System Architect, DAS / Wireless

AFL•Dallas, TX

About The Position

The System Architect designs, models, optimizes, and supports the deployment of advanced Distributed Antenna System (DAS) and in-building wireless solutions for large venues and enterprise environments. The role performs moderately complex to advanced RF engineering activities for the design, development, commissioning, and optimization of carrier-grade wireless networks using iBwave and other RF planning and design tools. It provides technical leadership and ownership of the overall system architecture for assigned projects, including active DAS, Air Radio/DRAN overlay, and other carrier-grade wireless solutions. The architect develops sectorization strategies for high-density venues; evaluates uplink and downlink performance, SINR, throughput, and interference; and integrates multiple frequency bands, radio sources, and wireless operators into coordinated system architectures. The role works with customers, wireless carriers, OEM partners, construction teams, and project managers to deliver solutions that meet coverage, capacity, and performance objectives. It leads complex technical reviews and architectural decisions, and owns the technical strategy for advancing designs through carrier approval. The position requires a bachelor's degree in a related technical field or exceptional experience in lieu of a degree, along with 2–5 years of RF engineering experience supporting wireless, DAS, or in-building cellular networks. General working hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with possible project support outside normal business hours. Regional and occasional national travel is required. Work takes place indoors and outdoors under varying environmental conditions and may include customer sites, construction locations, and large venues. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field; exceptional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
2–5 years of RF engineering experience supporting wireless, DAS, or in-building cellular networks.
Advanced proficiency with iBwave Design, iBwave Mobile, and iBwave Optimization.
Experience designing carrier-grade DAS systems for large public venues and enterprise environments.
Experience providing technical leadership and owning wireless system architecture for assigned projects.
Experience designing active DAS and Air Radio/DRAN overlay solutions.
Strong understanding of LTE, VoLTE, 5G NR, C-Band, CBRS, and public safety wireless systems.
Experience with RF propagation modeling, link budgets, and coverage prediction methodologies.
Strong understanding of uplink and downlink design principles, SINR, throughput, interference management, coverage, and capacity optimization.
Experience developing sectorization strategies for high-density venues and capacity-intensive wireless environments.
Experience integrating multiple frequency bands, radio sources, technologies, and wireless operators into a coordinated system architecture.
Knowledge of DAS platforms from CommScope, Corning, JMA, SOLiD, Ericsson, Nokia, or equivalent OEMs.
Experience with spectrum analysis, RF testing, and optimization tools.
Familiarity with PIM testing, fiber testing, sweep testing, and carrier acceptance testing procedures.
At least one year of DAS commissioning, integration, and optimization experience.
Understanding of carrier design standards and closeout package requirements.
Experience leading technical design reviews, evaluating architectural alternatives, and communicating design decisions to carriers, customers, OEM partners, and internal teams.
Demonstrated ability to manage the technical carrier approval strategy, address carrier comments, and drive alignment on the final system design.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Visio.
Ability to prepare technical reports, customer presentations, and engineering documentation.
Strong organizational, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion.
Demonstrated sound judgment and decision-making capabilities.
Must be authorized to work in the United States.
Ability to travel to customer sites, construction locations, and large venue environments.
Good vision, hearing, and manual dexterity.
Ability to lift and move equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
Ability to climb stairs and traverse large facilities and construction environments.

Nice To Haves

iBwave Level 2 or Level 3 Certification.
Experience supporting AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and US Cellular carrier environments.
Experience with large venue deployments exceeding 250,000 square feet or high-density user environments.
Experience developing active DAS, Air Radio/DRAN overlay, sectorized, or multi-operator solutions for large public venues.
Experience leading complex architectural discussions and carrier design reviews involving multiple technical and project stakeholders.
Public Safety (ERRCS/BDA) design experience.
Knowledge of CBRS and private LTE/5G network architectures.

Responsibilities

Design DAS and in-building wireless solutions for large venues and enterprise environments.
Own and provide technical leadership for wireless system architecture throughout design development, carrier review, deployment, and optimization.
Design active DAS and Air Radio/DRAN overlay solutions based on venue requirements, carrier objectives, RF performance, and deployment considerations.
Develop iBwave designs, including prediction modeling, floorplan development, equipment placement, and bills of material.
Perform RF analysis and propagation modeling to meet coverage, capacity, and quality objectives.
Analyze uplink and downlink performance, SINR, throughput, and interference against carrier-specific performance criteria.
Determine antenna, power, fiber, and equipment configurations for DAS systems.
Forecast traffic and capacity requirements based on venue usage, subscriber density, and carrier objectives.
Develop sectorization strategies for high-density venues based on traffic distribution, subscriber demand, venue configuration, capacity, and RF performance.
Develop DAS architectures using approved OEM platforms and integrate multiple frequency bands, radio sources, technologies, and wireless operators into common venue infrastructure.
Create and maintain RF design documentation, including design packages, heat maps, propagation reports, and carrier approval packages.
Coordinate design reviews with carriers, OEMs, project management, customers, and other stakeholders.
Lead complex technical reviews and architectural decisions, and present design strategies, tradeoffs, performance considerations, and recommendations.
Perform site surveys, venue walk-throughs, and RF assessments; review construction drawings, building plans, and venue requirements.
Support carrier approval, respond to feedback, resolve design comments, coordinate revisions, and drive technical alignment on final designs.
Conduct commissioning, optimization, validation testing, and troubleshooting of DAS and small-cell systems.
Analyze post-installation testing data and implement optimization recommendations.
Work with deployment and construction teams to ensure designs follow approved engineering standards.
Support project estimates, proposals, and technical solution development.
Develop engineering standards and best practices for DAS and large venue deployments.
Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers and technicians.
Organize and lead engineering meetings as needed to meet project and department objectives.
Complete timesheets, expense reports, project documentation, and status reporting.