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Company Summary

EchoStar is reimagining the future of connectivity. Our business reach spans satellite television service, live-streaming and on-demand programming, smart home installation services, mobile plans and products.

Today, our brands include Boost Mobile, DISH TV, Gen Mobile, Hughes and Sling TV.

Department Summary

Surpassing network limitations of the past, our Wireless Deployment organization is building the country’s first cloud-native, standalone 5G wireless network. This is the foundation of a connected world flexible enough to satisfy all the social, economic and transformative needs of today and the future.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

This position will support our Open RAN Center for Integration and Deployment (ORCID), serving a critical role in strengthening the global Open RAN ecosystem and building the next generation of wireless networks.

This exciting grant represents NTIA's ( National Telecommunications and Information Administration) largest award under the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund. Learn more about the grant here: https://ir.dish.com/news-releases/news-release-details/dish-wireless-awarded-50-million-ntia-grant-5g-open-ran

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Principal RAN Engineer to lead, coordinate, and execution of O-RAN (Open Radio Access Network) projects. The Principal RAN Engineer will serve as the foremost technical authority on O-RAN initiatives. This role involves leading the technical design and development, guiding complex system integration, overseeing advanced testing and validation in sophisticated lab environments, and driving innovation in O-RAN technologies. You will be responsible for making critical technical decisions, mentoring engineers, and ensuring our O-RAN solutions are at the forefront of industry standards testing. While you will guide technical projects, the emphasis is on your deep technical contributions and leadership.

Key Responsibilities:

O-RAN System Architecture & Technical Leadership:

+ Architect, design, and lead the development of O-RAN solutions, ensuring alignment with industry standards (O-RAN Alliance, 3GPP, ETSI) and customer requirements.

+ Provide deep technical expertise and guidance on all aspects of O-RAN architecture, including CU (CP/UP), DU, RU, RIC (Non-RT & Near-RT), SMO, and open interfaces (Fronthaul, Midhaul, A1, O1, E2).

+ Drive technical decision-making processes for O-RAN component selection, integration strategies, and performance optimization.

+ Lead and resolve complex system-level integration and troubleshooting challenges involving multi-vendor O-RAN components.

+ Define and oversee the execution of technical roadmaps for O-RAN testing.

Advanced Testing Environment Operations & Validation:

+ Engineer and operate state-of-the-art testing environments (lab and field) for comprehensive validation of the 5G O-RAN technology stack and applications.

+ Lead the technical design and build-out of lab environments, including architecture definition, equipment selection (hardware/software), and vendor management for lab setup.

+ Spearhead the integration of physical and cloud-native (e.g., AWS, Kubernetes) lab instances with CI/CD/CT pipelines for automated NF onboarding, release management, and continuous testing.

+ Direct the pre-integration and pre-testing of Telco network cloud solutions with third-party suppliers/vendors, developing complex use cases and test scenarios in the lab.

+ Oversee the development and demonstration of Proofs of Concept (POCs), showcasing advanced technical capabilities.

+ Ensure the operational integrity, performance tuning, and high availability of all test environments.

+ Develop and maintain detailed technical documentation for test environment architecture, configurations, and operational procedures.

Technical Initiative Management & Execution:

+ Lead cross-functional engineering teams to drive the technical validation, deployment, and optimization of O-RAN solutions.

+ Define technical objectives, scope, and deliverables for O-RAN initiatives in collaboration with engineering and product stakeholders.

+ Monitor and report on technical progress, identifying and resolving complex engineering roadblocks and integration issues.

+ Hold regular technical deep-dive sessions to assess progress, troubleshoot issues, and ensure alignment on technical solutions.

Technical Risk Management & Quality Assurance:

+ Proactively identify technical risks, interoperability issues, and performance bottlenecks in O-RAN testing projects.

+ Establish and enforce rigorous quality control processes, ensuring all deliverables meet stringent technical specifications, industry standards, and performance benchmarks.

Mentorship & Technical Knowledge Sharing:

+ Mentor and guide junior and senior technical staff, fostering a culture of engineering excellence and continuous learning.

+ Foster a highly collaborative environment, actively promoting knowledge sharing, innovative problem-solving, and technical skill development within the team.

Skills, Experience and Requirements

Qualifications:

+ Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Telecommunications, Computer Science, Electronics/Communications Technologies, or a related field (Master’s or Ph.D. degree strongly preferred).

+ 10+ years of hands-on experience in wireless/telecom system design and engineering, with a significant focus on RAN technologies and at least 5+ years in O-RAN specific architecture, design, and integration.

+ Expert-level understanding and practical experience with O-RAN architecture, components (RIC, SMO, CU, DU, RU), open interfaces (Fronthaul, Xn, F1, E1, O1, A1, E2), and key O-RAN Alliance specifications.

+ Proven experience in architecting, designing, and integrating multi-vendor O-RAN solutions.

+ Minimum 5+ years of experience in designing, building, operating, and troubleshooting complex telecom lab and field test environments (focused on 4G/5G RAN, Core, O-RAN, Edge) and related OSS/BSS systems.

+ Deep knowledge of 3GPP standards (4G LTE, 5G NR), ETSI standards, and their interplay with O-RAN.

+ Strong proficiency in network virtualization, cloud-native architectures (Containers, Kubernetes, Microservices), and their application in telecom (e.g., vRAN, Cloud RAN).

+ Hands-on experience with CI/CD/CT pipelines, test automation frameworks, and performance validation tools for telecom networks.

+ Demonstrable experience in leading technical projects and initiatives, with a strong ability to drive technical decisions and execution.

+ Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot complex system-level issues.

+ Excellent technical communication and presentation skills, capable of conveying complex ideas to both technical and non-technical audiences.

+ Familiarity with industry trends in 5G evolution, 6G concepts, AI/ML in RAN, and network security.

Preferred Skills:

+ Active participation or contributions to O-RAN Alliance working groups or similar standardization bodies.

+ Experience with end-to-end deployment and operationalization of commercial or large-scale trial O-RAN solutions.

+ Deep understanding of RIC E2 services (SMs/xApps/rApps) development and deployment.

+ Experience with network slicing, MEC (Multi-access Edge Computing), and private networks in an O-RAN context.

+ Proficiency with specific vendor O-RAN equipment and software.

Salary Ranges

Compensation: $127,050.00/Year - $181,500.00/Year

Benefits

We offer versatile health perks, including flexible spending accounts, HSA, a 401(k) Plan with company match, ESPP, career opportunities and a flexible time away plan; all benefits can be viewed here: DISH Benefits .

The base pay range shown is a guideline. Individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level and competencies; compensation is based on the role's location and is subject to change based on work location. Candidates need to successfully complete a pre-employment screen, which may include a drug test and DMV check.

The posting will be active for a minimum of 3 days. The active posting will continue to extend by 3 days until the position is filled.

We pride ourselves on developing and promoting talent as an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer - Veteran/Disability. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. All qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with local, state, and federal law. We are a true merit-based organization and work hard so there are no artificial barriers to one's potential success. DISH is committed to a workforce where everyone's opportunities are limitless. Please note that you may redact or remove any information that identifies age, date of birth or dates of school attendance/graduation from your application documents before submission and throughout our interview process.