider/CSP references, test results, interface evidence, incident history, risks, and clear ownership; improve runbooks and prevent repeat faults.
• Automate the full circuit-bring-up lifecycle: structure circuit, port, and patch-panel data; ingest telemetry and provider tickets; generate LLM-assisted diagnostics and technician-ready instructions; track ownership and evidence; and preserve explicit human approval for intrusive work.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed