(Senior) 5G O-RAN Orchestration & SMO Engineer

SES Satellites; Long Beach (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

SES Satellites is seeking a Senior Engineer to own the O-RAN Management Plane for regenerative onboard gNBs and to architect the interface with the SMO platform. The role focuses on secure, standards-based management and remote lifecycle control for spaceborne 5G infrastructure.

You will design O1 interfaces, create YANG models, and implement a TLS-based NETCONF agent for ground operations, aligning with 3GPP TS 28.xxx standards. Strong ownership and cross-boundary collaboration are required.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree in a related field and experience shipping real systems.
• Strong understanding of O-RAN management, O1 interface and 3GPP TS 28.xxx.
• Experience with SMO-driven lifecycle management and ONT/ground interfaces.
• Proficiency in C/C++ and Python for production software.
• Experience securing management interfaces with TLS in constrained/high-latency environments.

Responsibilities

• Own the O-RAN Management Plane for onboard gNBs.
• Architect the interface between onboard 5G stack and SMO platform.
• Design and implement O1 interface specs and YANG models.
• Prototype a secure NETCONF/TLS agent for ground-initiated operations.
• Define fault reporting and PM data collection logic.

Skills

O-RAN management

O1 interface

YANG modelling

NETCONF/REST

C/C++

Python

TLS security

Systems thinking

Ownership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical, Telecommunications, Physics or related field

Tools

NETCONF

REST

TLS

Job description

Requisition Number: 19750

Contract Type: Permanent

Location(s): Betzdorf, LU; Long Beach, CA, US

Senior Engineer, 5G O‑RAN Orchestration & SMO, meoSphere

Programme Description

meoSphere is SES’s next-generation Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite constellation, designed to deliver secure connectivity services to government agencies, enterprises, and commercial customers. It will also provide high-speed broadband internet to eliminate global connectivity dead zones.

To accelerate development timelines, reduce costs, and ensure quality, SES is internalizing a critical segment of the satellite supply chain: the final integration of partner satellite platforms with SES’s software‑defined payloads, all within a cutting‑edge manufacturing and test facility.

Role Description Summary

5G O‑RAN Orchestration & SMO Engineer, you will be responsible for the Management Plane (M‑Plane) of the regenerative onboard gNBs and for the interface between the onboard 5G stack and the ground/onboard Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) platform. Your work enables remote lifecycle management—configuration, fault management, and performance monitoring of spaceborne 5G infrastructure, with strong alignment to O‑RAN Alliance and 3GPP TS 28.xxx management specifications.

This is a high‑ownership role for engineers who like shipping real systems: you will define the management interfaces, turn standards into running software, and make it robust enough for mission operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the definition and implementation of the O‑RAN Management Plane (M‑Plane) for regenerative onboard gNBs.
• Architect the interface between the onboard 5G stack and the SMO platform (ground and/or onboard).
• Design and implement the O‑RAN O1 interface to enable remote configuration, fault management, and performance monitoring, aligned with O‑RAN Alliance specifications.
• Define O1 interface specifications for the onboard gNB and author custom YANG models representing satellite‑specific parameters.
• Architect and prototype a secure NETCONF/TLS agent for handling ground‑initiated Get/Set management operations.
• Define and implement logic for fault reporting (alarms) and performance data collection (PM counters).

Competencies, Qualifications & Experience

• Builder’s mindset with a track record of shipping real systems, not prototypes—ideally telecom infrastructure, or other high‑reliability environments.
• Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Telecommunications, Physics, or a related field.
• Good experience owning end‑to‑end technical scope, from architecture and standards interpretation through implementation and operational readiness.
• Deep, practical understanding of O‑RAN management, including the O1 interface and the 3GPP TS 28.xxx management framework, applied in production systems.
• Hands‑on experience designing and operating SMO‑driven lifecycle management, covering configuration, fault, and performance domains.
• Proven ability to design clean, extensible management models using YANG and to implement them over NETCONF/REST‑based interfaces.
• Strong software engineering background with production experience in C/C++ and Python, including ownership of code quality, robustness, and maintainability.
• Experience building and securing management interfaces using TLS‑based communications in constrained or high‑latency environments.
• Systems thinker comfortable working across boundaries (payload, platform software, ground systems) and making trade‑offs under real operational constraints.
• Thrives in high‑ownership, fast‑execution environments where accountability, technical judgment, and bias toward action matter more than process.

Nice to Have

• Prior experience working on spaceborne, airborne, or other highly constrained platforms, where latency, bandwidth, and reliability are first‑order design drivers.
• Hands‑on involvement with O‑RAN Alliance activities, working groups, or interoperability efforts.
• Experience integrating management systems with ground segment or mission operations environments.

Other Key Requirements

• Eligibility for ESA/EU/NATO/National SECRET personnel security clearances. Candidates must be prepared to undergo a security clearance procedure, as this position may require holding such clearance, is considered an asset.
• Willing to work at least 60% onsite from office
• Able to travel nationally & internationally

SES and its Affiliated Companies are committed to providing fair and equal employment opportunities to all. We are an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, protected veteran status, disability, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law.