Senior Radio Access Network (RAN) Engineer

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Provident fund

Career development

Job summary

Placements24 in Randburg invites an experienced Senior RAN Engineer to design, deploy and optimize 4G/5G networks. You will lead RF planning, drive performance improvements and troubleshoot complex issues in a hybrid work setup balancing office collaboration with remote flexibility.

You will engage with cross-functional teams, mentor junior engineers, evaluate new RAN technologies, and contribute to standards, documentation, and vendor management in a dynamic mobile infrastructure environment.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of experience in Radio Access Network engineering with emphasis on LTE and 5G.
• Strong knowledge of RF planning, interference management, and optimization techniques.
• Hands-on experience with major RAN vendors' equipment and software.
• Familiarity with RRC, NAS, GTP and interfaces (X2, S1).
• Experience with network performance analysis tools and methodologies.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills; able to work in a hybrid environment.

Responsibilities

• Design, plan, and deploy 4G/LTE and 5G NR RAN solutions.
• Optimize RAN performance for throughput, latency, and call success rate.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex RAN issues including interference and capacity.
• Conduct site surveys, feasibility studies, and acceptance testing for new deployments.
• Develop and maintain RAN configuration standards and best practices.
• Collaborate with core network, transport, and field operations teams.
• Evaluate new RAN technologies and vendor solutions, providing technical recommendations.
• Manage vendor relationships and ensure SLAs are met.
• Create and maintain detailed RAN documentation including design docs and tickets.
• Mentor junior RAN engineers and share expertise.

Skills

RAN engineering

LTE & 5G

RF planning

Interference management

Performance optimization

Vendor coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Eng./Telecommunications/CS

Tools

RAN vendor equipment

RAN performance tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a key player in mobile network infrastructure, is seeking a Senior Radio Access Network (RAN) Engineer to join their team in Randburg, Gauteng . This role is pivotal in designing, implementing, and optimizing the performance of our 4G and 5G RAN, ensuring robust and efficient mobile communication services. You will work with cutting-edge technologies, troubleshooting complex issues and driving innovation in RAN architecture. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in RAN planning, deployment, and optimization, with a deep understanding of relevant technologies and protocols. This position offers a challenging yet rewarding opportunity to contribute significantly to the evolution of mobile networks in South Africa, with a hybrid work arrangement balancing office collaboration and remote flexibility. We seek a proactive and technically astute engineer.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, plan, and deploy 4G/LTE and 5G NR RAN solutions.
• Optimize RAN performance for key metrics such as throughput, latency, and call success rate.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex RAN issues, including interference, capacity, and coverage problems.
• Conduct site surveys, technical feasibility studies, and acceptance testing for new RAN deployments.
• Develop and maintain RAN configuration standards and best practices.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including core network, transport, and field operations.
• Evaluate new RAN technologies and vendor solutions, providing technical recommendations.
• Manage vendor relationships and ensure adherence to technical specifications and SLAs.
• Create and maintain detailed RAN documentation, including design documents, performance reports, and trouble tickets.
• Mentor junior RAN engineers and share technical expertise within the team.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5-7 years of experience in Radio Access Network (RAN) engineering, with a strong focus on LTE and 5G.
• In-depth knowledge of RAN principles, including RF planning, interference management, and optimization techniques.
• Hands-on experience with major RAN vendors' equipment and software.
• Familiarity with relevant protocols such as RRC, NAS, GTP, and related interfaces (e.g., X2, S1).
• Experience with network performance analysis tools and methodologies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to diagnose complex network issues.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a hybrid work environment, collaborating both in-office and remotely.
• Knowledge of cloud-native RAN (vRAN, O-RAN) concepts is a plus.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary, performance bonuses, and a comprehensive benefits package including medical aid and a provident fund. This hybrid role provides a blend of office-based collaboration in Randburg, Gauteng and remote work flexibility. We are committed to employee development, offering continuous training, professional certifications, and career advancement opportunities. You will join a dynamic and innovative team working at the forefront of mobile technology.

Additional benefits include paid time off and access to wellness programs. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced RAN engineer to grow their career.