Systems Engineer 3 - (Transport Engineer 3)

This position is eligible for a hybrid (both remote and onsite) telework arrangement. Candidate's permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

1. Network Design, Contracts, and Implementation:

• Ensure that the Met Council's fiber, copper, and microwave networks, connecting METC facilities to outside organizations, are under contract.
• Understand the types of network transport options available for deployment within METC.
• Plan transport networks, including fiber-optic, microwave, and leased line systems.
• Optimize the existing network to identify cost efficiencies and best practice designs.
• Design scalable network solutions to meet organizational needs and ensure compatibility with existing infrastructure.
• Solicit contracts from vendors for network connectivity to METC sites with varying terms and lengths.
• Create contract initiation memos that adhere to the Metropolitan Council's procurement standards.
• Create new contracts and follow up on renewable contracts.
• Manage project timelines for network extensions, upgrades, and lifecycle replacement efforts.
• Oversee the installation and upgrade of new and existing transport equipment & hardware.
• Ensure quality of work performed in compliance with standard operating policies, State of MN, and Federal law.
• Ensure compliance with safety regulations and work procedures.
• Review technical documents and designs for accuracy
• Flexibility in scheduling to meet business needs.

2. Maintenance and Optimization:

• Monitor network performance to identify bottlenecks and ensure maximum uptime and efficiency.
• Optimize transport network configurations to improve speed, reliability, and scalability.
• Perform regular maintenance, firmware updates, and upgrades on transport network equipment.
• Effectively communicate and coordinate transport outages and maintenance windows to impacted business units.

3. Troubleshooting and Support:

• Diagnose and resolve network transport issues in a timely manner.
• Provide technical support for escalated network problems.
• Work with vendors and service providers to address hardware and connectivity issues.

4. Documentation and Reporting:

• Maintain accurate documentation of vendor contracts, speeds, types of connections, network designs, configurations, and changes.
• Generate reports on network performance, capacity planning, and incident resolution.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and organizational policies.
• Produce documentation to support installation, configuration, troubleshooting, and operator usage of transport systems.

5. Collaboration and Training:

• Collaborate with network architects, security teams, and IT staff to ensure seamless integration of transport systems.
• Provide training and guidance to junior engineers and support staff as needed.

Any of the following combinations of completed education (degree field of study in Telecommunications, Network, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Systems Administration, Systems Engineering and Design, Systems Security, or a related field) and experience (in the design, installation, operation, and troubleshooting of wired and wireless network equipment and related infrastructure):

• High school diploma/GED with nine years of experience
• Associate degree with seven years of experience
• Bachelor's degree with five years of experience
• Master's degree with three years of experience

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in telecommunications, network, computer science, electrical engineering, or a related field preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in network engineering, with a focus on transport technologies.
• Expertise in network protocols such as MPLS, TCP/IP, OSPF, BGP, and Ethernet.
• Experience working in hazardous environments, including substations, power plants, water and wastewater treatment plants
• Hands-on experience with transport technologies like T1, copper, fiber, DWDM, CWDM, SONET, and SDH.
• Familiarity with network monitoring tools and platforms (e.g., SolarWinds, Wireshark).
• Certifications in CCNP, JNCIP, or equivalent.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge and familiarity with standard telecom billing platforms
• Ability to monitor and analyze emerging technologies and industry trends to keep the organization at the forefront of innovation.
• Ability to attain Microsoft AZ-900 fundamentals certification and progress to additional advanced certifications
• Ability to complete Azure DevOps services CI/CD implementation for custom applications
• Ability to define a plan to implement security and quality tooling into CI/CD pipelines
• Skilled in collaboration, facilitation, and mentoring skills
• Strong understanding of overall information security best practices
• Ability to provide excellent quality customer service
• Ability to provide strong attention to detail.
• Ability to provide excellent problem-solving skills to troubleshoot RF, fiber, and other connectivity issues
• Ability to coordinate emergency restoration under time constraints
• Ability to prioritize and balance multiple tasks
• Ability to communicate effectively with peers, business units, and vendors
• Ability to implement corrective actions
• Ability to work independently and with minimal supervision.

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a good work/life balance.

More about why you should join us!

Union/Grade: AFSCME, Grade I
FLSA Status: Exempt
Safety Sensitive: No

What your work environment would be:
You would perform your work in a standard office setting. Work may sometimes require travel between your primary work site and other sites.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

1. We review your minimum qualifications.
2. We rate your education and experience.
3. We conduct a structured panel interview.
4. We conduct a selection interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (safety-sensitive positions only) and a background check, which verifies education, employment, and criminal history. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they relate to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (if moving from a non-safety sensitive position to a safety sensitive position). A criminal background check is required if the job you're applying for is safety sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers, or transit fare cards. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the position.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply.

If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email HR-OCCHealth@metc.state.mn.us.