NW Design & Planning Engineer
Nokia
We are looking for a Senior Radio Network Design Engineer for leading an end-to-end radio planning across multi-technology RAN (primarily 5G/NR with LTE interworking) from inputs gathering towards the final radio design including coverage, capacity hardware dimensioning and the correspondent documentation, including customer presentations. The role delivers high-quality network designs, drives acceptance and optimization outcomes, and coaches’ teams, leveraging Nokia best practices, processes, tools, and automation to achieve measurable improvements in capacity, coverage, and user experience. You will act as a trusted SME for customers and projects, lead technical discussions, contribute to RAN evolution initiatives, and support the adoption of next‑generation technologies such as ORAN, Cloud RAN, vRAN, and Massive MIMO. This is a senior individual contributor role with strong technical and customer impact.
Nokia is a global leader in connectivity for the AI era. With expertise across fixed, mobile and transport networks, powered by the innovation of Nokia Bell Labs, we’re advancing connectivity to secure a brighter world.
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The Design Planning Specialist designs, analyses, plans, and modifies network components supporting customer communication implementation activities Develops and evaluates network performance criteria and measurement methods Prepares the analysis of the short or long term capacity needs for switching, routing transmission, and signalling Conducts network architecture design, feasibility, and cost studies Develops alternative routing scenarios and changes in required sequence of network activities Conducts economic and population growth studies to determine impact on network capacity and development plan projections Performs the end to end design activities including surveys, design itself, and as built required for a physical network deployment
- Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in Telecommunications, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
- 8+ years in radio network design/optimization (Senior level), with demonstrable leadership in complex or escalated cases and multi-vendor environments.
- Deep knowledge of 5G NR air interface, frame structures, beamforming/mMIMO, scheduling, power control, mobility, and LTE–NR interworking (NSA/SA).
- Proven expertise in RF planning workflows: link budget development, geo maps and propagation model selection/calibration, multistory predictions, and KPI-based design criteria.
- Strong competency in parameter engineering, neighbour planning, PCI/PRACH strategies.
- Hands-on experience with RF planning tools, including Atoll, MapInfo, TEMS, Actix, and QGIS.
- Strong digital skills: advanced Excel (pivot tables, complex formulas, dashboards), Access (database design, queries, and reporting), PowerPoint (storyboarding and data visualization), plus script preparation for automation and data processing (well-documented VBA, PowerShell, or Python scripts).
- Process improvement mindset.
- Availability for traveling both on short- and long-term assignments.
Nice to Have:
- Multivendor RAN experience, for example Ericsson, Samsung or Huawei.
- Exposure to Cloud RAN environments and advanced analytics platforms.
- Experience with ORAN ecosystems, Private Networks, Small Cells, DAS, FWA, and advanced antenna systems.
- Interest or experience in automation, AI, and ML applied to RAN optimization, for example Python workflows, AI-assisted analysis, or self-optimizing network concepts.
- Radio Network Design and Dimensioning
- Produce high-quality RF design outputs: link budgets, propagation model selection/calibration, coverage/capacity dimensioning, site and cluster design, beamset selection, Radio Frequency/PCI/PRACH planning, neighbour planning and adjacency rules.
- Define multi-layer strategies (NR-NSA/SA with LTE interworking), including mobility and layering guidelines to ensure seamless ENDC operation and VoNR readiness.
- Customer Engagement and Delivery Excellence
- Interface with customer engineering and leadership teams to present design rationale, acceptance findings, and optimization plans; handle escalations and complex problem solving in multi-vendor environments.
- Coach and mentor design/optimization engineers; contribute to competence development and internal knowledge sharing.
- Process, Tooling, and Automation
- Apply Nokia’s NPO 5 Box Model (monitoring, reactive analysis, proactive optimization, implementation, E2E control) to shift operations from reactive to proactive.
- Promote and implement efficiency levers: standardization, centralization, right-shoring/skill, and automation (e.g., Atoll, NDE, NGE, ASCA, NPAS).
- Suggest improvements to processes, methods, and tools; contribute to playbooks and delivery kits.
- Governance and Quality
- Own deliverable quality and schedule for assigned work packages; contribute to project plans and risk mitigation.
- Ensure compliance with Nokia processes, service excellence standards, and data integrity (naming, measurements).