Dense Air (Group) Limited

Job Description

TITLE: Core Network Architect

REPORTS TO: Chief Network Architect

About Dense Air

Dense Air is part of Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners’ CoFi platform, and its mission is to advance shared broadband
solutions to help close the digital divide and make connectivity more open, shared, and inclusive.

Dense Air serves the United States, Europe, and Asia-Pacific with its mobile and fixed broadband services.
Combining Open RAN infrastructure with Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum or licensed
spectrum, Dense Air’s unique technology allows multiple network operators to securely share the same
infrastructure, driving down infrastructure costs for both service providers and municipalities while delivering high-
speed connectivity across use cases.

Dense Air prioritizes building innovative public-private partnerships (P3s) to deliver its unique “carrier of carriers”
neutral host small cell wireless infrastructure services and solve connectivity challenges for existing network
operators by extending their mobile networks. Dense Air delivers cost-effective 4G and 5G solutions to support a
range of use cases with a single secure RAN infrastructure, including enhanced mobile broadband, IoT, public
safety, first responder networks, and remote learning.

Main Purpose of the Job:

The Core Network Architect is responsible for defining reference network designs to enable the deployment of
Dense Air’s multi-tenancy RAN-as-a-Service solution towards MNOs and private enterprise.

Working within a team of architects, the Core Network Architect has specific focus on 4G/5G mobile core (for
private networking applications) and the neutral host platform, which provides IP security, traffic aggregation,
breakout and interconnect towards MNOs and other tenants.

The role also includes working closely with the Network Integration & OpCo Enablement team to assess customer
requirements against Dense Air’s current and planned capabilities, documenting high level service designs for
specific business opportunities.

Research and identify current and future technology trends and industry standards and technology architecture
viewpoints to address stakeholder concerns.

May require some domestic and international travel.

Key Responsibilities:
 Work as a 4G / 5G network architect, understanding 3GPP functions (4G & 5G), neutral host models,
virtualised infrastructure (virtual machines, containers), IP architectures and Linux OS.
 Definition of redundant, scalable and high availability solutions pertinent to the core network, and
coordinating with the underlying infrastructure.
 Creation of Reference Designs for the 4G/5G core network and neutral host platform, including 3GPP
compliant nodes and protocols.
 Work with other Dense Air architects on definition of end-to-end Solution Architecture and ensure
reference designs work as a coherent set, comply with the architecture framework and ensure interworking
between network domains.
 Work closely with System Engineering to understand the evolving muti-tenancy capabilities within Dense
Air’s solutions and incorporate these into network reference designs.
 Collaborate with other architects and product managers to connect technology with measurable business
value and help customers solve problems.
 Support technical customer engagements by presenting architectures & solutions and mutually agree
 integration designs.
 Managing the technical relationship between Dense Air and key Core Network vendors.
 Keep abreast of the latest technological developments (e.g. O-RAN, network slicing, microservices,
Kubernetes), evaluate new trends and introduce relevant findings into Dense Air’s solution architecture as
appropriate.
 Identify testing strategies and test plan development required for the core network evolution of the different
Dense Air OpCos
 Work closely with the Network Engineering team to validate designs before releasing to Dense Air
Operating Companies.
 Other duties appropriate to the post as may be assigned from time to time by Senior Management

Education and Experience:

 Degree (or equivalent) in electrical engineering, computer science or equivalent technical discipline.
 5+ years working in a similar role in a wireless operator, vendor or other service provider environment.
 Experience working with 4G/5G core networks and associated core network infrastructure essential.
 Experience working in a network virtualization environment.
 Knowledge of IP Networking required.
 Knowledge of security relating to the core network preferable.
 Experience of working with neutral host/multi-tenancy architectures preferable.
 Strong industry knowledge and aptitude

Personal Qualities
 Proactive self-starter who works well both independently and collaboratively as part of an agile team
 Able to analyse and assess complex system designs, problem solve and determine end-to-end feature
behaviour.
 An excellent planner able to schedule and prioritise work and react positively to issues occurring.
 Able to communicate and present information in a clear and concise way to peers, managers and
customers/partners.
 Good stakeholder management and influencing skills with the ability to build internal and external
relationships.

Equality and Diversity

Dense Air is an equal opportunities employer. We have an inclusive culture, and respect for everyone, regardless of
gender, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, disability or other characteristics