Core Software Engineer
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 3, 2026. First seen by Alion on Oct 2, 2026. Espace Real Estate scores A on the Alion truth index.
We are seeking an experienced Software Engineer with background in 5G Core Network development to join our team. This role focuses on architecting, developing, and maintaining critical network functions and control-plane services that form the backbone of next-generation mobile telecommunications infrastructure. You will apply your expertise in 3GPP protocols, distributed systems, and service-oriented architecture to advance our 5G Core processing solutions while contributing to mission-critical telecommunication systems. This position offers the opportunity to work on high-impact projects that directly support advanced network capabilities and develop innovative solutions that drive the evolution of satellite networks.
What you will do:
Design, develop, and maintain 5G Core Network Functions and their associated service-based interfaces (Namf, Nsmf, Nupf, etc.) using modern C++, Python, or equivalent languages on Linux-based systems
Develop and implement 3GPP protocols including NAS, PFCP, GTP-U, HTTP/2, and network interfaces such as N4 and N11 to ensure standards compliance and interoperability
Build and enhance service-based microservices architecture with REST-like APIs, leveraging distributed systems design patterns and modern deployment practices
Troubleshoot complex distributed systems issues, analyze control-plane signaling paths, and debug protocol interactions across the 5G core infrastructure
Develop and maintain 5G core network control-plane probes for real-time monitoring, protocol decoding, signaling extraction, and network traffic analysis
Design and implement automated test frameworks for functional, integration, and regression testing of 5G Core features with comprehensive results tracking and validation
Collaborate with technical leaders and cross-functional teams to elicit requirements, develop technical documentation, and lead concept demonstrations
Perform technical research, develop performance analysis tools, and optimize network configurations to improve system KPIs and operational efficiency
Support products through the full release cycle including testing, validation, and deployment
What you bring to this role:
Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline (Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field)
Minimum 8 years of professional software development experience in telecommunications or networking domains
5+ years of hands-on development experience with 5G Core Network Functions or equivalent LTE/4G EPC (MME, SGW, PGW, HSS) systems
Proficiency in C++, Python, or equivalent modern programming languages with demonstrated ability to architect and implement complex telecommunications processing solutions
Deep knowledge of 3GPP specifications and RAN/5G-NR/LTE protocols with hands-on experience resolving protocol-layer issues
Strong understanding of distributed systems, microservices architecture, and control-plane signaling patterns
Experience with automated testing frameworks, CI/CD pipelines, and test case development with comprehensive tracking methodologies
Proven debugging and performance optimization skills with exceptional analytical capabilities and strong engineering fundamentals
Experience troubleshooting and analyzing logs from network elements using specialized tools
Bonus points for the following:
5G Core network control-plane probe development for advanced monitoring, traffic replay, and protocol analysis
In-depth knowledge of specific 5G network functions: AMF, SMF, UPF, UDM, PCF, AUSF, NRF including behavior, interactions, and call flows
Observability frameworks and tools (OpenTelemetry, Prometheus, Grafana) for monitoring distributed telecommunications systems
Network virtualization and containerization technologies (KVM, VMware, OpenStack, AWS, Kubernetes, Helm, Docker)
Reverse engineering of telecommunications protocols and proprietary network implementations
User Equipment (UE) and network element log analysis using specialized tools (QXDM, XCAL, or equivalent)
Development with modern languages like Go or Rust for systems programming
Experience with LTE/4G EPC systems (MME, SGW, PGW, HSS) demonstrating protocol evolution knowledge
Building software tools and data pipelines for network performance analysis and optimization
Additional Requirements
This is a fast-paced, high-impact environment - flexibility to occasionally work extended hours or weekends during critical periods is expected.