LTE EPC Engineer

Job Description

Role Overview

The EPC Engineer is responsible for the end‑to‑end support, maintenance, optimisation, and lifecycle management of the LTE Evolved Packet Core (EPC) within a large-scale mining operational environment. This role supports both Cisco EPC and Nokia EPC platforms and ensures reliable, high‑availability mobile broadband services across autonomous haulage, fleet management systems, IoT sensors, and other mission‑critical mine‑site applications.

The engineer will work closely with field operations, OC teams, radio engineering, and vendor partners to ensure seamless LTE/5G network performance in a high‑demand industrial setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage day‑to‑day operations of Cisco and Nokia EPC components, including MME, SGW, PGW, HSS, PCRF/NTGW, and associated nodes.
• Perform configuration, upgrades, patches, and capacity planning for EPC elements.
• Monitor EPC performance KPIs (attach success, bearer setup, throughput, latency, utilization).
• Troubleshoot EPC-related service degradation, system alarms, and node failures.
• Perform advanced root cause analysis for LTE outages, bearer failures, attach/detach issues, and EPC signalling faults.
• Work closely with RAN teams to resolve end-to-end call flows and session continuity issues.
• Escalate and coordinate with Cisco/Nokia TAC for complex issues and bug resolutions
• Support integration and commissioning of new LTE sites, new EPC nodes, and software-defined features.
• Addressing and responding to Requests and Incidents.
• Lead EPC acceptance testing, validation, and performance benchmarking/
• Performaing root cause analysis for problem records.
• Implement new APNs, QoS profiles, bearer policies, and subscriber management parameters to support mining applications.
• Analyse EPC KPIs to ensure optimal network performance for mission-critical mining applications (AHS trucks, drills, remote ops).
• Tune EPC parameters (timers, thresholds, bearer rules, TAC/TA lists, attach/TAU configs).
• Develop and implement EPC optimisation plans to improve stability and reduce congestion.
• Manage EPC security functions, including authentication, encryption, and access control.
• Ensure compliance with mining industry safety and cybersecurity policies.
• Maintain audit logs, change records, and configuration baselines.
• Maintain accurate EPC network diagrams, inventories, software versions, and technical documentation.
• Provide technical reports to internal teams, management, and external partners.
• Work with mining technology teams, OC, and field operations for planned works, outages, and service improvements.
• Manage the full SIM provisioning lifecycle including activation, suspension, replacement, and deactivation; maintain accurate SIM inventory, track SIM usage, and reconcile subscriber databases with field operations.
• Perform subscriber configuration and updates within HSS/UDM, including IMSI/MSISDN assignment, APN profile selection, QoS parameters, and subscription policy updates; coordinate SIM onboarding for LTE‑connected mining equipment.
• Troubleshoot SIM‑related issues such as authentication failures, attach rejects, subscription/profile mismatches, and ensure all provisioning workflows comply with security, access control, and audit requirements.

The technical skills needed

• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Excellent communication skills for cross-functional coordination.
• Ability to manage incidents under pressure in high-availability environments.
• Structured approach to documentation and change control.
• Understanding of LTE/4G,5G architecture:
  • S1-MME, S1-U, S11, S5/S8, Gx, Gy interfaces
  • EPS bearer management
  • Diameter protocol
  • TAC/TA configuration
• Vendor certifications (preferred):
  • Nokia EPC / Core Network Certifications
  • Cisco StarOS / EPC Certifications
  • 4GPP Core Network certifications
• Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent experience.

• S1-MME, S1-U, S11, S5/S8, Gx, Gy interfaces
• EPS bearer management
• Diameter protocol
• TAC/TA configuration

• Nokia EPC / Core Network Certifications
• Cisco StarOS / EPC Certifications
• 4GPP Core Network certifications

Experience you would be expected to have

• Minimum 3–7 years of EPC engineering experience.
• Previous experience supporting LTE networks in mining, oil & gas, utilities, or remote industrial sites.
• Strong experience with Cisco EPC (ASR5K, StarOS) and/or Nokia EPC (MME/AMF, SGW/UPF, PCRF, HSS).
• Hands-on experience with packet tracing (Wireshark), signalling analysis, and EPC call flows.
• Experience with OSS/NMS tools and performance monitoring systems.
• Knowledge of IP routing, VLANs, QoS, and security fundamentals.
• Familiarity with autonomous haulage systems (AHS) and mobile fleet management platforms.
• Understanding of private LTE/MPN solutions, spectrum usage, and industrial LTE deployments.
• Experience of working with ticketing-tools like Service Now, and exposure to ITIL processes in context of service operations is a plus.

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