DescriptionThe
Senior Solution Engineer - Narrowband Wireless & Private Networks serves as a technical authority responsible for the
architecture, design, deployment, optimization, and lifecycle support of mission-critical private wireless networks supporting
oil & gas, electric utilities, and water/wastewater infrastructure.
This role requires deep expertise in
narrowband wireless communications, RF engineering, SCADA networking, and industrial IP transport, with proven field experience deploying deterministic, highly available solutions using platforms such as
GE MDS, 4RF, Racom, FreeWave, XetaWave, as well as
PTP microwave and fixed wireless systems from Ceragon, Siklu, Cambium, and comparable industrial-grade technologies.
The position combines
advanced RF and microwave engineering,
hands-on field execution, and
customer-facing pre-sales and post-sales engagement, while collaborating closely with Engineering, Product Management, and R&D teams to evaluate, test, and continuously improve solutions.
Reliability, determinism, security, and operational integrity are foundational to this role.
Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesTechnical Leadership & Engineering- Serve as the technical subject matter expert (SME) for private wireless networks supporting SCADA, telemetry, protection & control, industrial automation, and backhaul
- Design, deploy, and support licensed and unlicensed narrowband RF and PTP microwave networks
- Engineer end-to-end private wireless solutions, including access, aggregation, and backhaul layers
- Design and support solutions using:
- Narrowband platforms: GE MDS, 4RF, Racom, FreeWave, XetaWave
- PTP microwave / fixed wireless platforms: Ceragon, Siklu, Cambium
- Perform RF and microwave link design, frequency planning, channel sizing, fade margin analysis, and availability modeling
- Conduct site surveys, path profiles, Fresnel analysis, terrain modeling, and redundancy planning to meet utility-grade availability targets
- Perform spectrum analysis and interference mitigation across both narrowband and microwave links
Field Execution & Troubleshooting- Provide hands-on field support for system commissioning, alignment, optimization, acceptance testing, and fault isolation
- Troubleshoot complex issues across RF, microwave, IP transport, and SCADA application layers
- Capture and analyze traffic using Wireshark and packet captures to diagnose latency, jitter, packet loss, and retransmissions
- Validate end-to-end performance from field devices through wireless access and microwave backhaul to control centers
SCADA & Industrial Networking- Support SCADA communications using DNP3, Modbus, and TCP/UDP-based industrial protocols
- Identify and resolve polling, timeout, latency, and data integrity issues caused by RF or transport constraints
- Ensure deterministic performance for protection, control, and telemetry traffic
Customer Engagement & Pre-Sales Support- Act as a senior technical resource for customer-facing pre-sales and post-sales engagements
- Lead design reviews, technical workshops, and architecture discussions
- Translate operational, regulatory, and reliability requirements into scalable, supportable private wireless designs
- Develop detailed Bills of Materials (BOMs) covering access radios, microwave backhaul, antennas, power, and spares
- Support RFI/RFP responses, proposal development, and Statements of Work (SOWs)
Product & Engineering Collaboration- Test, evaluate, and validate new narrowband radios, microwave platforms, firmware, and network features
- Support lab testing, field trials, and proof-of-concept deployments
- Provide structured feedback to Engineering and Product teams to influence roadmap and design improvements
Experience and Qualifications- 10+ years of hands-on experience designing, deploying, and supporting private wireless networks
- Extensive experience supporting live, mission-critical industrial or utility communications systems
- Proven experience with one or more of the following:
- Narrowband: GE MDS, 4RF, Racom, FreeWave, XetaWave
- PTP microwave / fixed wireless: Ceragon, Siklu, Cambium
- Demonstrated experience in oil & gas, electric utilities, and/or water/wastewater environments
- Strong customer-facing background across design, pre-sales, deployment, and operational support
- Ability to work independently while serving as a technical escalation point and mentor
Technical Skills- Expert RF knowledge for narrowband and microwave systems (noise floor, sensitivity, selectivity, fade margin, link budgets)
- Strong IP networking fundamentals in bandwidth-limited and latency-sensitive environments
- Advanced Wireshark and packet capture analysis for TCP/UDP and SCADA traffic
- Experience diagnosing application-level issues driven by RF, microwave path conditions, or congestion
- Proficiency with RF planning tools, spectrum analyzers, microwave alignment tools, and test equipment
- Working knowledge of Windows and Linux
- Understanding of industrial network security and segmentation
Travel & Work Conditions- Hybrid role requiring both remote and field-based work
- Travel up to 50%, including substations, pumping stations, production facilities, and remote sites
- Ability to work safely in industrial and utility environments
- Valid driver's license required
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