Principal 5G Network Core Architect

Principal 5G Network Core Architect

SpinLaunch

London, United Kingdom

Your Mission on the Team:

As our Principal Network Core Architect, you will own the backend architecture of the Meridian 5G NTN solution: the 5G Core, service and network management (OAM), and security architecture that ties the non-terrestrial radio segment into standards-based 3GPP networks. You will work at the intersection of cloud-native 5GC, O-RAN SMO/OAM, and security, and ensure that what we build is firmly grounded in the 3GPP and O-RAN frameworks. As a secondary part of your mission, you will help shape and operate lab environments used to validate architectural choices. This includes:

• Defining the 5G Core architecture, configuration model, and deployment pattern for the Meridian ground segment;
• Designing the OAM and service/network management architecture (FCAPS, SMO/OAM, OSS/BSS integration) for the Meridian ground segment;
• Owning the security architecture for the core, OAM, and management planes, including 3GPP security, O-RAN/OAM security, key management, and trust boundaries;
• Leading the cloud-native design and deployment of 5GC, OAM, and supporting control components (Kubernetes, CNFs/VNFs, observability, resilience);
• Defining and maintaining OAM data models and workflows aligned with standard management frameworks (O-RAN SMO/O1/O2, NETCONF/YANG);
• Contributing to the design and operation of lab environments used to validate architecture and configuration choices;
• Planning and executing backend-focused test campaigns (control plane, OAM, security, scaling) and feeding results into requirements and risk mitigation;
• Contributing to System Requirements, Architecture Description, and Product Tree documents covering core, OAM, and security;
• Collaborating with RAN, RF, and systems architects to ensure end-to-end coherence of the Meridian solution.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer science, telecommunications, or a related field;
• Experience architecting and deploying 5G Core networks (AMF/SMF/UPF/PCF/UDM);
• Deep knowledge of 3GPP 5G system architecture and procedures (Rel 15+);
• Experience designing OAM/OSS/NMS architectures (FCAPS, performance management, configuration, inventory) for mobile networks;
• Experience with mobile network security (3GPP security, IPsec/TLS, PKI, RBAC, logging/audit);
• Experience with cloud-native telco platforms (Kubernetes, CNFs/VNFs, Helm/Operators, observability stacks);
• Hands-on lab experience integrating 5GC + gNB + OAM using COTS components and standard interfaces (NG, F1/E1, O1/O2, NETCONF/YANG);
• Proficiency in scripting and automation (Python, Bash, or similar);
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across RF, RAN, core, security, and business stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in electrical engineering, computer science, telecommunications, or a related field;
• Experience with O-RAN SMO architectures and O1/O2-based management and orchestration;
• Experience with multi-tenant or multi-slice 5G deployments, including QoS and policy control;
• Familiarity with emulator-based testbeds (e.g., Keysight/Spirent) and CI/CD for test automation;
• Experience with telco-grade high availability and scaling design, including geo-redundancy and disaster recovery;
• Experience integrating OSS/BSS systems with 5G networks via TMF-style APIs;
• Familiarity with 5G NTN or SATCOM ground segment architecture;
• Previous participation in standardization fora (3GPP, O-RAN, ETSI NFV) or open-source telco projects;
• Experience working in ESA, defense, or similarly regulated environments.