OSP Plant Engineer

Pearce Services • Rockford, Illinois • 1m ago

At PEARCE, we've got a career for you!

Join the nation’s leading independent service provider for critical telecommunication and renewable energy infrastructure. We are the premier independent service provider for our nation’s critical infrastructure. With over 2,500 team members nationwide, Pearce delivers comprehensive engineering, maintenance, repair, and repowering solutions, ensuring the seamless operation of our nation’s wireless and wireline telecom, commercial and utility-scale solar and wind projects, EV charging stations, as well as large-scale power generation, critical power and energy storage assets.

Your Impact:

Pearce is seeking a detail-oriented and experienced OSP Engineer to support telecommunications infrastructure projects across the Freeport to East Dubuque corridor in Illinois. This role focuses on the design, planning, and implementation of outside plant (OSP) projects involving copper and fiber networks. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in engineering, permitting, and construction coordination, along with the ability to manage budgets and ensure compliance with company and industry standards.

Core Responsibilities:

Engineering & Design

Design and plan outside plant facilities for copper and fiber infrastructure (aerial, buried, conduit).
Prepare and review engineering drawings, loop loss calculations, and switch serving area designs.
Conduct field measurements for poles, conduits, and buried facilities to support network design.
Develop project budgets, monitor actual costs, and conduct job inspections for quality assurance.

Permitting & Compliance

Prepare, organize, and submit permit packages to relevant agencies (Township, County, State, DNR, Railroad, Pipeline, etc.).
Ensure designs meet permitting regulations and engineering standards.

Field Coordination

Meet with municipal and government officials to coordinate around road projects (travel required; mileage reimbursed).
Collaborate with other utilities to coordinate relocations, minimize conflicts, and avoid project delays.
Support service orders, subdivision expansions, road relocations, dark fiber MDUs, and more.
Update FROGS (CAD), Varasset, and SiteTracker tools as required.

Project & Construction Support

Coordinate with SSP contractors to ensure timely and budget-conscious project completion.
Assist with make-ready work and joint-use coordination for Frontier-owned poles.
Conduct site surveys, support PUC complaint investigations, and create capital projects (e.g., for cell towers or plant repairs).
Address and resolve plant damage requests (DOR/PDR), cable count changes, and other network service needs.

Administrative Support

Maintain records, update engineering files, and process departmental documentation.
Draft and type correspondence, reports, and engineering support documents.

Core Experience:

3–5+ years of hands-on experience in copper and fiber optic network engineering.
Minimum 5 years in network engineering or OSP-related work, including permitting and fiber record management.
Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
Proficiency in Frontier engineering tools and systems, including FROGS, Varasset, and SiteTracker.
Skilled in communication and collaboration with municipal officials, utility companies, contractors, and cross-functional teams.
In-depth knowledge of permitting procedures and OSP construction practices.
Willingness to travel locally for fieldwork and meetings (mileage reimbursed).
Must reside within 1 hour of Freeport, IL, to support regional field requirements.

At Pearce, we are committed to fair and transparent pay practices. Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, and location.

In addition to wages, employees may also be eligible for performance and referral bonuses, production incentives, tool/equipment and fuel stipends, company vehicle, per diem or other applicable compensation. We also offer all full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package includinghealth and life insurance, 401k with employer match, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and professional development courses.

This pay range reflects our commitment to pay equity and compliance with state and federal pay transparency laws. If you have questions about compensation, we encourage open discussions during the hiring process.

Base Pay Range

$36—$38 USD

What We Offer

Pearce offers a family-friendly and innovative culture with opportunities for growth, competitive compensation, comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental and vision insurance, flexible spending accounts, HSA option. To help you recharge, we have paid vacation and paid holidays. For your future, we offer a company-matching 401(k) Retirement, Life Insurance, Tuition reimbursement, and professional development training. To help you be successful at work, as required for the role, we will provide a company vehicle, phone, laptop, or tablet along with all necessary tools and safety equipment.

At PEARCE, we are an equal opportunity employer dedicated to cultivating an inclusive environment that empowers employees to excel and make a meaningful impact, providing a dynamic space for field technicians, service specialists, and corporate professionals to flourish and propel their careers forward within our nationwide presence and expansive service offerings.

Learn more about us at www.Pearce-Services.com!