Job Overview (OSP Fielding for Central and South Indiana)
Entry-Level Outside Plant (OSP) Fielder / Surveyor
Position Summary
The Entry-Level Outside Plant (OSP) Fielder / Surveyor is responsible for supporting field survey activities related to the engineering, design, permitting, and construction of telecommunications outside plant infrastructure. This position is intended for an individual with foundational field experience, preferably involving coaxial cable systems, electrical infrastructure, utility environments, construction field work, cable installation, broadband facilities, or related technical field operations.
The Entry-Level OSP Fielder will work under the direction of the OSP Field Surveyor Supervisor and will be trained in the collection, documentation, and validation of field data required to support aerial and underground telecommunications design. This includes learning how to identify existing infrastructure, collect field measurements, document utilities, photograph field conditions, support route assessments, and identify potential constructability or permitting concerns.
This position requires a willingness to learn OSP telecommunications fielding standards, right-of-way practices, utility coordination, basic National Electrical Safety Code considerations, field safety procedures, and company documentation requirements. The role requires regular regional travel to project locations and the ability to work outdoors in varied field conditions.
Key Responsibilities
Field Survey Support
- Assist with field surveys of existing and proposed outside plant telecommunications infrastructure.
- Support documentation of aerial and underground facilities, including coaxial systems, fiber optic routes, utility poles, conduits, pedestals, vaults, handholes, manholes, cabinets, and related field assets.
- Learn to identify and document existing telecommunications, electric, utility, and physical infrastructure within assigned project areas.
- Assist in collecting distances, offsets, structure locations, roadway conditions, utility crossings, and other field information needed for engineering design.
- Support field route walks, drive-outs, neighborhood surveys, utility corridor reviews, and broadband deployment assessments.
- Assist with documenting field conditions that may affect route selection, construction approach, permitting, or cost estimates.
Coaxial, Broadband, and Utility Infrastructure Awareness
- Apply prior or developing knowledge of coaxial cable systems, CATV infrastructure, drops, taps, pedestals, strand, hardline coax, amplifiers, power supplies, and related broadband network components.
- Assist with identifying existing coaxial and communications facilities in aerial and underground environments.
- Support documentation of electrical infrastructure such as utility poles, transformers, meters, service drops, secondary lines, guy wires, anchors, grounding, and related utility facilities.
- Learn to distinguish between electric, communications, CATV, fiber, and other utility attachments.
- Assist in identifying potential conflicts between proposed telecommunications facilities and existing electric, coaxial, fiber, water, sewer, gas, drainage, and roadway infrastructure.
Measurement and Documentation
- Learn to measure and record basic field data, including span lengths, route distances, structure dimensions, clearances, pole information, and facility offsets.
- Assist with collecting attachment height information under the direction of experienced field personnel or the OSP Field Surveyor Supervisor.
- Prepare clear field notes, sketches, photographs, and digital records to support engineering and drafting teams.
- Use field tools such as measuring wheels, height sticks, GPS devices, tablets, cameras, mobile data collection applications, and related equipment.
- Ensure all field notes and documentation are complete, legible, organized, and submitted in accordance with company standards.
- Support the development of field packages, redlines, map markups, and survey documentation.
Training and Development
- Receive training from the OSP Field Surveyor Supervisor in telecommunications OSP fielding methods, documentation standards, safety expectations, and quality requirements.
- Learn company and customer-specific field collection procedures for aerial and underground telecommunications projects.
- Develop working knowledge of OSP infrastructure, including poles, strand, anchors, guying, risers, conduits, handholes, vaults, pedestals, splice locations, cabinets, and underground pathways.
- Learn basic right-of-way, easement, permitting, utility coordination, and constructability concepts.
- Participate in field reviews, quality checks, and corrective action activities to improve field accuracy and technical understanding.
- Demonstrate progressive improvement in field data accuracy, documentation quality, safety awareness, and productivity.
Quality and Accuracy
- Collect field information carefully and accurately under the guidance of the OSP Field Surveyor Supervisor.
- Review assigned field notes, photographs, sketches, and measurements before submission.
- Communicate incomplete, unclear, or conflicting field conditions to the supervisor for direction.
- Correct field data deficiencies when identified through QA/QC review.
- Follow established naming conventions, photo requirements, digital entry standards, and documentation procedures.
- Support a quality-focused field process that allows engineering and drafting teams to develop accurate and constructible designs.
Safety and Compliance
- Follow all company safety policies, customer requirements, OSHA practices, traffic safety procedures, and applicable field safety standards.
- Use required personal protective equipment while performing fieldwork.
- Work safely near roadways, utility corridors, active construction zones, uneven terrain, and existing electrical or communications infrastructure.
- Participate in daily safety briefings, job hazard assessments, and field safety discussions.
- Immediately report unsafe conditions, incidents, near misses, or field hazards to the OSP Field Surveyor Supervisor.
- Maintain awareness of environmental, traffic, terrain, weather, and utility-related risks.
Project Coordination and Communication
- Communicate daily progress, field observations, access issues, documentation questions, and potential conflicts to the OSP Field Surveyor Supervisor.
- Work cooperatively with other field personnel, engineers, CAD/GIS drafters, permitting staff, project managers, and construction stakeholders.
- Support timely completion of assigned field areas in accordance with project schedules.
- Participate in project coordination calls or field review meetings as required.
- Maintain professionalism when interacting with property owners, utility representatives, municipalities, customers, or the public.
Required Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Entry-level experience or exposure to one or more of the following areas:
- Coaxial cable systems;
- CATV or broadband infrastructure;
- Electrical infrastructure;
- Utility field work;
- Telecommunications installation;
- Construction field work;
- Fiber optic infrastructure;
- Underground or aerial utility construction;
- Surveying, locating, or field documentation.
- Basic understanding of field safety and working around utility infrastructure.
- Ability and willingness to learn telecommunications OSP fielding, survey documentation, and infrastructure identification.
- Ability to follow direction from a field supervisor and work as part of a field team.
- Ability to take clear field notes, photographs, measurements, and sketches.
- Basic computer and mobile device proficiency, including use of tablets, smartphones, digital forms, photos, maps, and email.
- Ability to work outdoors in varying environmental and weather conditions.
- Ability to pass background screening and drug testing requirements.
- Valid driver’s license and ability to travel to project locations on a routine basis.
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior experience with coaxial broadband systems, CATV networks, cable drops, taps, pedestals, strand, hardline coax, amplifiers, power supplies, or related outside plant assets.
- Prior experience working around electrical distribution infrastructure, utility poles, transformers, service drops, secondary power, anchors, guy wires, grounding, or utility corridors.
- Experience in telecommunications, cable installation, broadband construction, utility locating, field surveying, electrical helper work, or construction inspection.
- Familiarity with aerial and underground construction environments.
- Basic understanding of fiber optic infrastructure, FTTH, FTTx, or broadband deployment.
- Exposure to CAD, GIS, mapping tools, GPS applications, Vetro, Katapult, ArcGIS, Google Earth, or similar platforms.
- OSHA 10, traffic safety, first aid/CPR, or related field safety training.
- Experience reading utility maps, construction drawings, prints, or basic route layouts.
Core Competencies
Willingness to Learn: Demonstrates a strong interest in developing OSP telecommunications fielding skills under supervisor guidance.
Field Awareness: Ability to observe, identify, and document visible telecommunications, coaxial, electrical, and utility infrastructure.
Attention to Detail: Ability to carefully record measurements, notes, photographs, and field observations.
Safety Mindset: Understands the importance of safe behavior around roadways, utility poles, electrical infrastructure, construction areas, and uneven terrain.
Dependability: Reports to assigned work locations on time, completes assigned tasks, follows direction, and communicates issues promptly.
Communication: Provides clear updates to the supervisor regarding field progress, questions, access issues, and unusual conditions.
Technical Aptitude: Ability to learn field tools, digital collection applications, mapping platforms, and telecommunications terminology.
Teamwork: Works effectively with supervisors, field crews, engineers, drafters, project managers, and permitting staff.
Adaptability: Ability to work in changing field environments, weather conditions, project areas, and customer requirements.
Quality Focus: Understands that accurate field information is essential to producing reliable engineering designs and construction plans.
Training Expectations
The Entry-Level OSP Fielder / Surveyor will be trained to develop competency in the following areas:
- Identification of aerial and underground telecommunications infrastructure.
- Recognition of coaxial, fiber optic, electrical, and utility facilities.
- Field data collection standards for OSP engineering and design.
- Use of measuring wheels, height sticks, GPS tools, tablets, cameras, and field applications.
- Collection of route distances, span lengths, structure information, photographs, and field notes.
- Basic pole line and joint-use environment awareness.
- Field sketching, map markups, redlines, and photo documentation.
- Right-of-way, easement, access, and permitting awareness.
- Basic constructability issue identification.
- Safety procedures for fieldwork near roadways, utilities, and construction environments.
- Quality control expectations for field documentation submitted to engineering and drafting teams.
Physical and Travel Requirements
- Ability to work outdoors in varying weather and environmental conditions.
- Ability to walk extended distances and traverse uneven terrain, road shoulders, utility corridors, construction areas, and undeveloped areas.
- Ability to bend, stand, walk, carry field equipment, take measurements, and perform physical tasks associated with field surveying.
- Ability to safely work near roadways, utility poles, electrical infrastructure, telecommunications facilities, construction zones, and active field environments.
- Willingness and ability to travel regionally as required by project assignments.
- Ability to work extended field days when required by project demands.
- Ability to operate a company or personal vehicle in support of field activities, subject to company policy.
Reporting Relationship
The Entry-Level OSP Fielder / Surveyor reports to the OSP Field Surveyor Supervisor or other designated field operations leader.
This position works closely with OSP Field Surveyors, field technicians, engineering staff, CAD/GIS drafting personnel, permitting staff, project managers, and construction support teams.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $45,000.00 - $55,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Are you able to travel throughout Central and Southern Indiana to perform OSP Fielding which may take you away from your home for weeks at a time?
Education:
- High school or equivalent (Required)
License/Certification:
- Driver's License (Required)
Work Location: In person
