Senior Radio Access Network (RAN) Optimization Engineer

Placements24; Bloemfontein; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and incentives

Medical aid

Training & certifications

Travel opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 in Bloemfontein is seeking a Senior RAN Optimization Engineer to enhance 2G/3G/4G and 5G performance across the Free State network. You will analyze performance data, identify optimization opportunities, and implement tuning and antenna adjustments.

Collaborating with operations, planning and engineering teams, you will conduct drive tests, document procedures, and stay current with RF theory and new RAN technologies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Telecommunications engineering.
• 5–7 years of experience in RAN engineering with a focus on performance optimization.
• Experience optimizing 2G/3G/4G LTE and 5G NR.
• Strong RF knowledge, propagation models and antenna theory.
• Proficient with RAN monitoring tools and drive-test equipment.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and report RAN performance metrics like call drops and throughput.
• Identify underperforming cells and perform root cause analysis.
• Develop and implement RAN optimization strategies and antenna adjustments.
• Conduct drive tests and post-processing analyses to evaluate network quality.
• Collaborate with planning and engineering teams for network design and deployment.
• Troubleshoot RAN issues and customer complaints.
• Stay updated on new RAN technologies and vendor releases.
• Document optimization procedures and performance reports.
• Support capacity planning and network evolution strategies.

Skills

RAN optimization

RF principles

Drive-test data analysis

Vendor platforms (Ericsson/Huawei/Nok–

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Telecommunications engineering

Tools

TEMS

Accuver

Nemo

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a major telecommunications operator in Bloemfontein, is seeking an experienced Senior Radio Access Network (RAN) Optimization Engineer to join their technical team. This role is critical for enhancing the performance, quality, and coverage of our client's mobile network across the Free State province. You will be responsible for analyzing network performance data, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing optimization strategies for 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of RAN technologies, RF principles, and performance tuning techniques. This is an excellent opportunity to work with advanced mobile network technologies and contribute to delivering superior mobile experiences to customers. You will collaborate closely with network operations, planning, and engineering teams to ensure network excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor, analyze, and report on Radio Access Network (RAN) performance metrics (e.g., call drop rate, data throughput, latency, coverage).
• Identify underperforming network cells and areas, performing root cause analysis for performance degradations.
• Develop and implement RAN optimization strategies, including parameter tuning, feature configuration, and antenna adjustments.
• Conduct drive tests and post-processing analysis to evaluate network quality and identify optimization opportunities.
• Work closely with planning and engineering teams to ensure optimal network design and deployment.
• Troubleshoot and resolve RAN-related customer complaints and network issues.
• Stay abreast of new RAN technologies, features, and vendor releases, evaluating their potential impact and deployment.
• Develop and maintain documentation for optimization procedures, best practices, and network performance reports.
• Collaborate with vendor technical support teams to resolve complex RAN issues.
• Contribute to capacity planning and network evolution strategies based on performance analysis.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• A minimum of 5-7 years of experience in RAN engineering, with a strong focus on performance optimization.
• Proven experience with optimization of 2G, 3G, 4G (LTE), and 5G NR networks.
• In-depth knowledge of RF principles, propagation models, and antenna theory.
• Proficiency in using RAN performance monitoring tools and drive-test equipment (e.g., TEMS, Accuver, Nemo).
• Experience with parameter configuration and tuning on major RAN vendor platforms (e.g., Ericsson, Huawei, Nokia).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex network data.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a team.
• Understanding of mobile network architecture and signaling protocols.
• Experience in the Bloemfontein region is an advantage.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
• Comprehensive medical aid and retirement benefits.
• Opportunities for advanced training and certifications in mobile network technologies.
• Generous annual leave and company holidays.
• Exposure to cutting-edge 5G technologies.
• A collaborative and supportive team environment.
• Career progression opportunities within a leading telecom company.
• Potential for occasional travel to support network rollouts.