Remote 5G Network Architect: Lead Cloud-Native Core & RAN

Placements24; George; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Performance bonus

Retirement savings plan

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a visionary remote 5G Network Architect to lead the design and evolution of next‑generation telecom infrastructure from anywhere in South Africa. You will shape the 5G core and RAN architectures, drive NFV/SDN strategies, and deliver cloud‑native, scalable solutions that meet future speed and capacity demands.

Collaborating with global teams, you will translate complex requirements into practical designs, mentor engineers, and stay ahead of 3GPP standards and MEC trends.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Telecommunications, Computer Science, or related field.
• 10+ years telecom network design/architecture with 5+ years in 5G.
• Deep knowledge of 5G core (AMF/SMF/UPF/NRF), RAN (gNB) and transport networks.
• Experience with NFV/SDN platforms like OpenStack or Kubernetes.
• Cloud-native architectures and containerization expertise.
• Familiarity with network slicing, edge computing, and MEC.
• Strong IP routing and security understanding.
• Proven remote leadership of complex architectural initiatives.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain architecture for 5G core and RAN networks.
• Design solutions for NFV/SDN, virtualization, and cloud-native platforms.
• Evaluate technologies and vendors for 5G deployments.
• Create high-level and low-level design documents for network components.
• Collaborate with engineering teams for implementation and integration of features.
• Define strategies for network automation, orchestration, and management.
• Perform performance analysis and capacity planning for 5G services.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to engineers and architects.
• Stay current with 3GPP standards and industry trends.

Skills

5G architecture

NFV/SDN

Cloud-native

Leadership

Education

Master's or PhD in Telecommunications or related field

Tools

OpenStack

Kubernetes

Job description

Placements24 seeks a visionary remote 5G Network Architect to lead the design and evolution of next‑generation telecom infrastructure from anywhere in South Africa. You will shape the 5G core and RAN architectures, drive NFV/SDN strategies, and deliver cloud‑native, scalable solutions that meet future speed and capacity demands.

Collaborating with global teams, you will translate complex requirements into practical designs, mentor engineers, and stay ahead of 3GPP standards and MEC trends.