Field Technician – MBS
WIOCC (West Indian Ocean Cable Company)
Quick Take
Maintain and support WIOCC's subsea and terrestrial fibre network 24/7, performing field installations, testing, cross-connects, and incident resolution across Nairobi.
3+ years telecoms field experience, CCNA or equivalent Cisco/MikroTik certifications, and hands-on knowledge of transmission platforms (OTN, DWDM, SDH, IP/MPLS).
Work for a pan-African critical infrastructure leader with exposure to enterprise-scale network operations, strong technical depth, and clear path to senior field or management roles.
Job Description
WIOCC (West Indian Ocean Cable Company) is a leading pan-African open-access wholesale carrier providing high-capacity, resilient bandwidth solutions across Africa and beyond. With a robust subsea and terrestrial fibre network, WIOCC connects businesses, carriers, and internet service providers across the continent, playing a critical role in advancing digital infrastructure in Kenya and the wider region.
- Provide 24/7 field support including on-call, out-of-hours, night, weekend, and public holiday working as required.
- Proactively monitor network equipment and facilities to identify and address issues before they escalate.
- Assist with network installation, testing, commissioning, integration, and bringing services into operation.
- Perform cross connects and jumping as part of day-to-day network operations.
- Maintain accurate records, inventory, and spares management.
- Receive equipment, conduct bench testing, manage storage, and handle RMA returns.
- Assist with incident and problem resolution as directed by the NOC/TAC teams.
- Provide Service Desk cover as required and support the Service Manager as directed.
- Assist with technical shareholder support, consultancy, and sales support activities.
- Support network quality and performance management initiatives.
- Contribute to the creation of ad hoc reports as needed.
- Collaborate with other departments and support projects as requested by the Programme Manager.
- Drive company vehicles as required and adhere to all company policies and procedures.
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related field.
- CCNA, Cisco, MikroTik, and Fibre Optic certifications are desirable.
- Proficiency in routing protocols including OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, and MPLS.
- Valid driver's licence.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- 3+ years of relevant work experience in the telecoms industry.
- Knowledge of platforms including OTN, DWDM, SDH, Ethernet, IP/MPLS, OSPF, and BGP.
- Hands-on experience supporting transmission and switching equipment from manufacturers such as MikroTik, Juniper, and Tejas Networks.
- Ability to use systems effectively to record information accurately and in a timely manner.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and solve problems in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent communication and soft skills, including the ability to listen and follow instructions.
- Client-focused with strong relationship-building skills.
- High integrity, honesty, and ethical standards.
- Passionate, flexible, and driven by personal excellence.
- Collaborative team player who achieves results through partnerships.
Requirements Breakdown
Must Have
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field
- 3+ years relevant telecoms industry field experience
- Valid Kenya driver's licence
- CCNA, Cisco, or MikroTik certification
- Proficiency in routing protocols (OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, MPLS)
Nice to Have
- Fibre Optic certifications
- Hands-on experience with Juniper or Tejas Networks equipment
- OTN, DWDM, SDH platform knowledge
- Service Desk or NOC support experience
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Salary Context
Salary not specified; market estimate suggests mid-range Field Technician compensation for Kenya
Field Technician roles in Kenya's telecoms sector typically range KES 90,000–140,000 monthly depending on certifications, experience, and on-call responsibilities. WIOCC's pan-African scale and 24/7 requirements suggest upper-mid range. Shift work and on-call premiums are common in this field.
About WIOCC (West Indian Ocean Cable Company)
WIOCC is a leading pan-African open-access wholesale carrier operating critical subsea and terrestrial fibre infrastructure that connects businesses, carriers, and ISPs across Africa. With a robust network backbone spanning the West Indian Ocean region and continent-wide reach, WIOCC plays a pivotal role in Kenya's digital infrastructure and is a trusted partner for carrier-grade bandwidth solutions. Joining WIOCC offers exposure to mission-critical network operations at continental scale, strong technical mentorship, and the chance to work on infrastructure that powers Kenya's digital economy.
Likely Interview Questions
- 1
Walk us through a complex network incident you've resolved in your previous role—what was the issue, how did you diagnose it, and what was the outcome?
- 2
Describe your experience with OTN, DWDM, or SDH platforms. Which manufacturer equipment are you most confident supporting and why?
- 3
This role requires 24/7 on-call support including nights, weekends, and public holidays. How have you managed on-call responsibilities in previous roles, and what's your approach to work-life balance?
- 4
WIOCC operates a pan-African network with multiple stakeholders. Tell us about a time you've had to communicate technical issues to non-technical clients or senior management.
- 5
What experience do you have with network inventory management systems, RMA processes, and documentation? How do you ensure accuracy and timeliness?
Application Tips
Highlight specific certifications (CCNA, MikroTik, Fibre Optic) and the date you obtained them—WIOCC explicitly values these credentials.
Quantify your on-call and field support experience: mention number of incidents handled, typical SLAs met, and any systems or platforms you've supported (e.g., 'supported 150+ cross-connect requests monthly on Juniper and MikroTik platforms').
Emphasize incident resolution and root-cause analysis skills—WIOCC's NOC/TAC integration suggests they value proactive problem-solvers who can work across teams, so highlight collaboration examples.
Career Path
Roles that lead here
Where this leads
Skills & Keywords
Honest Assessment
Green Flags
- WIOCC is a reputable, pan-African carrier with critical infrastructure focus—strong employer brand and job security in Kenya's digital economy.
- Clear technical skill progression and exposure to enterprise platforms (OTN, DWDM, SDH, IP/MPLS) offer genuine learning and career advancement.
- Explicit mention of project support, sales enablement, and technical consultancy indicate broader organizational visibility and non-field growth opportunities.
- 24/7 operational requirement at scale suggests stable, established company with mature processes, training, and support structures.
Watch Out
- Salary not specified—typical omission for mid-market African tech roles, but discuss compensation early in conversations to avoid misalignment.
- Extensive on-call and shift requirements (24/7, nights, weekends, public holidays) without clarity on rotation, standby pay, or shift allowances—clarify these in interviews.
- High certification and experience bar (CCNA + 3+ years + multiple platform knowledge) for a 'Field Technician' title—may indicate role scope is broader or expectations are demanding.
A Day in the Life
Your week at WIOCC oscillates between scheduled field work and reactive incident response. Monday mornings you conduct pre-commissioning tests on a new cross-border fibre segment, documenting DWDM performance metrics; by afternoon, an alert from the NOC has you troubleshooting a transmission issue on a MikroTik router at a remote hub site. Wednesday is bench-testing returned equipment and processing spares inventory, punctuated by a call with the Service Manager about client shareholder escalation. Thursday night you're on on-call, and a BGP session failure in an IP/MPLS network at 2 AM pulls you into an incident bridge with TAC engineers and regional carriers. Friday you close RMA tickets, contribute to a monthly network performance report, and prepare for weekend standby. Throughout, you're balancing technical depth—reading datasheets, testing routing configurations—with soft skills: updating ticket systems clearly, coordinating with multiple departments, and communicating outage impact to non-technical stakeholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications do I need to be a Field Technician – MBS at WIOCC (West Indian Ocean Cable Company)?
You must have a Bachelor's in Engineering or related field, 3+ years telecoms field experience, a valid driver's licence, and at least one major certification (CCNA, Cisco, or MikroTik). CCNA and Fibre Optic certifications are strongly desirable, along with hands-on knowledge of routing protocols (OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, MPLS) and transmission platforms like OTN, DWDM, and SDH.
Is the Field Technician – MBS role at WIOCC (West Indian Ocean Cable Company) remote?
No, this is a field-based role in Nairobi. You'll be out on-site installing, testing, and maintaining network equipment, plus driving company vehicles as required. The role also includes 24/7 on-call support, so remote work is not an option.
How much does a Field Technician – MBS earn at WIOCC (West Indian Ocean Cable Company)?
WIOCC has not published a salary for this role. Based on Kenya's telecoms field technician market, expect KES 95,000–140,000 monthly depending on certifications, seniority, and on-call premiums. Clarify compensation and shift allowances during your interview.
What are the career growth opportunities for this role?
This is a strong foundation for advancement into Senior Field Technician, NOC Engineer, Transmission Network Engineer, or Field Engineering Lead roles. WIOCC's pan-African scale and infrastructure focus offer exposure to carrier-grade systems and potential for management or specialist technical tracks as you gain experience.
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