SENIOR SPEC Core Network Project & Design

Role Purpose

Responsible for Core Network functions, including Planning and Design, Deployment, Operations, Quality and Services: PS, IMS, PCRF, CSDB and NTP.
Responsible for National and International Roaming
Core Network Budget planning and execution, Vendors and Projects Management
Core Network PO applicant.

Key accountabilities

Manage Vodacom Packet Core, PCRF, IMS, CSDB and NTP Nodes
• Design technical solutions that meet the needs of the projects, while maintaining the operability of these platforms;
• Document each topic and transfer knowledge to the operation and support teams;
• collaborate on these platforms support;
• Provide 3rd line support to Vodacom Operations for problems that arise with the 3GPP packet core.

2. Core Network Budget preparation, planning and execution as per the Board Approval
• Core Network budget is loaded and executed as approved by the boards;
• Place order (PO);
• Get PAC and FAC docs approved;
• Generate receipt (GRN) and communicate it to supplier.

3. Vendors and Projects Management
• SLA (Equipments/Services: CSDB, PS&CS Core, IMS Core, PCRF, Core, NTP, GRX and VRS)
• Core Network projects according to planning (PIP) agreed with the Vendor.

4. Network Managment & Planning
• TRP reviews (Equipments: CSDB, PS, IMS, PCRF and NTP);
• Test all Mission and Selected business critical systems.
• Core Network Equipment planning: Capacity (License capacity monitoring and forecast) EOL, EOS...

5. Equipments/Services Management
• No critical failures: CSDB, PS, PCRF, IMS, NTP, VRS and GRX;
• Monitoring exists: CSDB, PS, PCRF, IMS and NTP;
• Monitoring exists for carrier services: VRS and GRX.

6. Support Billing and IT & Business project
• Billing system integration;
• Corporate APN integration;
• Corporate PBX integration;
• All Third-party products integration.
• Support provisioning activity in CSDB (HLR/HSS) and PCRF

Auxiliary Tasks

Roaming Monitoring, Planning & configuration on Core Network Side.

• Implementation of data (2G, 3G and 4G) and Voice for Roaming Partners
• Troubleshooting all Roaming issues
• No critical failures on VRS and GRX

2. IMS/ Fixed Telephony/ SIP Lines
• Configure and maintain SIP-based systems, including VoIP platforms, soft switches, and IP-PBX systems.
• Maintain PABX Database

Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in IT or Engineering related fields.
• 8 years or more experience in Telecom environment.
• Proven sound practical GSM EWSD SSS Network database experience is a prerequisite.
• Excellent knowledge and practical experience of IP networking and 3GPP packet core systems
• Thoroughly understand mobile core data network architectures (MME / SGSN / SGW, GGSN / PGW, PCC, PCRF, OCS, …) and IPv4 / IPv6 technologies and understand their implementation within our core network
• Detailed knowledge of at least 3 of the following protocols including TCP/IP, PPP, IPSec, OSPF, BGP, GTP, CAP, RADIUS, RANAP, DIAMETER, DNS, QoS.
• LTE, UMTS and GSM/GPRS Call flows
• Network topology & various interfaces
• Protocol testing of UMTS/LTE
• Understanding of call processes between End-to-End system testing
• Hands-on experience of troubleshooting in live networks and expert use of protocol analyzers such as Wireshark
• Good experience on any of the data protocols TCP/UDP/IP
• Experience in SS7, Sigtran, INAP, CAMEL, TCAP, Diameter, SOAP, CORBA, XML, SOAP, Linux
• Experience in online charging concepts of online offline rating, charging, discounts, tariffs, promotions, bundles and buckets.
• Experience in 3GPP diameter charging interfaces like Sy, Gy
• Computer literacy is essential.
• Experience in office administration is preferred.
• Proven sound Customer Relations Experience is preferred.
• Project management and supervision skills
• Decision making ability and leadership skills
• Current engineer license
• Time management and organization skills