RF and Microwave Design Specialist at Vodacom Nigeria

Job type: Full-time
Band: Band H
Department: Operations
Employment Type: Permanent
Reporting to: Senior Manager, Network Operations

Key Accountabilities

• Support the VBN National Broadband Wireless access (BWA) and point to point (PTP) networks with emphasis on uptime.
• Design Customer access RF / BWA links, ensuring designs meet both network and client requirements.
• Preparation of path analysis diagram, installation manuals and all other documents required in the installation of customer access circuits (BWA & PTP).
• Provide 2nd Level support for the VBN Microwave network.
• Work with the Network operations and engineering teams in the development of Vendor certification process and procedure.
• Continuous improvement of prepared technical documents for the network in Nigeria.
• Produce Diagrams explaining Design choices; network Costs, BoQ, mast height request and support bids or proposals when required.
• Interface with the network engineering transmission team for inter-related assignments.
• Manage and ensure all microwave circuits are designed according to the VBN product catalogue and all other VBN technical policies
• Perform regular audit of the network to determine the state of all installed microwave elements
• Assist in capacity optimization, transmission planning and frequency allocation.
• Support the Network Support team as required

Objectives / KPI’s:

• Ensure that all assigned tickets are treated within the stipulated OLA.
• Ensure that all installation manuals (IMs) issued to the project manager (PM) and field installation teams are done accurately with no errors.
• Ensure that all RF and Path analysis carried out have no errors
• Provide high level support for all BWA and PTP installation done on the network.
• Ensure data accuracy and maintenance of all planning tools used in RF analysis.
• Ensure all site survey documents are properly analysed.

Communications and Work Relationships:

• Internal: All stakeholders in Vodacom
• External: Customers, Vendors, OEM’s

Knowledge, Skills, Experience and Competency Requirements
Knowledge:

• Good technical reporting skills. e.g. usage of Microsoft Visio, Excel and word etc.
• Sound operational experience with a minimum of 5 years working as a field operation engineer or network operation centre engineer.
• Familiarity with network planning tools like Google Earth, ATDI and other RF planning tools.
• Familiarity with Network access elements e.g. Microwave and millimetre-wave Radios (SAF, Ceragon, NEC, Radwin, Proxim, SIKLU) etc.
• Desktop research skills, a good understanding of the concept of trade-off during design and an ability to work with little or no supervision.

Skills:

• Excellent communication skills and ability to translate customer requirement into technical installation documents.
• Ability to work in fast-paced, global and collaborative environment.
• Big picture thinking coupled with a strong focus on details, processes and documentation
• Multitasking ability and ability to work with little or no supervision
• Organizational skills

Qualification / Experience Required:

• Required; with 3-5 years’ post NYSC experience especially in a network support or field operations function.