Network Architect

Linkfields Innovations (Pty) Ltd; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,700,000; Full time

Job summary

Linkfields Innovations is recruiting a Network Architect to support a multi-phase Telco transformation programme. The role owns the network domain architecture underpinning the programme, spanning access, aggregation, core and transport across both mobile and fixed line.

Focused on the design and evolution of the network to carry migrated services without degradation. This is a network engineering role, working with the solution architecture team but distinct from it.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in telecommunications network engineering with architecture ownership
• Experience in mobile network architecture including radio access, packet core and interconnect
• Knowledge of fixed access/FTTH GPON, DSL and Ethernet
• Deep grounding in IP, MPLS, routing and transport design at carrier scale
• Proven ability to dimension capacity, perform traffic modelling and network performance analysis
• Prior network architecture ownership on a platform migration or network transformation
• Relevant Engineering or IT degree; CCIE/CCNP/JNCIE or equivalent preferred

Responsibilities

• Own the network domain architecture across access, aggregation, core and transport for mobile and fixed line services
• Define target network design and evolution path with dependencies and decommissioning sequence
• Produce high level and low level designs, topology documentation and interface specifications
• Assess readiness to carry migrated subscribers and services and define remediation before migrations
• Perform capacity planning, traffic modelling and performance analysis
• Define interfaces between network estate and operations support (inventory, activation, mediation, assurance)
• Specify network data feeds for charging, mediation and billing and validate during migration
• Design network resilience, redundancy and failover
• Define network security architecture, segmentation and access control
• Lead network design reviews with vendors and operator networks
• Support element configuration, migration rehearsal and cutover activity
• Provide input to cutover planning, rollback design and stabilization

Skills

Network architecture

IP/MPLS design

Routing & switching

MPLS

GPON/FTTH

Security architecture

Vendor management

Capacity planning

Education

Engineering or IT degree

Job description

Linkfields Innovations is recruiting a Network Architect to support a multi-phase Telco transformation programme.

The role owns the network domain architecture underpinning the programme, spanning access, aggregation, core and transport across both mobile and fixed line. The focus is the design and evolution of the network itself, and the readiness of that network to carry migrated services without degradation.

This is a network engineering discipline. It works alongside the solution architecture team but is distinct from it. Solution architects own the commercial platform and its integration. This role owns the network layer they depend on.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Own the network domain architecture across access, aggregation, core and transport for mobile and fixed line services
• Define the target network design and the evolution path from the current estate, including element level dependencies and decommissioning sequence
• Produce high level and low level network designs, topology documentation and network interface specifications
• Assess network readiness to carry migrated subscribers and services, and define the remediation required before each migration window
• Perform capacity planning, dimensioning and traffic modelling against forecast subscriber and service volumes
• Define the interface between the network estate and the operations support layer, covering inventory, activation, mediation and assurance
• Specify the network data feeds consumed by charging, mediation and billing, and validate their integrity through migration
• Design network level resilience, redundancy and failover for services in scope
• Define network security architecture, segmentation and access control across the affected domains
• Lead network design reviews with the prime vendor's network team and the operator's network engineering function
• Support network element configuration, migration rehearsal and network side cutover activity
• Provide network domain input to cutover planning, rollback design and post cutover stabilisation

Desired Experience & Qualification

• Network architecture: Minimum 8 years in telecommunications network engineering, with at least 3 years in a network architecture or network design authority capacity
• Mobile network: Working knowledge of mobile network architecture, including radio access, packet core, signalling and interconnect
• Fixed network: Working knowledge of fixed access and aggregation, including FTTH and GPON, DSL and Ethernet based business connectivity
• IP and transport: Deep grounding in IP, MPLS, routing and switching, and transport layer design at carrier scale
• Capacity and performance: Demonstrable experience in dimensioning, traffic modelling and network performance analysis
• Migration programmes: Prior network architecture ownership on a platform migration or network transformation of comparable scale
• Qualification: Relevant Engineering or IT degree. CCIE, CCNP, JNCIE or equivalent vendor certification is preferred.

Technical Skills and Competencies

• Carrier grade IP and MPLS design, including routing protocols, traffic engineering and VPN architecture
• Fixed access technologies, including GPON, FTTH, BNG and Ethernet aggregation
• Mobile core and packet architecture, including relevant signalling and interconnect interfaces
• Network inventory, discovery and reconciliation against as built topology
• OSS interworking, covering activation, assurance, fault and performance management
• Network security architecture, segmentation and hardening
• Network design documentation, topology modelling and design authority governance
• Ability to present and defend network design decisions to executive and engineering audiences
• Comfortable operating in a multi-vendor environment with competing priorities and incomplete information

Advantageous

• Prior experience on a vendor led network or platform replacement programme
• Converged fixed and mobile network architecture experience
• Wholesale, open access or infrastructure provider environments
• Network automation and infrastructure as code exposure
• Network migration and cutover experience on a live carrier network
• TOGAF, TM Forum or equivalent architecture certification
• Prior delivery experience within a South African telecommunications operator