Engineer - Fixed Solutions Architecture & Optimization at Safaricom Kenya

Detailed Description

Reporting to the Manager - Fixed Solutions: Architecture & Optimization the position holder will be responsible for crafting the network architecture, planning, installation & automation of Fixed Solutions services & infrastructure including FTTH and fixed wireless access to provide a cost-efficient, scalable and resilient network that aligns with the organization’s strategic goals.

Responsibilities

• Work with fiber planning teams on multiservice access node (OLT) planning in the network to maximize coverage and minimize exposure to physical & logical faults.
• Install, configure, upgrade & commission service access nodes for FTTH services.
• Design plan & implement broadband gateway nodes for Fixed services.
• Assist support teams with root cause analysis of persistent problems affecting residential Fixed service experience and recommend network optimizations to fix the problems.
• Design & implement automation journeys for Fixed solutions repetitive tasks and service activation, modification, and de-activation processes.
• Forecast Fixed services traffic & subscriber trends and plan for capacity, licensing, and optimizations to ensure service availability and resiliency while optimizing costs.
• Enhance Fixed solutions reporting & analytics capabilities for key network & customer service KPIs.
• Ensure up to date documentation of all projects implemented.
• Continuously evaluate and propose relevant emerging network technologies and solutions that improve customer experience or add features, services, and functionality.
• Carry out trials, proofs of concept & sourcing initiatives for Fixed services infrastructure, solutions, new technologies and services.
• Carry out regular vendor & supplier engagement on performance, existing and new solution offerings.
• Work with commercial teams and offer technical expertise on new & existing service offerings to align network design with organizational goals.
• Work with other technology teams to ensure Fixed Solutions services are well planned, maintained & optimized.

Professional / Technical qualifications

• Degree in Electrical, Electronics, Telecommunication Engineering, IT or related field.
• Work Experience of at least 3 years with specialized role in a busy telecommunications / Service provider environment –Involved in network planning, automation or support, implementation & commissioning.
• Knowledge of Passive Optical Network architecture, design, infrastructure and operations.
• End to end broad knowledge of 4G and 5G fixed wireless access networks
• Capability to draft and evaluate technical requirement specifications and requests for proposals.
• Capability to design, integrate, test and validate technology features and functionality through lab set-ups and proofs of concept.
• Capability to do network capacity planning, projections and forecasting.
• Capability to initiate and take technical lead and ownership on projects from conceptualization to implementation
• Capability to design future proofed service provider networks for scale & resilience
• Capability to do deep analysis of repeated fixed network problems driving customer demand and recommend optimizations to improve customer experience.
• Experience with designing and implementing networks using common routing protocols including IS-IS, BGP and OSPF as well as layer 2 & layer 3 VPNs
• Experience installing and commissioning metro switches, Optical Line Terminals, Multi-Service Access Nodes, access routers and broadband network gateways.
• Aptitude to understand call flows, do protocol analysis, packet capture and traffic inspection
• Familiarity with aspects of network automation for purposes of service provisioning, data collection and reporting.
• Vendor and internal stakeholder management and collaboration capability
• Keen interest on emerging broadband trends, standards and technologies.
• An overall end-to-end approach to fixed solutions with a focus on network evolution to improve customers’ experience.