Outside Plant Technician

Outside Plant Technician

Appalachian Electric Cooperative (AEC) provides electric service to 50,000 members in East Tennessee. We own and maintain an electric distribution system that covers 600 square miles in parts of Grainger, Hamblen, Hawkins, Jefferson, and Sevier counties.

We currently have an opportunity for an Outside Plant Technician position in our New Market, Tennessee office. The Outside Plant Technician is responsible for the effective installation, troubleshooting, repair and maintenance of fiber to the x (FTTx) outside plant including but not limited to fiber optic cables, drop cables, optical splitters, and associated equipment.

AEC offers a competitive salary and benefits plan including medical, dental, vision, paid time off, short and long term disability, paid parental leave, 401k and a company funded pension plan. Benefits eligibility is first of the month following 30 days of employment.

Appalachian Electric Cooperative is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability status, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

AEC IS A TENNESSEE DRUG FREE WORKPLACE

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

· Mandatory on-call duty with overtime and on-call shift rotations are required

· Perform all duties in accordance with established safety practices

· Performs other duties as directed

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

· High school diploma or equivalent required with additional training in electronics, engineering, networking or telecommunications preferred

· Have or acquire the skills and techniques necessary to distinguish exposed live parts from other parts of electric equipment, determine the nominal voltage of exposed live parts, and the clearance distances

· Strong working knowledge of OTDR operation and testing, light testing, fiber troubleshooting and fiber plant design

· Able to splice fiber using industry standards

· Have or acquire an effective knowledge of office procedures, practices and equipment

· Have or acquire necessary certifications and training required for the safe and proficient installation of fiber and wireless RF services and related equipment

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES AND REGISTRATIONS

· Must hold a valid Tennessee Driver's License with an insurable driving record

· Certification through the Electronics Technicians Association (ETA) as a Fiber Optics Installer (ETA FOI) and a Fiber Optics Technician – Outside Plant (ETA FOT-OSP) or ability to become certified within 12 months

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

· Availability for occasional overnight travel for training and meetings

WORK ENVIRONMENT

· The position requires regularly working outside in varying weather conditions with risk of electrical shock

· Must be able to walk over uneven, steep and difficult terrain for distances of over one mile on a regular, recurring basis

· Must be able to climb and work in high places

· While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

o stand, walk, climb, balance, sit, bend, stoop, kneel

o use hands to finger, handle or feel

o reach further than arm’s length, work below waist level, work above shoulder level

o operate tools or machinery and operate motorized vehicle/equipment

o Must be able to regularly lift, carry, push and/or pull up to 50 lbs.

· While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally:

o Required to lift, carry, push and/or pull over 100 lbs. with assistance

o Exposed to moving parts

· Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus

· The noise level in the work environment is moderate to loud

Other

Full time residence must be within 45 minute response time of the Cooperative main office within 90 days of hire