Chief Network Architect, 5G Core Data Communications

Location: Toronto, Canada

Thales people architect solutions that support 85 million mainline and suburban passenger journeys, worldwide, every day. Our Rail Signalling and Communication systems are used on metro lines across major cities, and 72,000 kms of route, 52,000 trains per day in 16 countries are controlled by our Traffic Management Systems. Together We deployed the first-ever nationwide ticketing system which processes over 50 million ticketing transactions in 100 cities daily.

Thales provides world-leading Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) and interlocking for mass rail transit applications globally. The Centre of Competence for Urban Rail Signalling is located right before you at mid-town Toronto. As the largest office in Canada, we house a department for every step of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)! This includes Software, Hardware, Systems Design, Verification & Validation, Operations, etc. The supporting corporate shared services teams in Finance, Human Resources and IT is also located at the office. Our office space was designed to provide a sustainable, healthy workplace that expresses TRSS’s brand while increasing collaboration. Features include Greenguard furniture, EnergyStar appliances, low-emitting adhesives, sealants, and sliding glass doors on internal offices provide daylight and views to the outside. Come join the big Transport family, here in Toronto!

The general mission is to address all architectural and detail design aspects of a mission-critical communication system that supports the operation of the Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) system over 3GPP 5G Compliant System. This includes: analysis of Customer’s (internal or external) specifications to define network architecture, selection of the vendors, qualification of the vendor solution, definition of critical features and solutions, development of system and subsystem requirements, creation of a detailed design, development and hands-on implementation of the solution, as well as participation in all deployment, verification and validation activities and support.

The incumbent is accountable for performing the design work correctly, within cost and schedule limits, as defined in approved work packages. The work is typically defined by the Work Package Manager, then reviewed, modified and agreed with and approved by the Network Architect and/or Manager. The DCS Network Engineer typically works with a team of other engineers to dfine what will be designed, how it will perform and how it will be determined that it is working correctly, as well as leads the actual design and deployment of the solution.

Key Responsibilities:

TECHNICAL

• Similarly, creates new concepts or modifies existing concepts to fulfil customer requirements.
• Provides highest tier support for complex and high-visibility issues in the field.
• Performs technical/engineering tasks to define system design, subsystem requirements. Analysis and simulations are performed as necessary to identify design feasibility & driving requirements.
• Participates in technical reviews of component designs, installation designs, vendor selection and qualification, and other related areas.
• Defines or proposes updates of processes and standards covering the work and its products based on the knowledge of systems engineering and/or his technical speciality.
• Converts Customer (internal and/or external) requirements into conceptual designs and prepares associated documentation by performing analyses, simulations and technical trade-off studies evaluating alternative design configurations and functional features.
• Presents technical design and reports to customers and/or other engineering/management groups in clear, complete, concise and non-ambiguous terms.
• Prepares system, subsystem, and interface requirement specifications by analysing, decomposing modelling and refining customer requirements and typical train control domain requirements.
• Prepares and supports bids and proposals, including customer requirements compliance assessment, gap analysis, architecture design, simulation, trade-off of key features, estimation, etc.
• Interfaces and builds strong working relationships with Software, Hardware and IVVQ groups to ensure timely analysis and resolution of in-house and field test issues.
• Deploys the solutions in the lab and in the field, including supporting testing and commissioning activities.
• Creates and documents detailed network designs implementing the requirements.
• Leads technical discussions, technical solution presentation to internal and external stakeholders
• Operational design limits are evaluated and defined; performance analyses and simulations are developed & performed to support the above.

MANAGEMENT

• Supervises contractors and other systems specialists, by defining their work, coaching them on how and what to prepare, monitoring their progress and directing them on priorities.
• Prepare and deliver regular status reports for internal and external stakeholders
• Proposes work package estimates and descriptions based on the knowledge of the work and project requirements.
• Identify and implement process improvement initiatives

SAFETY AND SECURITY:

• Ensure that safety and security is built into the design by early identification and resolution of safety and security-related defects
• Promote a safety culture where product safety is paramount

Key Requirements:

• Understanding of 5G SBA architecture
• Knowledge of systems development life cycle
• Redundancy and high-availability technologies;
• Experience in applying 3GPP 4G/5G solutions in mission critical and industrial applications.
• Knowledge in simulation, estimation of system requirements for 5G NW in regards to backhaul capacity, signaling load and traffic rates.
• Knowledge of 3GPP Standards with specific attention to Rel15/16
• Knowledge in definition of SIM profiles for 5G NPN Networks, advanced UE provisioning
• Knowledge of application domain (industrial control networks).
• University degree in wireless communications, computer sciences, Engineering or a closely related field
• Knowledge in installation of virtualized private 5G core solution
• MPLS and VPN technologies;
• Redundancy and HA architecture knowledge and configuration of the 5G Core solutions
• Knowledge of systems engineering principles and practices
• Knowledge of installation design principles and practices
• Network/IT services;
• Knowledge of network principles and technologies:
• Minimum 10 years relevant experience in design, deployment and/or development of 3GPP 4G/5G based solutions in Industrial and mission critical control network
• Ethernet/IP-based networking (switching/routing protocols);
• Cyber-security principles, technologies and solutions
• Knowledge/experience in site deployment and commissioning of networks

Preferred Qualifications:

• P.Eng licenses is desirable.
• Excellent technical writing and communication skills.
• Rail Signaling knowledge
• Good marketing and presentation skills.
• Experience in using DOORS, Melody advance, etc.
• Strong planning and organizational skills.
• Ability to sell/defend product to customers with differing levels of knowledge about automated systems.

Thales is required to follow mandatory customer policies as well as Federal and Provincial legislation, now and in the future. This includes, but is not limited to, vaccination mandates and travel requirements. This role requires you to work on a customer site and/or travel. Therefore, you must follow all mandatory customer policies, Federal, and Provincial legislation as a condition of employment.

Thales is an equal opportunity employer which values diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. Thales is committed to providing accommodations in all parts of the interview process. Applicants selected for an interview who require accommodation are asked to advise accordingly upon the invitation for an interview. We will work with you to meet your needs. All accommodation information provided will be treated as confidential and used only for the purpose of providing an accessible candidate experience.