(Senior) 5G O-RAN Orchestration & SMO Engineer

Location(s): Betzdorf, LU | Long Beach, CA, US

About the role

As a 5G O-RAN Orchestration & SMO Engineer, you will be responsible for the Management Plane (M-Plane) of the regenerative onboard gNBs and for the interface between the onboard 5G stack and the ground/onboard Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) platform. Your work enables remote lifecycle management—configuration, fault management, and performance monitoring of spaceborne 5G infrastructure, with strong alignment to O-RAN Alliance and 3GPP TS 28.xxx management specifications. This is a high-ownership role for engineers who like shipping real systems: you will define the management interfaces, turn standards into running software, and make it robust enough for mission operations.

Responsibilities

• Own the definition and implementation of the O-RAN Management Plane (M-Plane) for regenerative onboard gNBs.
• Architect the interface between the onboard 5G stack and the SMO platform (ground and/or onboard).
• Design and implement the O-RAN O1 interface to enable remote configuration, fault management, and performance monitoring, aligned with O-RAN Alliance specifications.
• Define O1 interface specifications for the onboard gNB and author custom YANG models representing satellite-specific parameters.
• Architect and prototype a secure NETCONF/TLS agent for handling ground-initiated Get/Set management operations.
• Define and implement logic for fault reporting (alarms) and performance data collection (PM counters).

Requirements

• Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Telecommunications, Physics, or a related field.
• Good experience owning end-to-end technical scope, from architecture and standards interpretation through implementation and operational readiness.
• Deep, practical understanding of O-RAN management, including the O1 interface and the 3GPP TS 28.xxx management framework, applied in production systems.
• Hands-on experience designing and operating SMO-driven lifecycle management, covering configuration, fault, and performance domains.
• Proven ability to design clean, extensible management models using YANG and to implement them over NETCONF/REST-based interfaces.
• Strong software engineering background with production experience in C/C++ and Python, including ownership of code quality, robustness, and maintainability.
• Experience building and securing management interfaces using TLS-based communications in constrained or high-latency environments.
• Systems thinker comfortable working across boundaries (payload, platform software, ground systems) and making trade-offs under real operational constraints.
• Thrives in high-ownership, fast-execution environments where accountability, technical judgment, and bias toward action matter more than process.
• Eligibility for ESA/EU/NATO/National SECRET personnel security clearances. Candidates must be prepared to undergo a security clearance procedure, as this position may require holding such clearance.
• Willing to work at least 60% onsite from office.
• Able to travel nationally & internationally.

Nice to Have

• Prior experience working on spaceborne, airborne, or other highly constrained platforms, where latency, bandwidth, and reliability are first-order design drivers.
• Hands-on involvement with O-RAN Alliance activities, working groups, or interoperability efforts.
• Experience integrating management systems with ground segment or mission operations environments.

Pay

The salary range for this full-time position (US only) is $110,400 - $151,800. Salary ranges are determined by role, level, and geographic location. Individual compensation within the range is determined based on work location and a variety of factors, including job-related skills, experience, qualifications, and relevant education or training.