Optical Staff Network Engineer

We are seeking a highly experienced Optical Network Engineer to join our IT Infrastructure team as a Staff Engineer. In this critical role, you will lead the design, deployment, and ongoing operations of our long-haul dark fiber and Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) networks. You will play a pivotal role in scaling our Wide Area Network (WAN) backbone to support rapid business growth, collaborating closely with the IP WAN backbone team to ensure seamless integration, high availability, and optimal performance. This position requires deep technical expertise in optical networking, a proactive problem-solving mindset, and the ability to drive innovative solutions in a fast-paced environment. As a Staff Engineer, you will mentor junior team members, influence strategic network architecture decisions, and contribute to long-term infrastructure roadmaps. If you thrive on building resilient, high-capacity networks that power global connectivity, this is your opportunity to make a significant impact.

• Network Design and Architecture: Lead the design of scalable long-haul dark fiber and DWDM optical networks, including capacity planning, route optimization, and integration with existing IP WAN infrastructure to accommodate business expansion
• Deployment and Implementation: Oversee the deployment of optical network equipment, including transponders, multiplexers, amplifiers, and ROADMs (Reconfigurable Optical Add-Drop Multiplexers), ensuring minimal downtime and adherence to best practices for fiber optic installations
• Operations and Maintenance: Manage day-to-day operations of dark fiber and DWDM systems, including performance monitoring, fault isolation, troubleshooting, and proactive maintenance to achieve 99.999% uptime and low latency
• Collaboration and Scaling: Partner with the IP WAN backbone team to integrate optical layers with Layer 3 routing, enabling scalable bandwidth growth. Conduct capacity assessments and recommend upgrades to support increasing data demands from cloud services, edge computing, and enterprise applications
• Innovation and Optimization: Evaluate emerging optical technologies (e.g., coherent optics, 400G/800G transceivers) and implement efficiencies to reduce costs, improve spectral efficiency, and enhance network resilience against failures
• Compliance and Security: Ensure all designs and operations comply with industry standards (e.g., ITU-T, IEEE), regulatory requirements, and internal security policies, including fiber path diversity for redundancy
• Documentation and Mentoring: Maintain detailed network documentation, diagrams, and procedures. Provide technical guidance and mentorship to cross-functional teams and junior engineers
• 8+ years of hands-on experience in optical networking, with at least 4 years focused on long-haul dark fiber and DWDM systems. Proven track record in designing and operating carrier-grade optical networks at scale
• Expertise in DWDM technologies, including Ciena, Nokia, or Infinera platforms; dark fiber management; and optical transport protocols (e.g., OTN, SONET/SDH)
• Strong knowledge of fiber optics fundamentals (e.g., attenuation, dispersion, OSNR) and tools like OTDR, power meters, and spectrum analyzers
• Proficiency in IP-optical integration, including MPLS, BGP, and SDN controllers (e.g., Nokia NSP, Ciena Blue Planet)
• Experience with network modeling tools (e.g., PathLoss, OptiSystem) and automation/scripting (Python, Ansible) for network orchestration
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities; strong communication skills for collaborating with stakeholders; ability to lead projects in a dynamic, growth-oriented environment
• Experience in hyperscale or enterprise WAN environments; familiarity with undersea or terrestrial long-haul fiber routes; knowledge of sustainable networking practices (e.g., energy-efficient optics)

Benefits

Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:

• Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction
• Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits
• Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution
• Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSA
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• 401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits
• Company paid Basic Life, AD&D
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid Holidays
• Back-up childcare and parenting support resources
• Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance
• Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs
• Tesla Babies program
• Commuter benefits
• Employee discounts and perks program