Staff Engineer, Packet Core

Rakuten Kobo Inc.; India; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 7,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Rakuten Symphony is building a cloud-native telco platform and seeking seasoned engineers to design and implement 5G Standalone networks. You will work across IMS, RAN, transport and OSS/BSS to ensure robust end-to-end solutions, performance, and security.

Ideal candidates have 10+ years in telecom, strong 5G knowledge, and experience with Kubernetes and DevOps practices. Join a global team driving the next generation of mobile networks in India and beyond.

Qualifications

• B.Tech in Electronics and Communication.
• Experience: 10+ years in telecom (5G SA/NSA/EPC/Cloud).
• Strong communication skills; team player; good time management; Japanese proficiency a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop HLD and LLD documents.
• Design end-to-end 5G Standalone (SA) network solutions.
• Define and validate end-to-end call flows and network architecture.
• Lead workshops, architecture reviews and solution presentations.
• Support deployment and optimization of 5G Core networks.
• Experience with cloud-native 5G core deployments (Kubernetes, containers).
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (IMS, RAN, OSS/BSS).
• Identify and implement automation use cases.

Skills

5G Core architecture

Cloud-native/Kubernetes

REST/HTTP2

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

B.Tech in Electronics & Communication

Tools

Kubernetes

Containers

DevOps practices

Job description

Job Description: Why should you choose us? Rakuten Symphony is reimagining telecom, changing supply chain norms and disrupting outmoded thinking that threatens the industry’s pursuit of rapid innovation and growth. Based on proven modern infrastructure practices, its open interface platforms make it possible to launch and operate advanced mobile services in a fraction of the time and cost of conventional approaches, with no compromise to network quality or security. Rakuten Symphony has operations in Japan, the United States, Singapore, India, South Korea, Europe, and the Middle East Africa region. For more information, visit: https://symphony.rakuten.com. Building on the technology Rakuten used to launch Japan’s newest mobile network, we are taking our mobile offering global. To support our ambitions to provide an innovative cloud-native telco platform for our customers, Rakuten Symphony is looking to recruit and develop top talent from around the globe. We are looking for individuals to join our team across all functional areas of our business – from sales to engineering, support functions to product development. Let’s build the future of mobile telecommunications together!

About Rakuten Group, Inc. (TSE: 4755) is a global leader in internet services that empower individuals, communities, businesses and society. Founded in Tokyo in 1997 as an online marketplace, Rakuten has expanded to offer services in e-commerce, fintech, digital content and communications to 2 billion members around the world. The Rakuten Group has over 30,000 employees, and operations in 30 countries and regions. For more information visit https://global.rakuten.com/corp/.

Experience

• Develop HLD (High-Level Design) and LLD (Low-Level Design) documents.
• Design end-to-end 5G Standalone (SA) network solutions.
• Solid knowledge of key telecom protocols: NAS, NGAP, PFCP, HTTP/2, REST APIs, SBI, SCTP, GTP-Diameter, GTP-C, IPv6.
• Hands-on understanding of 5G Standalone network functions (AMF, SMF, UPF, PCF, UDM) and 4G EPC.
• Define and validate end-to-end call flows and network architecture.
• Deep understanding of 3GPP standards and best practices.
• Support deployment, optimization, and performance tuning of 5G Core networks.
• Experience with cloud-native 5G core deployments (Kubernetes, containers).
• Exposure to DevOps/CI-CD practices in telecom environments.
• Lead technical workshops, architecture reviews, and solution presentations.
• New feature testing, implementation and Solution review and implementation.
• Experience working in multi-vendor 5G Core environments.
• Root cause analysis and report preparation.
• Identify and Implement automation use cases.
• Very good understanding of Cloud/Virtualization.
• Support RFP/RFI/RFQ responses and technical proposals.
• Impact assessment report preparation/review & change implementation.
• Preparation of E2E test matrix and test instructions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including IMS, RAN, transport, and OSS/BSS.
• Manage Critical Faults and Outages in the network.
• Train other team members to enhance their technical expertise.
• Assess and mitigate risk of any network changes and Identification of any issues affecting performance or KPI’s.
• MOP preparation, verification and support during CR execution.
• Verification of implementation of network configuration changes in accordance with detailed designs.
• Develop and support various O&M and Routine procedures and any tools to assist and improve in maintaining the network.
• Provide technical support for Operations in terms of performance, capacity and configuration to maintain and optimize Network performance.

Preferred Qualification

• B. Tech in Electronics and Communication.
• Experience: 10+ years.
• Experience in and/or knowledge of telecom (5G SA/NSA/EPC/Cloud).
• Team spirit; strong communication skills to collaborate with various stakeholders.
• Good time-management skills, self-starter, able to work on their own.
• Intermediate Japanese Proficiency for both conversation and literacy (Good to have).

RAKUTEN SHUGI PRINCIPLES

Our worldwide practices describe specific behaviors that make Rakuten unique and united across the world.

We expect Rakuten employees to model these 5 Shugi Principles of Success.

Always improve, always advance.

Only be satisfied with complete success - Kaizen.

Be passionately professional.

Take an uncompromising approach to your work and be determined to be the best.

Hypothesize - Practice - Validate - Shikumika.

Use the Rakuten Cycle to success in unknown territory.

Maximize Customer Satisfaction.

The greatest satisfaction for workers in a service industry is to see your customers smile.

Speed!! Speed!! Speed!! Always be conscious of time.

Take charge, set clear goals, and engage your team.

Rakuten Symphony is reimagining telecom, changing supply chain norms and disrupting outmoded thinking that threatens the industry’s pursuit of rapid innovation and growth.

Based on proven modern infrastructure practices, its open interface platforms make it possible to launch and operate advanced mobile services in a fraction of the time and cost of conventional approaches, with no compromise to network quality or security.

Rakuten Symphony has operations in Japan, the United States, Singapore, India, South Korea, Europe, and the Middle East Africa region.