Senior RF Lead Engineer

Senior RF Lead Engineer - High Power 40W 5G NR Radio, Murray Hill, New Jersey

The Nokia Small Cell organization provides products for indoor and outdoor small cell applications of 4G and 5G carriers in multiple radio frequency (RF) bands. The products are deployed with ATT, Charter, T-Mobile and other customers worldwide. New customers are entering trials in 2025/2026. There is a future roadmap for new HW variants and designs.

Key Responsibilities / Functions:

• Work as a key member of the AIO Small Cell HW Design Feature and Support team
• Lead End to End HW designs (RF, Digital, Mechanical, Power, Antenna) of High Power 40W Outdoor All In One (AiO) Small Cell assets produced by Original Design Manufacturers (ODMs).
• Manage ODM Design teams on new product variants for new and existing platforms
• Work with Nokia system architecture and product management teams on the HW design for current and next generation AIO Small Cell products.
• Work closely with the ODM development team and test leads to review HW designs (schematics, layouts, mechanicals, antennas) and factory test coverage and results.
• Work with 3rd party hardware suppliers of small cell HW designs.
• Work with Regulatory certification teams (FCC/CE/NEBs) to specify/clarify test requirements and ensure products meet required specifications.

• Identifies the stakeholders involved and coordinates within the product lifecycle activities for initial phase of product development.
• Captures and manages the functional and non-functional requirements by using industry best practices.
• Develops and manages the hardware level design of the end product.
• Research, designs, plans, develops and / or evaluates hardware designs by translating system level requirements (use cases, configurations) or strategic business objectives into final product design.
• Work typically includes in-depth assessment of the product application needs (as part of a wider system), providing design modelling and simulation testing, consulting to further clarify needs, and engineering technical solutions.
• Designs, defines and implements integrated hardware requirements for customers and / or prepares studies and analyses existing designs
• Determines hardware specifications, input / output processes and working parameters for end product, considering hardware / software interactions and overall system context.
• Coordinates design of hardware components and integration of total hardware device
• Identifies, analyses and resolves programme support deficiencies.
• Develops and recommends corrective actions.
• Solves complex problems based on sophisticated analytical thought and complex judgment.
• Contributes to development of concepts to determine professional direction of own organizational unit.
• Acts as a professional leader for staff / work team / taskforces, often the most senior specialist in a team, who serves as best practice resource within own organizational unit and / or is recognized as an expert within the same professional area in the business.
• Often leads functional teams or projects with moderate resource requirements, risk and complexity, handles day-to-day staff management issues, including resource management and allocation of work.
• Drives to technology scouting activities
• Defines technical content for standardization / industry initiatives / open-source hardware initiatives
• Contributes to supplier selections
  
  

Essential Qualifications: (Education, Technical Skills/Knowledge):

• 10+ years' experience in HW product design (RF, Digital, Power and Mechanical) for telecommunications products with a focus on outdoor products.
• Experience with design and test skills specifically related to outdoor products (requirements, certifications, Antenna design/integration, Mechanical/Thermal design for outdoor certification, etc.)
• Expertise with FCC/CE/ICS/NEBs Regional Regulatory Compliance testing to ensure Small Cell products meet required specifications. Specifically requires knowledge of requirements for FDD n14, n25 TDD N79, C Band for North America, Europe and Japan customers.
• Ability to work with and support third party test labs on testing and certification issues. Knowledge of NEBS compliance for North America customers is a plus.
• Excellent communication and documentation skills.
• Ability to work independently and work effectively within a team.
• Ability to work closely with ODM Factory Design, Product Management, Customer and Field Support teams.
• Experience in Lead Radio HW Design roles (RF, Digital, Mechanical, Power, Antenna).