Telecoms Core Engineer

National Physical Laboratory; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

National Physical Laboratory in Birmingham is seeking an experienced Telecoms Core Engineer to design, maintain and evolve the core lab environment that underpins advanced security research. You will lead hands-on development of 4G/5G core network systems, host environments and test tools.

You will act as design authority for lab systems, work with suppliers and research teams, oversee testing and vulnerability evaluation, and help shape future lab evolution with a focus on security, reliability

Qualifications

• Experience with mobile core networks (4G/5G) and lab environments.
• Ability to design and maintain complex telecom lab setups.
• Knowledge of security testing and vulnerability evaluation processes.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, integrate and maintain 4G/5G core network systems, host environments and test tools.
• Act as the design authority for lab systems, ensuring solutions are secure, resilient and fit for research and evaluation needs.
• Own functional testing, fault-finding, troubleshooting and resolution across complex lab environments.
• Support supplier design reviews, integration, acceptance, testing, maintenance and operational activities.
• Work with suppliers to influence technical roadmaps and evaluate new components for future lab evolution.
• Maintain the lab security posture, including reviewing and approving third-party exports where required.
• Support vulnerability research, penetration testing and evaluation teams by advising on required features and activating or deactivating capabilities as needed.
• Set documentation, quality and delivery standards, ensuring activity is planned, recorded and updated using appropriate delivery tools.
• Lead or supervise small teams and cross-functional projects, coaching less experienced colleagues and providing technical direction.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities across systems, processes and ways of working.

Skills

4G core

5G core

host architectures

virtualised environments

test tooling

security testing

Job description

We are looking for an experienced Telecoms Core Engineer to provide, maintain and evolve the core lab environment that underpins advanced security research. You will bring deep technical knowledge of mobile core 4G and 5G network functions, host architectures, virtualised environments and test tooling, and use that expertise to support supplier design reviews, integration, acceptance, testing, maintenance and operations.

About the role

This is a hands-on technical leadership role at the heart of UKTL’s lab capability. You will act as a design authority for core network systems, hosts and test tools, ensuring the environment is secure, reliable, well documented and ready to support vulnerability research, penetration testing and evaluation activity. You will work closely with suppliers, research teams, evaluation teams and security testing specialists to introduce new components, influence supplier roadmaps, resolve complex technical issues and continuously improve the lab environment as telecoms technology evolves.

What you’ll be doing

• Design, develop, integrate and maintain 4G/5G core network systems, host environments and test tools.
• Act as the design authority for lab systems, ensuring solutions are secure, resilient and fit for research and evaluation needs.
• Own functional testing, fault-finding, troubleshooting and resolution across complex lab environments.
• Support supplier design reviews, integration, acceptance, testing, maintenance and operational activities.
• Work with suppliers to influence technical roadmaps and evaluate new components for future lab evolution.
• Maintain the lab security posture, including reviewing and approving third-party exports where required.
• Support vulnerability research, penetration testing and evaluation teams by advising on required features and activating or deactivating capabilities as needed.
• Set documentation, quality and delivery standards, ensuring activity is planned, recorded and updated using appropriate delivery tools.
• Lead or supervise small teams and cross-functional projects, coaching less experienced colleagues and providing technical direction.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities across systems, processes and ways of working.