POSITION: CS Core and Roaming Engineer.
Location: Blantyre.
Department: Networks.
Job Purpose
The position of Circuit Switch (CS) Core & Roaming Engineer is responsible for technical support on voice and data Telecommunication Core Network, Cloud technologies, Virtualization (NFV), Software-defined Networking (SDN) and IP Network based systems (HSS/HLR, MSS, MGW, SBC) in all Airtel Malawi hub locations.
Key Responsibilities
- Product & Roaming Partnership Launches (Project Execution)
- Align with Marketing/Business team on new roaming partnership launches planned on monthly basis, ensuring tracker is updated and priorities agreed upon and end to end roaming tests closed timely.
- Continuously tracking and resolving roaming related issues raised by customers both in – roamers and out-roamers.
- Daily monitoring roaming related Key Performance Indicators (KPI), troubleshooting, and resolving issues where deviations are observed.
- Ensuring licenses, trends, and various parameters in CS Core Network elements and international voice, Roaming & SCCP links are operating without any traffic capping or quality of service degradation.
- Effective understanding of IP Routing, CS traffic monitoring tools for performance reporting.
- Network Availability & Quality - Active Networks (CS Core & Roaming)
- Directly manage Operations ensuring adherence to SLAs, KPIs, Life Cycle for Availability, Accessibility, Retainability & Reliability.
- A pro-active engagement with Design and Planning team and constant assessment of infrastructure (services and Utilizations) to secure the adequate capacity, performance and availability to meet the KPI’s at the right time and in a cost-effective way.
- Ensure all CS Core Operational and Project activities are done within defined process of TT Management, Change Management, Preventive Maintenance, Incident Management, problem Management, Software update management, Security Management, Performance Management.
- Ensure Business & Network Impact analysis is done prior to every Change in CS Core N/W and related nodes as part of Change Management Process.
- Ensure Preventive checks & Periodic audit procedures are followed and support in troubleshooting errors for CS Core Nodes and Roaming related complaints.
- Provide support for Business products. IREG configuration, testing and launch for timely delivery as per business needs.
- In liaison with Ericsson MS Partners.
- End to End Management of Support Tickets with various Partners including ZTE, Ericsson & Nokia.
- Process awareness & partners governance
- Compliance to checklists and quality guidelines as per AOP and BISP for CS Nodes. Ensure BCP documents are up to date and team is aligned to invoke the same when required.
- Weekly CS Core Node Backup Management.
- Ensure Network Diagrams, Database, HLD and LLD are maintained up to date and maintained in Central Place for ease of accessibility.
- Tracking of CS Core Node Features & Licenses, make initiatives for service improvement.
- Ensure Network Design, HLD, LLD, Acceptance Docs, Capacity & Utilizations are aligned for all new Nodes being introduced in the Network.
- Ensuring that the MS/MC partners for CS Core deliver the projects to the high quality expected first time right. Including minimum MTTR for Operations Outages.
- Interacting with Partners and Vendors in relation to roadmap, new proposals, new features, evaluations, test acceptance, deployment, daily activities, AMC performance, SLA and issues/problem management.
- Accurate Database for CS Core Networks
- CS Core node inventory accuracy.
- CS Core Alarms Management.
- Weekly Reporting on CS Node utilization, Healthcheck, Alarm Monitoring and Roaming Hygiene tests.
- Support in clearing Audit queries with RA & Regulator.
- Team engagement with direct reportees and other teams including partners
- Hold necessary meetings with stakeholders where/when required.
- Always maintain high Team Engagement with both internal and external teams and stakeholders.
- Training of other staff members where required.
Educational Qualifications
• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical or Telecommunications Engineering or IT.
• CISCO Certification or related.
• Computer skills, especially in MS Excel, Programming, Access, and Powerpoint.
• Sound knowledge of Mobile Network Operations and Maintenance especially in SDN & Virtualization and cloud technologies supporting CS Core Operations of ZTE HSS/HLR, SBC, MGW, MSS.
• CISCO Certification or related.
• Computer skills, especially in MS Excel, Programming, Access, and Powerpoint.
• Sound knowledge of Mobile Network Operations and Maintenance especially in SDN & Virtualization and cloud technologies supporting CS Core Operations of ZTE HSS/HLR, SBC, MGW, MSS.
Relevant Experience
• 5 years’ experience within Telecommunications Environment, preferably with ZTE Core nodes.
Personal Attributes & Competencies
• Strong communication skills.
• The ability to maintain good working relationships.
• The ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Self-motivation.
• Good team working skills.
• The ability to maintain good working relationships.
• The ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Self-motivation.
• Good team working skills.
