How to become A Fibre Optics Engineer

Ever spared a thought for the engineering marvel behind the ease with which we communicate with each other via our computers or television screens? Fibre Optic Engineers harness the immense potential of fibre optics and channel them in ways that improve our lives.

• Fibre Optics Design Engineer

What do Fiber Optics Engineers do? 

A Fiber Optics Engineer would typically need to:

• Work on all elements of design engineering and coordination of all technical activities on projects
• Collaborate in new product development, associated draughting along with prototype building and testing
• Evaluate, document and adhere to client design requirements; support design team in generating detailed network drawings in GIS software while supporting ongoing design needs
• Contribute to customer or project system design work by supporting the daily operations of the engineering department
• Plan, schedule and coordinate engineering work; perform design within allocated budgets and time frames
• Monitor product testing and qualification to ensure compliance with industry and company standards; provide design lead with updates on progress and roadblocks
• Coordinate with the fielding team on specific site visit schedules and data gathering protocols; check engineering deliverables
• Create high-level preliminary route design and facility specifics to manage fielding request instructions
• Perform detailed OSP designs according to required standards; calculate and generate essential port assignments and power loss budgets
• Facilitate effective communication and coordination between the various departments involved in the project
• Install and test the fibre optic cables; perform maintenance checks on them, and take care of any malfunctioning that may happen
• Recognise technical issues before or as they arise during the assembly and test procedures and initiate corrective actions
• Develop process improvement concepts; mentor new design team members; collaborate with quality control (QC) in critical design changes and updates
• Take charge of project management tasks such as preparation of project quotations and technical proposals as well as client interaction
• Help maintain project records & files; work as maintenance officials; become a part of the community where they work
• Double down as a company representative and collect service charges and repair fees on behalf of the company; liaise with suppliers to obtain specific parts

Fibre Optic Engineers divide their workday between working at a computer and in the field. Their work environment in the area can be challenging in terms of terrain and inclement weather conditions. They usually work as part of an interdisciplinary team. Extensive travel between job sites is standard during a workweek.

As a rule, Fiber Optic Engineers may expect a regular 9-5, Monday-Friday work schedule except when emergencies and project deadlines require their evenings and weekends.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Fibre Optic Engineers can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Fibre Optic Engineers are generally employed by:

• Telecommunication Firms, including Internet and Television Companies
• Manufacturers of Medical Devices
• The Military

Professional associations and organisations such as The Fiber Optics Association Inc. are crucial for a Fiber Optics Engineer interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation.

Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Adverse impact on health due to sitting at a desk and working on a computer for extended periods
• Visual acuity needed to sit for prolonged periods of computer work and to allow differences in colours, shades and brightness
• Physical fitness is required to enable regular light to moderate lifting; ability to bend, stretch, kneel, climb into cramped spaces and squat to carry out daily duties
• Ability to work with and share an open workspace with others
• Willingness to travel often between sites, some of them remote and not conducive to a comfortable stay

The ability to acquire three to five years of work experience facilitates employment within the industry.

Course providers may offer aspiring Fiber Optics Engineers an apprenticeship wherein they will split their time between on-the-job experience and classroom lessons.

Related work experience in outside plant (OSP) and inside plant (ISP) fibre detailed design, global information systems, mapping, interpreting client requests, applying design standards to work products and working on multiple projects will make your resume very attractive to potential employers.

Read about the profession and interview/job shadow/volunteer to work with experts in fibre optics. It will give you a more comprehensive picture of electrical processes and the equipment and tools used in the field.

Employers require a two-year certificate or associate degree in electricity or telecommunications from an accredited community or technical college. 

A four-year degree program in a major that combines optical science with telecommunications engineering or electrical engineering is even better. Knowledge of web applications or geographic information system (GIS) mapping domains will stand potential Fiber Optics Engineers in good stead.

Ensure that your courses and self-learning allow you to gain basic knowledge of industry and technology trends, construction and constructability practices principles, procurement & contract administration, process, procedures for project controls & estimating in addition to the technical aspects of the proposal process.

High grades in high school math and science courses will help you prepare for further studies. English and speech classes will help you develop your research, writing, and oral communication skills.

Certification in fibre optics installation and fibre-optic data network technology from an objective and reputed organisation can help Fiber Optics Engineers secure specialist positions and earn a significant salary premium of up to 18 per cent.

Certification typically requires work experience, training, and passing an examination.

The versatility of fibre optics offers professionals in this field innumerable career opportunities. It is used in broadcasting and computer networking in addition to the military and the medical industry.

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive the career progression of Fiber Optic Engineers.

Professionals who have high-performance levels may expect promotion to managerial and supervisory positions such as Business Manager and Project Manager. You will have the final say in the quality and effective completion of project objectives.

Self-employment and freelancing are viable options once you gain significant experience and are assured of a loyal clientele.

Candidates with a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications and three to five years of related work experience have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Fiber Optics Engineer build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning. It allows you to upskill continually, regardless of your age, job, or level of knowledge.

Certifications that enhance your business management and customer service skills will help you advance your career and become an independent consultant.

Fibre Optics in Plain English

The term ‘optics’ comes from a concentrated beam of light - a laser - which can concurrently transmit around a billion bits of voice, data and video information per second.

The ‘fibre’ is a bundle of fine, hair-thin flexible strands of glass. 

Fibre Optic Cables transmit information by converting messages into light pulses that travel through the cables over long distances. Being smaller and lighter, these cables have the edge over conventional cables in ensuring a quicker and smoother flow of information.

Groundbreaking Work

Fibre optic cables have come a long way from the early ones made of flawed glass that could carry telephone and television signals through light pulses for about 65 feet before all the light dissipated. By 1970, an ultra-pure optical fibre that resembled a fishing line more than 2640 feet long came into being.

Soon fibre optics facilitated the production of broadband communications, biomedical informatics and countless other digital applications. A survey conducted in 2009 estimated that the number of fibre optics cables used worldwide would comprise a fibre more than 600 million miles long if laid out in a straight line.

The Role of Fiber Optics in Today’s World

Fibre optic cables can carry information ten times further than older styles of transmission before they need amplification. They are less susceptible to electromagnetic interference and carry way more data than older cables of the same size.

Help Spread The Message

Computers were once connected over long distances by telephone lines or Ethernet cables but have been replaced by affordable, reliable, secure and higher-capacity fibre cables.

The broadcasting industry transitioned from analogue to digital operations from electromagnetic waves to coaxial cables to optical fibres.

In Aid of Humanity

For more than 50 years, fibre optics have become an essential component in medical scanning and diagnosis devices that help doctors to look inside human bodies without cutting them open. Examples include gastroscopes and arthroscopes. 

Help Wage the War

Cheap, lightweight, high-capacity, thin, robust and secure fibre optic cables offer a seamless way to link military bases with missile launch sites and radar tracking stations. They do not emit electromagnetic radiation, which is easily discovered and are immune to electromagnetic interference.

Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment

Freelancing Fiber Optics Engineers have more flexible work schedules and locations. They have full ownership of the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.

On the other hand, a full-time Fiber Optics Engineer has company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety.

When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.

Tanks, military aeroplanes and helicopters prefer fibre optic cables to traditional wires. In addition to being lighter and more reliable, they are also immune to jamming devices.

Fibre Optic Engineers play a significant role in the way fibre optics bring about radical changes in our communication, medical and military systems. If you want to be on the cutting edge of technology without being chained to a desk for the best part of your day, this is an excellent career to pursue.

Be willing to work in the field and face the challenges of the environment out there.