Principal Engineer, Systems Architecture - T-Mobile Research

Company: T-Mobile USA, Inc.
Location: Bellevue
Posted on: April 6, 2025

Job Description:

At T-Mobile, we invest in YOU! Our Total Rewards Package ensures that employees get the same big love we give our customers. All team members receive a competitive base salary and compensation package - this is Total Rewards. Employees enjoy multiple wealth-building opportunities through our annual stock grant, employee stock purchase plan, 401(k), and access to free, year-round money coaches. That's how we're UNSTOPPABLE for our employees!

Job Overview
Are you ready to take the Un-carrier movement to new heights? Do you enjoy working on technology with direct customer impact? Do you think outside the box and aren't afraid to break the rules and innovate? Are you looking for a team with a direct influence on the company technology direction? Welcome to T-Mobile Research.

T-Mobile's Technology Research team works on the network of tomorrow, bringing cutting edge technologies to life. We develop a roadmap of future network technologies and architectures that enhance connectivity for millions of users. Through proof of Concepts with vendor partnerships, we prototype technologies in-house and drive early demonstrations in lab and field. We explore new venues through universities and startups to explore new upcoming technologies and use cases.

As a Principal Engineer, you manage and provide technical leadership to major technology projects and lead cross functional teams of engineers. You drive and manage project goals, contribute to technology strategy, manage technology partners and oversee the deployment of small and large technology development initiatives. We operate in a fast-paced environment using agile methodology with a high degree of focus on execution and time to market. We encourage innovation and expect high level of ownership throughout the development life cycle.

Job Responsibilities:

• Technical System Expertise: Lead technology development activities using strong background in 4G/5G end to end wireless communications systems, architectures, protocols and hardware. Deep understanding of how new technologies and services may impact Radio access network quality and performance. Lead technology development and test activities with engineers using tools such as QXDM, XCAL, TEMS, Mapinfo, IRIS, Wireshark and NetScout. Drive technology development activities that may involve designing LTE and 5G wireless telecommunications coverage, capacity, or functional architectures in an optimal way to maximize performance, create brand differentiation and minimize cost of ownership. Deep understanding of what network aspects drives customer quality of experience for various services. Meaningful experience working with field and regional engineering teams to deploy technology solutions in production networks. Apply technology to solve business problems, ability to do cost/benefit trade-off analysis for technology and develop business cases to justify investment in technology. Solid understanding of the radio air interface protocols in 4G/5G Wireless networks, massive MIMO technologies, Cloud RAN concepts and end-to-end call flows. Expected to lead technical teams and deliver complex network and service architecture, design strategies and standards. Subject matter expert in the building blocks, interactions, dependencies, and tools required to complete design work. Good understanding of adjacent processes and workflows including IP, transport and cloud infrastructure. Knowledge on ML techniques and AI applications for the telco industry to increase automation, network and cost efficiency. Knowledge in cloud computing technologies and current trends enabling AIML for RAN network. Experience testing with lab and field RF equipment's like scanners, signal generators, UE and RF emulators and traffic generators. Configuring, implementing, troubleshooting, and monitoring performance for 4G/5G trials by utilizing Layer 3 logs and KPIs from OSS.
• Technical Engineering Services: Drives engineering projects and team members by active contribution to the application of engineering techniques; conducting tests and inspections; preparing reports and calculations. Expected to supervise and mentor senior level engineers in technical projects. Will be expected to present project results and new ideas to management for consideration. Creates procedures and processes to validate and enhance and optimize network architecture. Able to diagnose and redesign based on changing business requirements and objectives. Able to prepare executive summaries of activities, project timeline and milestones and clearly communicate areas of opportunity. Able to communicate highly technical ideas and concepts at 30,000ft view for senior leadership and show impact to business.
  
  Analytical
  
  • Innovation: Working in cutting edge technology requires continuous learning and new knowledge development. Develops, designs, and implements new ideas which improve an existing or new system/process/service. Analyzes existing architecture, design strategies, standards, processes and vendor roadmaps to highlight upcoming technology changes that would make the processes or tools more effective. Drives to improve designs or product by reducing cost, improving efficiency or quality. Drives investigative studies independently with a problem-solving mindset for non-routine tasks. Transforms ambiguous and high-level objectives into actionable plan and tasks. Initiates and facilitates brainstorming sessions internally and externally to drive solutions. Initiates and drives cross-functional technical investigations to solve business problems and create new business opportunities. Champion new technology concepts that bring potential value to T-Mobile network and its customers. As domain expert, you bring ideas and provide consultancy to other internal projects within the team. Staying on top of industry technology and business trends pertaining to cellular industry at large.
  • Technical Writing: Writes advanced documentation, architecture, capabilities, limitations, and advantages for technologies. Creates and modifies clear documentation on existing and new systems and services. Able to design and communicate architecture, design strategies, standards, technical system specifications and business requirements. Able to present complex ideas to non-technical audience. Creates and presents executive presentations that may translate technical issues into business impact.
  • Technical Leadership: Monitor and influence relevant industry technologies and standards. Present highly technical concepts to both technical and non-technical decision-makers. Continuously learns, creates content and teaches others specific subject areas. Informally coaches and contributes to the development of others through mentoring or in-house workshops and learning sessions. Coach and develop engineers across functional teams on technology decisions. Influence technology and policy decisions made across the VP organization related to architecture, design strategies and standards. Understand financial decisions, including NPV and ROI, based on customer experience/business drivers. Owns and drives PoC and technology roadmaps. Influence technology and policy decisions made across VP organization. Participate in industry professional forums, read technical white papers and develop networking and new knowledge base in areas of interest for the VP organization.
  • Technology Strategy: Evaluates new and existing technology options that support business goals. Proposes technology position for the company across the VP organization.
    
    Education and Work Experience:
    
    • Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering / Computer Science (Required)
    • 7-10 years Technical engineering experience (Required)
      
      Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
      
      
      • Focus: Able to develop and communicate goals in support of the business' mission. (Required)
      • Drive: Self-motivated and able to work well under pressure with minimal supervision - including the ability to simultaneously support multiple strategically significant tasks under fixed/accelerated deadlines. (Required)
      • Teamwork: Ability and desire to work cooperatively with others on a team. Develop, maintain, and strengthen partnerships that can provide information, assistance, and support. (Required)
      • Communication: The ability to ensure that information is passed on to others who should be kept informed. Express self clearly in conversations and interactions with others. Clear business and technical writing skills. The ability to plan and deliver oral and written communications that make an impact and persuade their intended audiences. (Required)
      • Customer Focus: The ability to demonstrate concern and meet external and/or internal customers' needs. (Required)
      • Analytical: The ability to tackle a problem by using a logical, systematic, sequential approach. (Required)
      • Technical Expertise: The ability to demonstrate depth of knowledge and skill in a technical area. (Required)
      • Forward Thinking: The ability to anticipate the implications and consequences of situations and take appropriate action to be prepared for possible contingencies. (Required)
      • Influencing Others: The ability to gain others' support for ideas, proposals, projects, and solutions. (Required)
      • Motivational Support: The ability to enhance others' commitment to their work. (Required)
      • Inspiring Others: Ability to convey confidence in employees' ability to be successful, especially as a technical lead (Required)
      • Conceptual Thinking: The ability to find effective solutions by taking a holistic, abstract, or theoretical perspective. (Required)
      • Strategic Thinking: The ability to analyze the organization's competitive position by considering market and industry trends, existing and potential customers (internal and external), and strengths and weaknesses as compared to competitors. (Required)
      • Fostering Innovation: The ability to develop, sponsor, or support the introduction of new and improved method, products, procedures, or technologies. (Required)
        
        
        • At least 18 years of age
        • Legally authorized to work in the United States
        • May be required to lift or carry
          
          Travel:
          Travel Required (Yes/No):Yes
          
          DOT Regulated:
          DOT Regulated Position (Yes/No):No
          Safety Sensitive Position (Yes/No):No
          
          Base Pay Range: $126,800 - $228,900
          
          Corporate Bonus Target: 20%
          
          The pay range above is the general base pay range for a successful candidate in the role. The successful candidate's actual pay will be based on various factors, such as work location, qualifications, and experience, so the actual starting pay will vary within this range.
          
          At T-Mobile, employees in regular, non-temporary roles are eligible for an annual bonus or periodic sales incentive or bonus, based on their role. Most Corporate employees are eligible for a year-end bonus based on company and/or individual performance and which is set at a percentage of the employee's eligible earnings in the prior year. Certain positions in Customer Care are eligible for monthly bonuses based on individual and/or team performance. To find the pay range for this role based on hiring location, click here .
          
          At T-Mobile, our benefits exemplify the spirit of One Team, Together! A big part of how we care for one another is working to ensure our benefits evolve to meet the needs of our team members. Full and part-time employees have access to the same benefits when eligible. We cover all of the bases, offering medical, dental and vision insurance, a flexible spending account, 401(k), employee stock grants, employee stock purchase plan, paid time off and up to 12 paid holidays - which total about 4 weeks for new full-time employees and about 2.5 weeks for new part-time employees annually - paid parental and family leave, family building benefits, back-up care, enhanced family support, childcare subsidy, tuition assistance, college coaching, short- and long-term disability, voluntary AD&D coverage, voluntary accident coverage, voluntary life insurance, voluntary disability insurance, and voluntary long-term care insurance. We don't stop there - eligible employees can also receive mobile service & home internet discounts, pet insurance, and access to commuter and transit programs! To learn about T-Mobile's amazing benefits, check out www.t-mobilebenefits.com .
          
          Never stop growing!
          As part of the T-Mobile team, you know the Un-carrier doesn't have a corporate ladder-it's more like a jungle gym of possibilities! We love helping our employees grow in their careers, because it's that shared drive to aim high that drives our business and our culture forward. By applying for this career opportunity, you're living our values while investing in your career growth-and we applaud it. You're unstoppable!
          
          T-Mobile USA, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All decisions concerning the employment relationship will be made without regard to age, race, ethnicity, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, religious affiliation, marital status, citizenship status, veteran status, the presence of any physical or mental disability, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Discrimination, retaliation or harassment based upon any of these factors is wholly inconsistent with how we do business and will not be tolerated.
          
          Talent comes in all forms at the Un-carrier. If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know by emailing ApplicantAccommodation@t-mobile.com or calling 1-844-873-9500 . Please note, this contact channel is not a means to apply for or inquire about a position and we are unable to respond to non-accommodation related requests.

Keywords: T-Mobile USA, Inc., Auburn , Principal Engineer, Systems Architecture - T-Mobile Research, IT / Software / Systems , Bellevue, Washington