An Outside Plant (OSP) engineer, also known as an OSP Telecom Engineer,works in the telecommunications industry to design, build, and maintain telecommunication infrastructure.OSP engineers are responsible for the entire fiber network and are the backbone of telecom and service provider companies.

Some responsibilities of an OSP engineer are:

• Design efficient and cost-effective fiber optic cable routing and fiber strand assignments.They also design detailed engineering plans, costs, and schedules for projects.
• Construction
  • Manage all phases of project construction through completion, including aerial and underground cable installations, conduit and fiber optic equipment installations, and pole replacements.
• Maintenance
  • Troubleshoot, identify, and repair problems on the network.They also perform estimations and calculations to adjust variations in cable lengths and examine faults and errors in existing lines.
• Support
  • Provide technical support to outside plant operations, engage with customers in the field, and process work orders.They also ensure all aspects of Right of Way (ROW)/Permitting are approved by required permitting entities.
• Communication
  • Regularly communicate with team members and clients on project progress. OSP engineers should have critical thinking and problem-solving skills, be creative thinkers, and be able to express themselves verbally and in writing.Most companies prefer an industrial engineering degree, but almost any engineering degree can satisfy a potential employer when paired with the right experience.