Principal Network Engineer, Planning & Performance

Skylo; Mountain View (CA); Hybrid; USD 229,000 - 244,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical, dental, vision

Retirement plan

Wellness & education reimbursement

Generous time off

Opportunity to work on world-first sat

Job summary

Skylo, a Mountain View-based satellite connectivity innovator, seeks a Principal Network Engineer to shape its NTN-based network architecture. You will design end-to-end network solutions spanning base and ground stations, core networks, and cloud integrations to meet current and future demand.

You will lead architecture discussions, drive standards compliance, and mentor a small team, ensuring scalable, high-performance services across terrestrial and satellite networks.

Qualifications

• 20+ years in network design and planning, preferably for mobile networks.
• Experience with Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) is highly preferred.
• Proven ability to define end-to-end network architecture and perform evaluations.
• Hands-on with LTE eNodeB, 5G gNodeB, EPC Core, and 5G Core.
• Familiarity with cloud-native platforms and vRAN architectures.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end service designs for network solutions including Base Station, Ground Station, Core, and Cloud integrations for NTN.
• Create technical specifications, engineering plans, and detailed designs for network elements.
• Optimize networks for cost, performance, and scalability.
• Perform evaluations and contribute to system operability testing.
• Lead a small team of engineers with mentorship and guidance.
• Oversee project deliverables and align with company goals.

Skills

Network architecture

End-to-end design

NTN experience

3GPP standards

Vendor evaluation

Cloud-native architectures

RRC & NAS procedures

KPI & capacity planning

Mentoring

AI tooling usage

Tools

Virtual Machines

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

The world still has coverage blind spots. You could help eliminate them at Skylo.

Skylo has pioneered a standards-based approach to satellite connectivity. We connect smartphones and IoT devices directly to satellites. No special hardware, no entirely new networks. Just billions of existing devices, suddenly reachable anywhere on Earth. We're not building toward this future. We're already in it.

Our direct-to-device service is live on millions of activated devices across five continents, covering more than 72 million square kilometers, in partnership with leading satellite operators, mobile network operators, Tier-1 chipset makers, and OEMs worldwide. And we're just getting started.

At the heart of it all is Skylo's commercial NTN vRAN: a 3GPP standards-based, cloud-native platform that seamlessly bridges terrestrial and satellite networks. It's the infrastructure that makes true anywhere, anytime connectivity possible.

When you join Skylo, you'll work at the intersection of three markets reshaping how the world stays connected: mass-market consumer devices, automotive, and industrial IoT. Enabling people outdoors and critical workflows in the world's most remote places.

This is a rare chance to work on technology that matters, at a company that's already proving it works

About Skylo

Skylo is a global Non-Terrestrial Network service provider based in Mountain View, CA, offering a service that allows smartphone and IoT cellular devices to connect directly over existing satellites.

Skylo's direct-to-device service is now live on millions of activated devices across five continents, with more than 60 million square kilometers of coverage, in partnership with multiple satellite operators, mobile network operators (MNOs), Tier-1 chipset makers, and OEMs. Devices connected over satellite are managed and served by Skylo's commercial NTN vRAN, featuring a 3GPP standards-based cloud-native base station and core. Skylo provides anywhere, anytime connectivity solution that seamlessly roams between terrestrial and satellite networks. Our focus is on enabling connected services for people outdoors and connected workflows across three main verticals: mass-market consumer devices, automotive, and industrial IoT.

This role is based in our Mountain View, CA office and requires being onsite 3 days per week.

Summary Of How You Will Impact Skylo

Skylo is hiring a Principal Network Engineer, Architecture & System Design to help fulfill Skylo's mission of making satellite connectivity available to all. This individual will be a key contributor to the Network Design and Planning team, helping to plan, design, and evolve Skylo's satellite communication network infrastructure. Your work will ensure our network is reliable, scalable, and high-performance, meeting both current and future customer demands and business objectives. You will be a crucial part of a team defining the architecture and technical roadmap for a world-first commercial direct-to-device satellite network.

How You Will Contribute

• Lead and develop end-to-end service designs for network solutions, including Base Station, Ground Station, Core Network, and Cloud Application integrations for Non-Terrestrial networks.
• Create technical specifications, engineering plans, and documentation with detailed designs for network elements.
• Optimize existing networks and services for cost-efficiency, performance, and scalability.
• Perform technical evaluations and contribute to system operability testing.
• Conduct proof-of-solutions to validate technical proposals.
• Provide technical support during solution implementation and deployment.
• Define interoperability, standards compliance, and feature introduction for the network.
• Lead a small team of engineers, providing mentorship, technical guidance, and career development.
• Oversee project deliverables and ensure alignment with team and company goals

What We Look For

• 20+ years of experience in network design and planning, with a strong background in cellular telecommunications preferably acquired within a mobile network operator or within a vendor providing equipment and services to a mobile network operator.
• Experience with Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in defining end-to-end network architecture.
• Proven ability to perform vendor and product evaluations and selection.
• Experience with 3GPP standards, cloud-native architectures, and network virtualization (SBI, vRAN).
• Strong analytical skills to conduct KPI framework analysis, capacity planning, and optimization.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for creating detailed technical documentation and presenting solutions.
• Hands-on experience with LTE eNodeB and 5G gNodeB.
• Direct experience with EPC Core and 5G Core.
• Experience with Cloud technologies such as Virtual Machines, Docker, Kubernetes.
• Excellent understanding of 3GPP specifications related to RRC & NAS procedures for Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial networks.
• End-to-end LTE and 5G call flows e.g. for SMS delivery, VoLTE, VoNR.
• Understanding of inbound and outbound roaming architectures.
• Good understanding of end-to-end network protocols based on IP and Non-IP PDNs carried over telecom infrastructure.
• Previous experience managing or mentoring engineers.
• Every role at Skylo uses AI tools daily to amplify output. We expect active habits using AI tools and a track record of folding new ones into your workflow quickly

What We Offer

With employees working across three continents, Skylo is proud to be an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. Our worldwide and inclusive culture encourages a flexible approach to work, and we also offer an attractive range benefits such as:

• Competitive compensation packages including a stock option based equity program
• Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, retirement plan
• Monthly allowances for wellness and education reimbursement
• A generous time off policy, holidays, and the opportunity to temporarily work abroad
• Once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of developing and running world's first commercial, live direct-to-device satellite network and service
• Access to world-class team and talent across tech domains: software, hardware, chipsets, telecom, satellite and network virtualization

Additional Information

The compensation range for this position is: $229,400 - $243,695. This range reflects the low and high end of the range Skylo reasonably and generally expects to pay the hired candidate in this role.

EEO Statement

Skylo is an equal-opportunity employer and we celebrate diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, caste, sex, sexual orientation, parent or caregiver status, political affiliation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic makeup, marital status or military service consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. Please let us know if you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability.