Network Operations Engineer

Verizon•Akron, OH

10h•Onsite

About The Position

Join Verizon as we continue to build and maintain our industry-leading network across Northeast Ohio. As a Network Operations Engineer III in the Cleveland Zone, you will be in the field 80-85% of the time, working at cell sites, small cells, HUBs, and supporting infrastructure across the Greater Cleveland area and surrounding counties. This role covers the full lifecycle of network operations, from commissioning brand new sites to keeping existing infrastructure performing at its best. We are looking for someone ready to own this role, not just fill it.

Requirements

Associate's degree or two or more years of work experience.
Three or more years of relevant experience required, demonstrated through work experience and/or military experience.
Solid understanding of networking fundamentals including the OSI model, TCP/IP, VLANs, and routing protocols (BGP, ISIS).
Proficiency with Linux and command-line interfaces; comfortable navigating and troubleshooting CLI-driven environments.
Experience connecting via SSH to troubleshoot network devices including routers, switches, and servers.
Willingness to work rotating shifts including weekends and holidays.
Ability to perform physical requirements of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Willingness to travel up to approximately 75% of the time.
Valid driver's license.
Willingness to operate a company vehicle throughout the Greater Cleveland area and Northeast Ohio.

Nice To Haves

CCNA, Network+, or equivalent industry certification.
Hands-on experience with Cisco 540 series (IOS), Ciena 5164 (SAOS), or Nokia platforms.
Understanding of RAN architecture including 4G LTE and 5G NR vDU environments
Familiarity with hub-and-spoke topologies and IEN hub infrastructure.
Familiarity with network and operations management platforms such as USM, CND, INAM, IOP, FUZE, NSP, or OneEMS.
Comfort working outdoors at active cell sites in varying weather and physical conditions.
Exposure to AI tools such as Claude or Gemini in a technical or professional setting.

Responsibilities

Commissioning new cell sites end-to-end including fiber circuit testing, router upgrades, vDU server build-out, RMU installation, alarm verification, network integration, call testing, and 911 testing, then placing the site formally into service with complete and accurate documentation.
Executing circuit upgrades including physical equipment swap-out, testing, validation, cutover, and all required activation documentation.
Supporting small cell deployments and temporary infrastructure for special events.
Coordinating with general contractors to align field schedules and get ahead of commissioning milestones where possible.
Troubleshooting 4G LTE and 5G NR network issues including radio outages, vDU server maintenance, and RAN performance faults.
Connecting via SSH to configure and troubleshoot Cisco 540 series (IOS), Ciena 5164 (SAOS), and Nokia platforms to isolate and resolve network faults.
Diagnosing routing and connectivity issues involving BGP, ISIS, VLANs, hub-and-spoke topologies, and IEN hub infrastructure.
Performing high-level troubleshooting of supporting systems including HVAC, generators, and GPS, recognizing when to escalate and when to resolve.
Navigating the Unified System Manager (Samsung USM) and other network management platforms to identify fault conditions, manage alarms, and track work to resolution.
Completing preventive maintenance at assigned sites accurately and in accordance with established procedures.
Generating, managing, and closing trouble tickets across multiple systems while actively looking for ways to do it better.
Participating in an on-call rotation including nights, weekends, and holidays as part of a 24x7 operations environment.
Bringing new ideas, including AI-assisted workflows, to improve how the team operates.