We are seeking an experienced Aerial Fiber Lineman to construct, maintain, splice, repair, and restore outside plant fiber-optic infrastructure throughout the Columbia Basin and surrounding Eastern Washington communities.
This is a hands-on aerial construction position for someone who is comfortable working aloft, handling fiber and strand, lashing and overlashing cable, performing pole-line work, and responding to network outages and restoration needs.
We are especially interested in candidates with strong experience in fiber splicing, aerial fiber placement, strand construction, lashing, bucket-truck work, and OSP maintenance.
Core Aerial Fiber Responsibilities
- Build and maintain aerial fiber-optic plant.
- Frame utility poles for telecommunications construction.
- Place and tension new strand.
- Lash new fiber cable to bare strand.
- Overlash fiber or communications cable to existing strand and cable.
- Repair broken lashing and replace or re-sag aerial strand.
- Perform pole transfers and make-ready work.
- Install anchors, down guys, snowshoes, riser guards, ground rods, terminals, and related aerial hardware.
- Perform grounding and bonding of strand and telecommunications plant.
- Install and maintain pole-mounted fiber equipment and enclosures.
- Support aerial-to-underground fiber transitions.
- Pull fiber short distances through conduit as required.
- Work from bucket trucks, hooks, ladders, poles, and other approved aerial equipment.
- Safely operate hydraulic aerial bucket trucks and telecommunications construction equipment.
- Use hand and power tools required for aerial OSP construction and maintenance.
Fiber Splicing & Restoration | Relevant experience may include:
- Fusion splicing single-mode fiber.
- Preparing, cleaving, cleaning, and splicing individual fibers.
- Working with loose-tube and ribbon fiber where applicable.
- Opening, preparing, and rebuilding splice closures.
- Organizing splice trays and maintaining proper fiber management.
- Identifying fibers, buffer tubes, and assigned splice paths.
- Reading splice diagrams, fiber assignments, and construction prints.
- Performing mid-span access when required.
- Splicing new construction, relocations, repairs, and emergency restorations.
- Troubleshooting fiber faults and damaged cable.
- Supporting cut-fiber and outage restoration.
- Using OTDRs, optical power meters, light sources, visual fault locators, or similar test equipment.
- Testing and documenting completed splices.
- Verifying continuity, loss, and fiber performance following repairs or installation.
- Maintaining accurate splice records, redlines, and as-built information.
Candidates with strong aerial construction backgrounds who have assisted with splicing or want to expand their fiber-splicing experience are also encouraged to apply.
Aerial Construction Experience | Strong candidates will be familiar with work such as:
- Strand placement
- Cable lashing
- Overlashing
- Cable sag and tension
- Pole transfers
- Make-ready construction
- Down guys and anchors
- Snowshoes and slack storage
- Fiber terminals
- Riser guards
- Grounding and bonding
- Pole-mounted cabinets
- Aerial-to-underground transitions
- Clearance corrections
- Emergency restoration
- Traffic control
- Utility right-of-way work
The company's public lineman description specifically identifies new strand placement, lashing to bare strand, overlashing existing cable, pole transfers, re-sagging strand, make-ready work, grounding/bonding, and bucket-truck operation as core aerial duties.
What We’re Looking For
- Previous telecommunications, fiber, broadband, CATV, or utility line-construction experience.
- Hands-on aerial fiber construction experience.
- Experience working from bucket trucks, hooks, ladders, and utility poles.
- Experience placing strand and lashing or overlashing telecommunications cable.
- Fiber splicing experience strongly preferred.
- Ability to read construction prints, splice diagrams, schematics, and work orders.
- Familiarity with OSP construction practices.
- Strong knowledge of safe work practices around utility infrastructure.
- Ability to safely use lineman tools, hand tools, power tools, and construction equipment.
- Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving ability.
- Ability to identify damaged plant and support emergency restoration.
- Valid CDL and acceptable driving record, or ability to obtain a CDL within 30 days of hire.
Highly Relevant Backgrounds
Aerial Lineman | Fiber Lineman | Telecommunications Lineman | Communications Lineman | OSP Lineman | Fiber Splicer | Aerial Fiber Technician | Broadband Lineman | CATV Lineman | Cable Lineman | OSP Construction Technician | Fiber Construction Technician | Utility Lineworker
Technical Skills That Translate Well
Aerial Fiber Construction | Fusion Splicing | Fiber Restoration | Strand Placement | Lashing | Overlashing | Pole Climbing | Bucket Truck Operation | Pole Transfers | Make-Ready | Fiber Closures | Splice Trays | OTDR Testing | Optical Power Testing | Grounding & Bonding | Fiber Terminals | Slack Storage | Emergency Restoration | Construction Prints | Fiber Assignments | OSP Maintenance
Safety
All work must be completed in accordance with applicable:
- OSHA requirements
- NESC standards
- NEC requirements
- Local utility standards
- State DOT requirements
- Municipal rules and regulations
- Company safety procedures
Safety responsibilities include pre-job planning, hazard identification, traffic control, proper PPE, fall protection, aerial-lift safety, and immediate reporting of unsafe conditions, incidents, and near misses.
Work Environment | Candidates must be comfortable:
- Working outdoors year-round in heat, cold, wind, rain, and snow.
- Working from utility poles, bucket trucks, hooks, ladders, and elevated work positions.
- Working around roadways, traffic, construction equipment, and utility infrastructure.
- Climbing, lifting, bending, kneeling, reaching, and carrying equipment throughout the day.
- Participating in on-call emergency restoration.
- Responding to damaged fiber or outages on short notice.
Equal Opportunity Employer
We are an equal opportunity employer and consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.