Telecom

The BNSF telecommunications team maintains a proactive focus to help insure high network availability and on time train performance.

Telecom designs, builds, and maintains BNSF's network across the deserts, plains, and mountains in all weather conditions to ensure BNSF's customers and employees experience nearly flawless performance of the voice and data infrastructure network.

The team supports over 43,000 network devices deployed in 2700 locations across the BNSF service area. They also support over 120 dispatchers and two way radio service on over 32,500 route miles connecting locomotives, high rail vehicles, on track work equipment, and hand held portable radios.

Our Telecom area consists of:

• Capacity Management

  • This team provides vendor and carrier management, gathers requirements from engineering teams, manages project performance, oversees and scorecards telecom project management, ensures completeness of documentation, and assists in prioritizing cross functional team projects. This team also manages circuit provisioning, orders a variety of Telco services, and is responsible for all bandwidth capacity across the network.

  • Basic Skills

    Project Management; Basic data, voice, and transport network design principles and technologies; Budget and expense management; Ability to interface effectively with a variety of internal and external organizations.

• Field Telecom

  • Telecom Field Operations is responsible for operations and maintenance of the voice and data infrastructure network across all field and data center locations. The team supports a broad range of technologies including microwave, voice, data (IP and ATM), transport, UHF/VHF radio, and wireless, and also provides installation and maintenance of outside plant assets. The team includes first line supervisors, project managers, electronic technicians and maintainers, as well as operation managers and directors.

  • Basic Skills

    Technical or engineering background in telecommunications or related field; Understanding of safety principles and the ability foster an injury-free work environment; Ability to lead a diverse team responsible for a broad range of technologies; High sense of urgency and customer focus; Ability to develop strong working relationships and translate business challenges into technical solutions.

• IP Network Planning & Engineering

  • This team is responsible for planning, design, documentation, and optimization of the LAN/WAN networks.

  • Basic Skills

    In-depth understanding of TCP/IP and associated network architecture; Extensive network engineering and design experience; Ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex network issues across a broad range of platforms and applications; Ability to distill complex requirements into a simple and supportable network design. Vendor technologies supported include Cisco, Nortel, F5, NetQOS, GDC; As we move to a Cisco enterprise, we have a growing demand for Cisco experienced or certified engineers.

• IP Network Implementation

  • This team installs, maintains, and upgrades a variety of elements supporting the voice and data infrastructure networks. Projects supported by the team encompass all aspects of networking technologies including WAN/LAN, wireless LANs, VoIP, Video, application IP conversion, ATM, SONET, Microwave and IP radio transmission systems.

  • Basic Skills

    Thorough understanding of IP routing & switching; Broad understanding of transport, backhaul, and data technologies; Detail and process oriented; Strong verbal and written communications skills; Good troubleshooting and problem solving skills.

• Telecom Support

  • The Telecommunications Technology Service Operations Center (TSOC) is responsible for surveillance and break/fix support for the voice and data infrastructure network and associated site locations.

  • Basic Skills

    Ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex network issues; Ability to prioritize and handle multiple simultaneous events; Strong written and verbal communications skills.

• Train Control Systems

  • This team designs, implements, and maintains the communications infrastructure supporting the Centralized Train Control (CTC), Hi-Rail Collision Avoidance (HLCS), ClassOne, and Positive Train Control (PTC) systems. In addition, the team supports all train dispatcher radio systems enabling critical communications between the dispatchers and train crews.

  • Basic Skills

    UHV/VHV radio operation and maintenance; Understanding of railroad signaling and back office systems; General understanding of railroad operations; General understanding of data, backhaul, and transport networks; General computer and system administration skills.

• Transmission Networks

  • This team designs, develops, and implements projects supporting the core network and associated sites. Technologies and infrastructure supported include microwave, RF, TDM, SONET, fiber, copper, general outside plant, access/local loops, and long haul.

  • Basic Skills

    Understanding of microwave transmission systems including , analog, digital and IP based; Understanding of transmission equipment including Digital Cross Connect (DCS) systems, SONET multiplexers, and T1 channel banks; General infrastructure knowledge including AC/DC power systems, generators, grounding, fiber, copper, and general outside plant design; Knowledge of RF modeling and FCC licensing requirements; Ability to budget and manage large capital projects; Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Voice & Video Systems

  • The telecom voice team at BNSF is responsible for a variety of systems and applications including Unified Communications, Unified Messaging, traditional PBX and VoIP, audio and video conferencing, video surveillance, and audio recording.

  • Basic Skills

    Windows 2003 and Windows 2008 certifications; Microsoft OCS certification; Microsoft MCSE; Avaya and NEC telephony certifications; Telephony design and implementation; JTAPI and .net programming (C++, SQL, Power Shell, Java); General IP and VoIP knowledge; SIP trunking experience; Call Center Support and design; Video systems (Cisco DMS, NICE); Audio recording systems.