Role Overview
We are seeking a Solution Architect with deep expertise in messaging platforms and core telecom nodes, specifically SMSC, USSD/USSI, and SMS Firewall systems. Should be well versed with 3G/4G/5G call flows and 3GPP architecture. The role focuses on end-to-end solution architecture, deployment design (on-premise and cloud), and technical leadership across customer engagements and internal product evolution. The candidate will be responsible for translating business and network requirements into scalable, secure, and high-availability architectures, while ensuring alignment with telecom standards and operational realities.
Key Responsibilities
Solution Architecture & Design
- IMS, SIP & USSI Expertise
- Design and validate SIP-based service flows for USSI and IMS messaging services.
- Define iFC (Initial Filter Criteria) for triggering application servers within IMS.
- Architect USSD to USSI interworking scenarios, ensuring service continuity across CS and IMS domains.
- Ensure compliance with relevant 3GPP specifications for IMS and USSI services.
Deployment & Integration
- Lead solution design and execution for on-premise and cloud-native deployments (private cloud, public cloud, hybrid models).
- Architect deployments using Linux, virtualization, Kubernetes, and containerized environments.
- Define integration with external systems such as BSS/OSS, charging systems (OCS/OFCS), mediation, and analytics platforms.
- Oversee installation, configuration, upgrades, and migrations of messaging platforms.
Protocol & Network Expertise
- Strong expertise in SMPP, SS7 (MAP/CAP), Diameter, SIP, HTTP/REST APIs.
- Define integration with BSS/OSS, OCS/OFCS, PCRF/PCF, mediation systems, and external enterprise platforms.
- Ensure seamless interoperability between legacy telecom nodes and IMS core networks.
- Expertise in SMS Firewall use cases, including A2P/P2P filtering, grey route prevention, anti-spam, and fraud control mechanisms.
Performance, Security & Optimization
- Define and validate capacity planning, performance benchmarking, and throughput optimization.
- Ensure security compliance, including firewall rules, access control, signaling security, and DDoS protection strategies.
- Conduct root cause analysis (RCA) for critical issues and provide architectural fixes.
Customer Engagement & Technical Leadership
- Act as a technical authority in customer discussions, design workshops, and solution reviews.
- Provide deployment strategy and BoQ inputs for new and existing projects.
- Mentor engineering and delivery teams on best practices, architecture standards, and troubleshooting approaches.
- Collaborate with product teams for feature enhancements and roadmap alignment based on field experience.
- Co-ordinate with support team for understanding feature parity for version upgrades.
Required Skills & Experience
Domain & Technical Expertise
- 8–12 years of experience in telecom core network and messaging domain.
- Hands-on experience with SMSC, USSD Gateway / USSI, and SMS Firewall platforms (deployment, integration, troubleshooting).
- Strong understanding of telecom signaling protocols (SS7, SMPP, Diameter, SIP).
- Experience with cloud-native architectures, containerization (Docker), and orchestration (Kubernetes).
- Solid knowledge of Linux systems, networking (IP, routing, firewalling), and database fundamentals.
Deployment & Architecture
- Proven experience in large-scale telecom deployments (Tier-1 or Tier-2 operators).
- Expertise in designing on-premise, cloud, and hybrid architectures.
- Experience in high availability, disaster recovery (DR), and geo-redundancy setups.
Commercial & Presales Alignment
- Ability to contribute to BoQ preparation, solution sizing, and infrastructure planning.
- Support presales teams with technical solutioning, proposal inputs, and customer presentations.
Soft Skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
- Effective communication and stakeholder management across technical and business teams.
- Ability to lead discussions with customer architects, network teams, and CXO-level stakeholders.
- High ownership with a structured and execution-driven approach.
AI Tools & Skills
- Working knowledge of AI/ML and Generative AI (LLMs, NLP, basic ML concepts).
- Hands-on exposure to frameworks such as LangChain and LlamaIndex.
- Understanding of RAG architectures, embeddings, vector databases, and prompt engineering.
- Experience with AI APIs and integrations (e.g., OpenAI, Microsoft Azure AI, Google Cloud AI).
- Familiarity with AI use cases such as chatbots, automation, and recommendation systems.
- Awareness of AI governance, data privacy, and ethical considerations.
- Ability to map business needs to AI solutions (BA) and design scalable AI architectures (Solution Architect).
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Telecom / Electronics / Computer Science) or equivalent.
- Certifications in cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP) and Kubernetes.
- Experience working with telecom product vendors or system integrators.