Principal 3GPP Standards Engineer – 5G/6G
About The Position
AT&T is seeking a highly accomplished telecommunications standards professional to represent the company as a delegate to 3GPP TSG SA Working Group 1 (SA1). The role helps shape global service requirements for 5G-Advanced and 6G, translating AT&T’s technology, network, product, and business priorities into technically rigorous 3GPP Stage 1 requirements. The position develops and negotiates technical contributions and builds consensus with operators, equipment vendors, technology companies, and other industry stakeholders. The engineer will evaluate industry proposals and advise internal teams on technical, architectural, operational, deployment, regulatory, and strategic impacts. The role coordinates across 3GPP groups and AT&T organizations to support end-to-end consistency, tracks standards milestones and risks, and identifies emerging technology opportunities and potential patentable innovations. This is a full-time, onsite position performed at the designated work location five days per week; no relocation is offered. The role requires domestic and international travel, including occasional weekend travel, and availability for global meetings across time zones.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Telecommunications, or a closely related technical discipline.
- Relevant industry experience by degree level: PhD, 4+ years; master’s, 6+ years; bachelor’s, 8+ years.
- Direct 3GPP SA1 experience, including developing, presenting, negotiating, and gaining support for technical contributions and service requirements.
- Deep understanding of 3GPP processes and specifications, including the Release lifecycle; Stage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 3 methodology; Study Items and Work Items; TDocs and Change Requests; and specification drafting and normative requirements.
- Demonstrated ability to translate use cases, operator objectives, and business requirements into precise, solution-agnostic Stage 1 requirements.
- Experience writing and presenting technical standards contributions in international industry forums.
- Understanding of operator priorities, including resilience, security and privacy by design, autonomous operations, energy efficiency, and cost efficiency.
- Recognized expertise in 3GPP standards development, particularly SA1, with a track record of influencing technical requirements and industry direction.
- Ability to connect business and operator objectives with long-term technology and standards roadmaps.
- Working knowledge across mobile network architecture, security, network management, application enablement, RAN, and protocols.
- Strong technical writing, presentation, negotiation, and consensus-building skills.
- Executive-level communication skills and ability to influence internal and external stakeholders without direct authority.
- Ability to operate independently in a highly technical, globally distributed standards environment while managing competing priorities.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally, including occasional weekend travel, for standards meetings and industry events.
- Availability to participate in global meetings across multiple time zones.
Responsibilities
- Represent AT&T in 3GPP SA1 and related industry forums, helping shape global service requirements for 5G-Advanced and 6G.
- Translate AT&T technology, network, product, and business priorities into technically rigorous 3GPP Stage 1 requirements.
- Author, submit, present, and negotiate TDocs, Change Requests, Study Items, Work Items, liaison statements, and normative requirements.
- Develop and advocate AT&T technical positions and build consensus among global operators, vendors, vertical-market participants, and other 3GPP stakeholders.
- Evaluate industry proposals and advise internal teams on potential technical, architectural, operational, deployment, regulatory, and strategic impacts.
- Coordinate across SA1, SA2, SA3, SA5, SA6, RAN, and CT to support end-to-end consistency across requirements, architecture, security, network management, radio, and protocol development.
- Track 3GPP Release milestones, Study Items, Work Items, dependencies, and risks, and provide recommendations and meeting readouts to internal stakeholders.
- Partner with network architecture, engineering, security, product, operations, regulatory, public safety, and vendor-management organizations.
- Identify emerging technology opportunities and potential patentable innovations supporting AT&T’s long-term network and intellectual-property strategy.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- 401(k) plan
- Tuition reimbursement program
- Paid time off and holidays, including at least 23 vacation days each year and 9 company-designated holidays
- Paid parental leave
- Paid caregiver leave
- Additional sick leave may be available, subject to the stated conditions
- Adoption reimbursement
- Short- and long-term disability benefits
- Life and accidental death insurance
- Supplemental benefits, including critical illness, accident, hospital indemnity, and group legal programs
- Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
- Employee wellness programs
- Employee discounts on eligible AT&T mobility plans and accessories, internet and fiber where available, and phone
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
