Data Center Optical Engineer- Plano, TX

Data Center Optical Engineer – Field Services in Plano, TX (Onsite / Travel Required)

Our client is seeking a highly motivated and skilled Data Center Optical Engineer to support customer environments and colocation facilities. This role focuses on the reliable installation, maintenance, testing, troubleshooting, migration, and operation of optical fiber and transport infrastructure within large-scale data centers.
The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on experience with fiber optic cabling, optical testing, data center operations, and transport troubleshooting, along with proven team leadership and customer-facing experience. This position requires someone who can maintain high standards of quality, audit work performed by technicians, communicate directly with customers, and lead new business at customer locations across the United States.
This is a great opportunity for an experienced fiber/data center professional who enjoys hands-on technical work, customer interaction, and travel. The successful candidate must be willing to travel up to 100%, including traveling to non-home-market locations for several weeks at a time when required.

Contract Duration: 6 – 24 Months

Required Skills & Experience

• 2.5+ years of experience in fiber installation, with 1.5+ years of experience working in a large-scale data center environment.
• Proven experience working in data center operations or a similar technical environment.
• Strong hands-on experience with connectorized fiber optic cabling.
• Experience working with single-mode and multi-mode fiber.
• Experience with LC connectors, fan-outs, structured cabling, and fiber patch panels.
• Hands-on experience with optical testing and troubleshooting.
• Experience using optical power meters, stabilized light sources, VFLs, OTDRs, and optical test equipment.
• Proven team lead experience.
• Strong customer-facing communication skills with the ability to interact directly with customers.
• Ability to read and interpret Methods of Procedure (MoPs), engineering documentation, vendor documentation, network diagrams, cut sheets, and physical network designs.
• Strong written and verbal English communication skills.
• Excellent organizational, administrative, and documentation skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Windows-based applications.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• High integrity, self-motivation, and ability to work independently.
• Ability to multitask and remain composed in fast-paced, high-availability environments.
• Willingness to travel to customer locations and lead new business.
• Ability to support travel requirements ranging from 0–100%.

Desired Skills & Experience

• Experience supporting optical transport networks within large-scale data centers.
• Experience with fiber migrations, remediation, break/fix, decommissioning, and remote hands services.
• Experience auditing third-party technician work and providing immediate technical feedback.
• Experience working with customer ticketing systems and service management platforms.
• Experience leading teams in customer data center environments.
• Experience with optical power calculations and fiber link testing.
• Experience working with optical transport equipment and infrastructure.
• Familiarity with AWS Outposts environments.
• Experience using IFS or similar field service applications.
• Experience working with customer-specific tools, processes, and documentation.
• Strong understanding of fiber cleaning, inspection, connector handling, and proper fiber installation practices.

What You Will Be Doing

• Lead and support optical infrastructure work within customer data centers and colocation facilities.
• Conduct daily audits of work performed by third-party technicians on behalf of the client.
• Provide immediate feedback to technicians to maintain quality, safety, and installation standards.
• Interact directly with customers through ticketing systems and face-to-face communications.
• Provide clear, concise reports, updates, and status information to customers and internal stakeholders.
• Assist with fiber installation, decommissioning, break/fix, remediation, migration, and remote hands activities.
• Conduct and/or supervise optical testing and troubleshooting.
• Use optical power meters, stabilized light sources, VFLs, OTDRs, and other optical test equipment.
• Execute Methods of Procedure (MoPs), engineering documents, vendor documentation, and network diagrams accurately.
• Read and interpret cut sheets and physical network design documents to ensure accurate port connections.
• Verify proper fiber routing, connections, labeling, and cable management.
• Lead technical activities at customer locations and support new business kickoffs.
• Travel to non-home-market locations, potentially for several weeks at a time.
• Work closely with customers, engineers, vendors, and third-party technicians.
• Ensure all work is completed according to safety, quality, and operational requirements.
• Troubleshoot fiber and optical transport issues and coordinate appropriate resolution.
• Document work activities, test results, discrepancies, and corrective actions.
• Maintain high standards of execution across installation, migration, remediation, and break/fix activities.

Technical Knowledge Check
Candidates should be able to independently demonstrate practical knowledge of fiber optics. The following technical concepts are considered essential:

• Optical Power: Given -3 dBm, -5 dBm, and -7 dBm, identify -3 dBm as the strongest signal.
• Fiber Cleaning: Know appropriate fiber cleaning methods, including CLETOP, one-click cleaners/click-stiks, and lint-free wipes with 99% isopropyl alcohol.
• Loopback: Understand how to place a loopback on a fiber pair through the front of a patch panel without disconnecting the rear connections.
• Fiber Identification: Know that yellow fiber is used for single-mode fiber in the scenario described.

Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate this level of hands-on fiber knowledge during the screening process.
Tech Breakdown

• 30% Fiber Optic Installation, Maintenance & Remediation
• 20% Optical Testing & Troubleshooting
• 15% Data Center Operations & Infrastructure
• 15% Team Leadership & Customer Interaction
• 10% Auditing, Quality Control & Documentation
• 5% Fiber Migration / Break-Fix / Decommissioning
• 5% Field Service Tools, Ticketing & Reporting

Daily Responsibilities

• 35% Hands-On Fiber / Optical Engineering
• 20% Testing, Troubleshooting & Remediation
• 15% Technician Auditing & Quality Control
• 15% Customer Interaction & Technical Reporting
• 10% Team Leadership & Coordination
• 5% Documentation, Ticketing & Administrative Activities

Travel & Work Requirements

• Travel: 0–100%, depending on business requirements.
• Must be willing to travel to customer locations across the United States.
• Must be willing to travel to a non-home-market location with limited notice.
• Travel assignments may last several weeks at a time.
• Must be willing to travel to customer locations for kickoff activities and to lead new business.
• Must be comfortable working in active data center environments.
• Ability to lift and move equipment weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Comfortable working at heights and in varying environmental conditions.
• Must follow all applicable safety and operational requirements.

Mobile Device Requirements
An Android device is preferred for work application enrollment and is required for certain use cases, including AWS Outposts and specific IFS-related activities.
For Android devices:

• Android 15 or later
• Security patch level of September 2025 or newer
• Hotspot capability with access to a reliable data plan
• Device must not be manufactured by restricted brands specified by the client
• Candidates without a compliant device at onboarding will need to secure one for the duration of the required work.

For iOS/iPadOS devices:

• iOS/iPadOS 26.3 or later

What You’ll Bring
The successful candidate will combine strong fiber optic and data center technical expertise with proven leadership and customer-facing skills. You should be comfortable working hands-on with single-mode and multi-mode fiber, optical testing equipment, patch panels, structured cabling, and optical transport infrastructure.
You should also be able to lead technicians, audit work for quality, communicate directly with customers, interpret technical documentation, and troubleshoot issues under pressure. Because this position can require extensive travel, the ideal candidate is flexible, self-motivated, and comfortable working at customer sites across the country.
A strong candidate will have the technical knowledge to recognize proper fiber installation and cleaning practices, understand optical power levels, perform testing and troubleshooting, and maintain high standards of execution across complex data center projects.
We are Connectors. We thrive on ‘quality over quantity’ and put the work into building strong relationships. We create connections, discover qualities, uncover skills, and place people with accuracy. We are your true partner!
We are Collaborators. You’ll be working with a wholly owned subsidiary of Kelly and part of the Kelly Telecom division. It allows us to be as nimble and fiercely competitive as a startup while having the backing of a multibillion-dollar publicly traded company that has been in business for 75 years. With direct access to hiring managers, services don’t stop at standard recruiting processes. We use our expertise to improve your application skills and provide ongoing career support.
We give 24/7 Support. We are in this together. We provide around-the-clock availability, competitive employee benefits, and continuously check in to make sure things are going smoothly. Check out our Glassdoor page!

As part of our promise to talent, Kelly supports those who work with us through a variety of benefits, perks, and work-related resources. Kelly offers eligible employees voluntary benefit plans including medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, term life, whole life, accident insurance, critical illness, a legal plan, and short-term disability.

As a Kelly employee, you will have access to a retirement savings plan, service bonus and holiday pay plans (earn up to eight paid holidays per benefit year), and a transit spending account. In addition, employees are entitled to earn paid sick leave under the applicable state or local plan.

Click here for more information on benefits and perks that may be available to you as a member of the Kelly Talent Community.