RAN SME (Design & Planning)

About Zinkworks

Zinkworks is a global leader in innovation headquartered in Athlone Ireland with three office locations worldwide. We utilise the latest cutting-edge technologies to bring industry-leading expertise to our Telecommunication and Financial Services clients. We are adept at developing custom innovations that streamline our clients workflows and improve operational efficiency. With a commitment to quality and customer satisfaction we have earned a reputation as a trusted partner for businesses seeking reliable software services.

The Opportunity

We are partnering with a major UK Telecommunications provider to deliver their flagship Agentic AI transformation program. We are building a CTO 2.0 ecosystemmoving our client from legacy manual workflows to an intelligent automated operating model powered by Autonomous AI Agents.

This is not a theoretical R&D project; we are deploying production-grade Generative AI and Digital Twin solutions on Google Cloud Platform (GCP) to revolutionise critical infrastructure. Our scope spans multiple high-impact domains for example:

• Fixed Access Engineering: Automating fibre route planning and geospatial design.

• Core Network Engineering: Creating Digital Twins to auto-configure the national IP backbone.

• Data Centre Sustainability: Using real-time AI to control power usage and reduce carbon footprint.

We are building a high-performance delivery pod to make this vision a reality and we need a team of visionaries builders and problem-solvers to lead the way.

As the RAN Technical SME you will move beyond day-to-day operations to help design the Brain of the future network. You will work alongside AI Architects and Software Engineers to decode complex Radio Access Network logic and planning rules enabling us to build Autonomous Agents that can design configure and optimize the 4G/5G network without human intervention.

Key Responsibilities

• Define the engineering rules for generating Low-Level Designs (LLDs) and High-Level Designs (HLDs) enabling the AI to automatically select the correct hardware (Baseband/Radio units) and parameters for new site builds or upgrades.

• Codify the logic used for frequency planning scrambling code/PCI allocation and neighbour planning so that AI agents can perform these tasks autonomously.

• Provide technical expertise on Network Management Systems (NMS) and OSS identifying the correct APIs Command Line (CLI) commands and configuration files required to push designs to the network.

• Work with Data Engineers to identify the Golden Counters and KPIs (Pm/Fm data) that dictate design success ensuring the AI validates its own work against 3GPP standards.

• Define the Golden Standard for NodeB/gNodeB configurations creating the templates and baselines that the automation platform will enforce during the design phase.

• Act as the final quality gate for AI-generated designs reviewing automated build sheets and scripts to ensure they are safe for deployment on a live national network.

Must-Have Skills

• Deep expert-level knowledge of 3GPP 4G (LTE) and 5G (NR) standards network architecture and signaling flows.

• Proven experience in RAN Planning and Design (HLD/LLD) including link budgeting capacity planning and site design constraints.

• Familiarity with industry-standard planning tools (e.g. Asset Atoll Planet) and the data models used to export/import network designs.

• Strong experience with CM tools CLI scripting and managing network parameters at scale.

• Extensive experience with radio parameter planning feature activation and mobility management (Handover/Reselection logic).

• Ability to document complex engineering decisions in a format that Software Developers and Business Analysts can understand.

Desirable Skills

• Hands-on experience with Ericsson RAN (Baseband 66xx/52xx ENM Moshell) and/or Nokia RAN (AirScale NetAct MML).

• Experience with Python SQL or scripting against NMS Northbound Interfaces (NBI).

• Understanding of Cloud-RAN (vRAN) concepts or O-RAN interfaces.

• Comfortable working in a software-driven environment (Jira/Confluence).

Inclusion & Diversity at Zinkworks

At Zinkworks we are deeply committed to fostering a culture of diversity inclusion and belonging. We believe that our strength lies in the unique backgrounds perspectives and experiences of our team members. By embracing an inclusive environment we empower innovation and collaboration across all levels of our organisation. Based in Ireland we are proud to support and engage with our local communities through meaningful initiatives that promote equity and opportunity. Our commitment extends beyond the workplace as we actively contribute to creating a more inclusive and connected society for all.