Principal Access Network Systems Engineer

Comcast; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical & Dental

401(k) Savings Plan

Generous paid time off

Life Milestones - adoption assistance,

Courtesy Services - free digital TV &

Discount tickets for Universal Resorts

Job summary

Comcast’s Network Evolution team leads innovative work on next-generation wireline, optical, and wireless technologies for the HFC network. The role focuses on architecture, system design, and technology validation, guiding early-stage solutions and shaping product direction.

The candidate will evaluate architectures (FPGA/ASIC/software), model RF/optical links, and deliver PoCs while collaborating with vendors, partners, and standards bodies.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in telecommunications and systems engineering.
• Deep understanding of physical layer (OSI Layer 1) and RF concepts and their impact on design.
• Experience with end-to-end systems engineering and performance evaluation.
• Proven ability to develop PoCs, prototypes, or early-stage solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic architecture and system design for next-generation access and transport technologies.
• Evaluate hardware and software architectures (FPGA, ASIC, or software-based).
• Design, model, and validate RF and optical networks, including link budgets across topologies.
• Develop and deliver PoCs to validate new technologies and influence decisions at the executive/industry level.
• Perform technical and cost-benefit tradeoffs across competing approaches.
• Define product and system requirements in collaboration with vendors and semiconductor partners.
• Provide technical leadership to external partners, suppliers, and standards bodies (e.g., CableLabs).
• Identify and apply innovations from adjacent industries to improve Comcast's network capabilities.

Skills

Telecom systems

OSI Layer 1

RF fundamentals

End-to-end engineering

FPGA/ASIC

Python scripting

PoC development

Tools

Hardware design tools

Job description

Make your mark at Comcast -- a Fortune 30 global media and technology company. From the connectivity and platforms we provide, to the content and experiences we create, we reach hundreds of millions of customers, viewers, and guests worldwide. Become part of our award-winning technology team that turns big ideas into cutting-edge products, platforms, and solutions that our customers love. We create space to innovate, and we recognize, reward, and invest in your ideas, while ensuring you can proudly bring your authentic self to the workplace. Join us. You'll do the best work of your career right here at Comcast. (In most cases, Comcast prefers to have employees on-site collaborating unless the team has been designated as virtual due to the nature of their work. If a position is listed with both office locations and virtual offerings, Comcast may be willing to consider candidates who live greater than 100 miles from the office for the remote option.)

Job Summary

This job leads strategic R&D initiatives, pioneering solutions and guiding teams. It involves setting technical specifications, partnering with product teams, and evaluating external solutions. Responsibilities include authoring key documentation and mentoring within the research team.

Job Description

Role & Team Overview

Join Comcast's Network Evolution team, a forward-looking engineering group focused on identifying, validating, and scaling next-generation wireline, optical, and wireless technologies for the HFC network.

This team operates as a technology SME team, leading system engineering, innovation and architecture functions, driving early-stage technology evaluation, building proof-of-concepts, and influencing product direction and industry standards. The work is highly cross-disciplinary, spanning RF, optical, and hardware/software co-design, with a strong emphasis on improving bandwidth, latency, reliability, and efficiency. The individual joining this team is a problem solver and a futurist in one!

Key Responsibilities

• Lead strategic architecture and system design for next-generation access and transport technologies
• Evaluate and compare hardware and software architectures (e.g., FPGA, ASIC, software-based solutions)
• Design, model, and validate RF and optical networks, including link budgets across multiple topologies (P2P, P2MP, mesh, star)
• Develop and deliver proof-of-concepts (PoCs) to validate new technologies and influence executive and industry decisions
• Perform technical and cost-benefit tradeoff analysis across competing approaches
• Define product and system requirements in collaboration with vendors and semiconductor partners
• Provide technical leadership and direction to external partners, suppliers, and standards bodies (e.g., CableLabs)
• Identify and apply innovations from adjacent industries to improve Comcast's network capabilities

Skills & Experience

Must-Haves

• ~10+ years of experience in telecommunications and systems engineering
• Strong understanding of physical layer (OSI Layer 1) and RF layer concepts and their impact on system design
• Strong experience in end to end systems engineering, system performance evaluation, and analysis
• Deep expertise in at least one domain: RF, optical networking, or wireless (e.g., WiFi / 802.11 / O-RAN)
• Experience evaluating and working with hardware/software system architectures (FPGA, ASIC, or software-based systems)
• Proven ability to perform system-level design tradeoffs (technical + cost considerations)
• Experience building or contributing to proof-of-concepts, prototypes, or early-stage solutions
• Ability to collaborate across multi-disciplinary teams and external partners (vendors, chip manufacturers)
• Experience with Python scripting or automation (ability to streamline workflows and experimentation)

Nice-to-Haves

• Experience with O-RAN architectures and/or 802.11 (WiFi) systems
• Background in telecom product design or R&D environments (vs. operations-focused roles)
• Familiarity with RF and optical lab environments, including test equipment, emulators, and data capture tools
• Exposure to CableLabs or industry standards development
• Experience incorporating AI/ML techniques into system design or analysis

What Success Looks Like

• Brings deep technical expertise with system-level thinking
• Thrives in ambiguous, early-stage innovation environments
• Ability to translate emerging technologies into practical, scalable solutions
• Strong communicator who can influence across engineering, leadership, and industry stakeholders

About Our Perks & Benefits:

We are determined to create an environment where our employees feel valued, understand our business goals, and are motivated.

Here's a look at just some of the perks and benefits we make available to our US-based employees:

• Medical & Dental
• 401(k) Savings Plan
• Generous paid time off
• Life Milestones - from adoption assistance, childcare resources, pet insurance, and more, Comcast supports you at all life stages.
• Courtesy Services - We offer all of our full-time employees in serviceable areas free digital TV and internet.
• Discount tickets for Universal Resorts, including theme park tickets and onsite hotel rooms.

Learn more at jobs.comcast.com/benefits

Reasonable Accommodation

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us