RF Technical Manager

First Point Group; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

First Point Group is seeking an experienced NPO Technical Manager located in Reading, UK. This key role involves leading Network Planning and Optimization activities for a major telecommunications project with a hybrid work setup. Responsibilities include overseeing technical aspects of network performance, managing stakeholder communication, and driving optimization strategies to meet contractual KPIs. The position requires strong technical leadership and expertise in network optimization, ensuring high quality and operational efficiency.

Qualifications

• Experience in managing network performance and optimization projects.
• Ability to lead technical teams and interface with customers.
• Strong analytical skills to assess drive test data.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all technical aspects of network performance and optimization.
• Lead and coordinate NPO technical activities.
• Conduct technical risk analysis and implement strategies.

Skills

Network performance optimization

Technical leadership

Risk analysis

Stakeholder management

Tools

Nokia tools

Job description

Location: Hybrid – Remote with occasional travel to Berkshire (UK)

Overview

We are looking for an experienced NPO Technical Manager to lead Network Planning and Optimization (NPO) activities for a major telecommunications project. This is a contract role outside IR35, offering a mix of remote working and occasional on-site presence in Berkshire.

You will act as the primary technical authority for NPO performance, ensuring delivery excellence across quality, risk, and timelines while serving as the key technical interface for the customer.

Your Role

As the NPO Technical Manager, you will oversee all technical aspects of network performance and optimization within the project. Reporting to the NPO Project Manager, you will play a critical role in ensuring network quality, driving optimization strategies, and leading technical teams to deliver against contractual KPIs.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical contact and escalation point for all NPO-related matters
• Lead and coordinate NPO technical activities across:
• Planning
• Execution
• Acceptance phases
• Work closely with Project Management and engineering teams to ensure smooth delivery and operational continuity
• Conduct technical risk analysis, defining and implementing mitigation strategies
• Validate workload, resource requirements, and expertise needed for NPO tasks
• Support project planning, delivery acceptance, and handover to operations
• Drive network performance optimization, focusing on:
• Stability
• Throughput (DL/UL)
• Coverage
• Analyse drive test data (single site and cluster level) and correlate with contractual KPIs
• Coordinate with field teams (Drive Test teams) and local stakeholders to implement improvements
• Organise and lead network audits (features, licenses, neighbour relations) using Nokia tools
• Ensure radio network design, databuild, and optimization meet customer expectations
• Define and monitor end-user performance criteria
• Lead NPO teams to achieve cluster and site acceptance and secure final E2E solution approval
• Build strong customer relationships and manage stakeholder communication, risks, and issues