RAN & Core Integration Engineer (UK) Verified today

About Meridian

Meridian is building sovereign Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations that provide governments and commercial operators with full control, assured access, and secure communications at a fraction of the cost of developing systems independently.

Your Mission

As our RAN and Core Integration Engineer, you will be the driving force behind the physical and software environments used to validate the Meridian architecture. You will be uniquely responsible for developing, building, operating, and automating our critical testing infrastructure, specifically the 5G NTN testbed (in both Baseband/IF and RF configurations) and the upcoming 5G NTN Space Lab utilizing our First Customer Link (FCL) satellite.

This is a highly hands-on, multi-disciplinary role requiring a builder's mindset and deep technical command of end-to-end 5G networks.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, procurement, and physical build-out of complex, multi-stage 5G NTN testbeds and the 5G NTN Space Lab.
• Integrate, operate, and troubleshoot 5G Core (5GC) and Next-Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN) elements within lab environments to ensure seamless end-to-end functionality.
• Develop robust automation scripts, tools, and CI/CD pipelines to streamline test execution, automate KPI measurements, and modify testbed configurations on the fly.
• Analyze and overcome the unique challenges of 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), including extreme Doppler shifts, propagation delays, and fading in a LEO environment.
• Collaborate with RAN, RF, and systems architects to ensure end-to-end coherence of the Meridian solution.
• Contribute to the design and operation of lab environments used to validate architecture and configuration choices.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer science, telecommunications, or related field.
• Deep understanding of 3GPP NG-RAN and 5G Core (5GC) architectures, interfaces, and protocols.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience designing, procuring hardware for, and building complex telecommunications testbeds or lab environments from the ground up.
• Solid grasp of 5G NTN principles and the specific engineering challenges associated with LEO satellite communication links.
• Strong coding and scripting skillset (Python, Bash, C++) dedicated to lab automation, test execution, and continuous integration.
• Hands-on lab experience integrating network elements using COTS components and standard interfaces (NG, F1/E1, O1/O2).
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with ability to collaborate across RF, RAN, core, security, and business stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in electrical engineering, computer science, telecommunications, or related field.
• Hands-on lab experience integrating 5G gNB (CU/DU/RU) and 5GC into an end-to-end NTN RAN testbed.
• Familiarity with emulator-based testbeds (e.g., Keysight/Spirent) and CI/CD for test automation.
• Experience with space-based payloads, satellite operations, or establishing a Space Lab environment.
• Proficiency in protocol tracing and troubleshooting interfaces such as RRC, NG, and F1.
• Previous participation in standardization fora (3GPP, O-RAN, ETSI NFV) or open-source telco projects.
• Experience working in ESA, defense, or similarly regulated environments.