Fixed Wireless, Principal Architect

Xplore Inc. is Canada’s fibre, 5G and satellite broadband company for rural living. Xplore is committed to the relentless pursuit of an improved broadband experience for all Canadians. Xplore is building a world-class fibre optic and 5G wireless network to enable innovative broadband services for better every day rural living, for today and future generations. As a Fixed Wireless, Principal Architect you will serve as Xplore’s hands-on technical lead for New Technology Introduction (NTI), RAN feature development, RF optimization, and wireless performance engineering across the Fixed Wireless network. You will be responsible for converting architectural strategy into executable engineering outcomes, ensuring new 3GPP features, vendor capabilities, spectrum strategies, and CPE enhancements are tested, validated, optimized, and deployed with measurable customer experience improvements. Reporting to the Manager, Fixed Wireless NTI & Performance, you will act as the technical engine of the NTI value stream, driving feature readiness, performance validation, and optimization execution. Working closely with the Principal RAN Architect and Wireless DevOps teams, you will ensure new capabilities are safe, validated, and deployed efficiently at scale. This role combines advanced wireless engineering expertise, technical leadership, performance optimization, and cross-functional collaboration to improve installation success, reduce customer churn, strengthen product delivery, and enhance network performance across Xplore’s Fixed Wireless network. Key Responsibilities Include: Lead hands-on engineering execution for new RAN features, spectrum capabilities, and vendor technology enhancements. Translate architectural priorities into detailed engineering validation plans, test strategies, and deployment readiness activities. Conduct lab testing, field trials, and performance verification for new radios, antennas, carrier aggregation combinations, uplink enhancements, MIMO, and beamforming technologies. Partner with NTI & Performance teams to ensure feature readiness prior to automation and large-scale deployment. Document feature performance, identify gaps, and drive corrective actions with technology vendors. Lead advanced RF and RAN optimization initiatives focused on coverage, capacity, spectral efficiency, and uplink performance. Execute cluster-level tuning, interference mitigation strategies, and spectrum reuse initiatives to improve network performance. Leverage OSS analytics, drive testing, field data, and performance metrics to identify bottlenecks and implement corrective actions. Collaborate with Wireless DevOps to automate optimization workflows and improve operational efficiency. Support spectrum planning initiatives by validating frequency plans, band-specific strategies, and spectrum performance models. Evaluate the RF impact of new features, vendor configurations, and customer-premises equipment capabilities. Execute pre-release and post-release validation activities for RAN and backhaul software to ensure performance readiness and identify regressions. Provide engineering approval and performance sign-off for new features prior to production deployment. Implement and maintain Golden Configuration standards while identifying and correcting configuration drift. Ensure engineering changes align with architectural standards, governance processes, and performance objectives. Act as the Tier-4 escalation point for complex RF, RAN, and network performance issues. Collaborate with Field Operations, Construction, Core, Transport, SRE, and Platform Engineering teams to drive end-to-end network performance improvements. Provide engineering expertise to support product development, customer experience initiatives, and coverage planning activities. Serve as the primary technical interface for vendor engineering teams, validating feature roadmaps, performance claims, and configuration recommendations. Drive vendor accountability for feature readiness, defect resolution, and performance improvements. Translate business challenges such as customer churn, installation success rates, and service performance into practical engineering solutions. Ensure all engineering initiatives deliver measurable customer, operational, and commercial value. The Ideal Candidate Will Possess: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, or a related technical discipline. 5–10 years of experience in RAN engineering, RF optimization, wireless performance engineering, or related telecommunications roles. Strong experience supporting New Technology Introduction (NTI), feature validation, field trials, and technology deployment initiatives. Deep technical knowledge of LTE and 5G RAN technologies, carrier aggregation (CA/NR-CA), MIMO, beamforming, uplink optimization, and RF propagation principles. Hands-on experience with RF optimization, performance engineering, and wireless network troubleshooting. Strong proficiency with OSS analytics platforms, KPI analysis frameworks, drive test tools, and wireless performance monitoring systems. Experience evaluating CPE behavior, chipset capabilities, vendor feature maturity, and spectrum-specific performance characteristics. Working knowledge of automation concepts, CI/CD methodologies, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), and scripting tools to effectively partner with DevOps teams. Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate complex technical findings into practical business outcomes. Strong communication and stakeholder management skills with proven ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority. Experience collaborating with vendors, RF engineering teams, operations teams, DevOps organizations, and performance management groups. Commitment to operational excellence, continuous improvement, and customer-focused engineering outcomes. Preferred Qualifications: Experience supporting large-scale fixed wireless, LTE, or 5G network deployments. Advanced experience with spectrum planning, frequency management, and RF modeling tools. Knowledge of wireless network automation platforms and DevOps-driven deployment environments. Experience implementing performance governance frameworks and configuration management standards. Familiarity with vendor ecosystems, feature roadmaps, and emerging wireless technologies. Experience leading complex engineering initiatives across multi-disciplinary telecommunications teams. Demonstrated success delivering measurable improvements in network performance, customer experience, and operational efficiency. Experience supporting critical incident response and Tier-4 operational escalation processes. Condition of employment: As a condition of employment and in order to comply with industry related data security standards, this position is subject to the successful completion of a Criminal Background Check. Details will be supplied to applicants as they move through the selection process. Xplore is committed to creating an accessible environment and will accommodate disabilities during the selection process. Please let your recruiter know during the selection process of any accommodation needs.