Remote Lead 5G Network Architect — Strategy & Edge

Placements24; Rustenburg; Remote; ZAR 1,500,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health insurance

Remote stipend

Professional growth

Flexible hours

R&D projects

Retirement plan

Unlimited vacation

Laptop & phone provided

Team events

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Lead 5G Network Architect to drive the design and strategic evolution of a remote-first 5G network. You will shape core, RAN, and edge solutions, mentor engineers, and define roadmaps for secure, scalable deployments across national operations.

The role requires 10+ years in telecom with strong 5G expertise, virtualization (NFV/SDN), containerization (Docker/Kubernetes), and cloud-native approaches, plus exceptional communication to align stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in telecommunications network design and architecture, with at least 5 years in 5G.
• Deep expertise in 5G Core (5GC), RAN (O-RAN / vRAN) and IP networking.
• Strong virtualization (NFV/SDN) and containerization experience.
• Proven ability to lead complex technical programs and mentor teams.
• Experience with cloud-native architectures and multi-cloud environments.
• Knowledge of network security principles in 5G systems.
• Experience shaping technology roadmaps and business cases.
• Familiarity with global 5G standards and regulatory landscapes.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and architecture of scalable, reliable 5G networks across core, RAN, and transport.
• Define 5G strategies, roadmaps, and technology criteria to meet objectives.
• Develop architectures for network slicing, edge computing, and IoT services.
• Evaluate new 5G technologies, standards, and vendor solutions.
• Collaborate with engineering, operations, and product management for lifecycle management.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to network architects and engineers.
• Analyze performance metrics to identify optimization opportunities.
• Create and maintain high-level designs and detailed specifications.
• Conduct feasibility studies and PoCs for emerging 5G capabilities.
• Ensure security and regulatory compliance in network designs.

Skills

5G Core (5GC)

RAN (O-RAN / vRAN)

IP networking

NFV/SDN

Cloud-native architectures

Docker

Kubernetes

Security best practices

Technical leadership

Roadmapping & business cases

Stakeholder communication

Education

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering / Computer Science

PhD (optional)

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Cloud platforms (AWS/GCP/Azure)

Job description

Placements24 seeks a Lead 5G Network Architect to drive the design and strategic evolution of a remote-first 5G network. You will shape core, RAN, and edge solutions, mentor engineers, and define roadmaps for secure, scalable deployments across national operations.

The role requires 10+ years in telecom with strong 5G expertise, virtualization (NFV/SDN), containerization (Docker/Kubernetes), and cloud-native approaches, plus exceptional communication to align stakeholders.