Role Overview
The LTE RAN RF Planning Engineer is responsible for monitoring, optimising, and maintaining the RF performance of a private LTE network and associated wireless technologies used to support mission‑critical mining operations. This includes ensuring consistent coverage, mobility, and capacity for autonomous haulage, fleet communications, IoT sensors, control systems, CCTV, rail operations, and Cambium point‑to‑multipoint (PTMP) / point‑to‑point (PTP) wireless links distributed across the mine.
The role focuses on operational RF optimisation, performance troubleshooting, and supporting deployment or relocation of LTE cells and Cambium nodes in dynamic mining environments.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage incidents and requests while maintaining high ticket quality and hygiene.
- Develop RF propagation and coverage models for open-pit mine environments using tools such as HTZ, Atoll, Mentum, or similar.
- Perform advanced root cause analysis for LTE outages.
- Maintain and manage LTE macro/small cell hardware (FDD) suitable for dynamic mining operations.
- Perform frequency optimization, PCI/RSI planning, link budgets, interference analysis, and EARFCN/channel allocation.
- Create RAN capacity plans aligned with AHS (Autonomous Haulage System), telemetry, CCTV, and IoT demands.
- Provide remote guidance to field teams performing RF surveys, antenna alignment, and LTE trailer moves.
- Use TEMS Pocket / TEMS Discovery for drive‑test data analysis (onsite teams), RSRP/SINR profiling, Layer‑3 message decoding, handover investigations, and KPI trend analysis.
- Analyse LTE RAN performance KPIs including throughput, PRB utilisation, accessibility, retainability, and mobility metrics.
- Identify and resolve issues such as overshooting, coverage holes, interference, and imbalance.
- Produce optimisation recommendations such as power adjustments, tilt optimisations, parameter changes, and azimuth
- Conduct remote troubleshooting sessions with onsite teams, providing step‑by‑step diagnostic guidance.
- Manage and optimise Cambium PTP/PTMP backhaul links using tools such as Cambium HTZ/ LINKPlanner.
- Perform path profile studies, Fresnel zone checks, and availability modelling.
- Provide remote alignment assistance and configuration guidance to site teams.
- Work with Mining Technology, AHS, Fleet Management, and OT Automation teams to understand coverage/performance needs, adjust designs for pit progression and mine expansion, and ensure stable connectivity for trucks, drills, shovels, LV, and IoT devices
- Provide remote RF design updates as mine topology changes
- Provide remote RF design updates as mine topology changes.
- Prepare RF design documents, coverage heatmaps, network design packs, BOMs, and commissioning documentation.
- Support acceptance and integration testing remotely.
- Maintain version-controlled RF documents and change logs.
- Design LTE and wireless systems for high reliability in remote industrial environments.
- Ensure designs comply with mining standards, cybersecurity requirements, and operational safety guidelines.
- Consider resilience, redundancy, and harsh environmental factors when developing plans.
- Manage and upkeep of NetAct server and software.
The technical skills needed
- Minimum 3–5+ years of LTE RAN planning, RF engineering, or optimisation experience.
- Experience with Private LTE / 5G SA networks in industrial deployments.
- Experience with common GIS applications eg: Global mapper,ArcGIS
- Knowledge of mining technologies (AHS, fleet management, dispatch systems).
- Networking knowledge: VLANs, routing, backhaul design, QoS.
- Scripting or automation (Python, SQL) for performance reporting is advantageous.
- Strong communication and coordination skills.
- Preferred :
- LTE/RAN certification (nokia,Ericsson,Cisco)
- Cambium certification desirable
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, or related field.
Experience you would be expected to have
- Strong understanding of LTE RAN concepts (EPC/E-UTRAN architecture, PCI planning, SINR/RSRP/TA, VoLTE, CA, etc.).
- Hands‑on experience analysing drive test data using TEMS Investigation or TEMS Discovery.
- Experience with RF planning tools (Atoll, HTZ, Planet, Mentum, iBwave).
- Experience with Cambium Networks (PTP 670/700, PMP 450i/450m,CnMaestro, cnWave, etc.).
- Strong analytical background in interpreting logs, KPIs, layer‑3 messages, and RF statistics.
- Experience in ticketing-tools like Service Now, and exposure to ITIL processes in context of service operations is a plus.
- Experience supporting remote sites (mining/oil & gas/utilities) is preferred.
- Ability to work effectively with field teams from a remote location.
At BT International, our purpose is to keep the world connected. As part of BT, we build on almost 180 years of innovation and expertise to deliver secure connectivity and digital services to some of the world’s leading multinational businesses and organisations. Our customers trust us to safeguard their data, drive their digital transformation and keep their businesses running. With colleagues on the ground across the world and supporting customers wherever they need to operate, BT International offers a truly global experience. Whether it’s about providing cloud connectivity, helping organisations collaborate, or enabling innovation in cybersecurity and digital services, you’ll be part of a team that shapes how businesses succeed in a world that is being transformed by AI. If you have the drive and ambition to make an impact on a global stage, BT International is where it happens.