RF System Performance Engineer - UScellular Corporation - United States of America
(2020-03 - 2025-08)
Over the past five years, I have led and supported 5G deployment, implementation, and layer management optimization, focusing on both 5G NSA (Non-Standalone) and 5G SA (Standalone) architectures, including millimeter-wave integration. My experience spans end-to-end network enhancement strategies aimed at improving performance, spectrum efficiency, and customer experience.
- Specialized experience in 5G SA handover optimization, significantly improving NSA handover performance by intelligently leveraging best band/best spectrum strategies. These efforts have led to marked improvements in customer throughput and overall 5G perception.
- Spearheaded the optimization of 5G SA and 5G NSA handover paths, ensuring seamless redirection or fallback to 4G networks, improving mobility management and reducing dropped sessions during transitions.
- Executed strategic ENDC traffic optimization, maximizing utilization of 5G spectrum (e.g., Band C, Band N77, N71, and DoD) and offloading capacity from congested 4G networks. This directly contributed to improved spectral efficiency and user experience.
- Conducted daily audits and parameter validations across 5G SA, 5G NSA, and 4G, ensuring alignment with bandwidth characteristics and technology standards. Focused parameter tuning ensured network consistency and service reliability.
- Performed daily traffic analysis across layers to ensure balanced traffic distribution, aiming to keep 4G networks decongested while shifting majority usage to 5G. This proactive optimization strategy played a key role in boosting network KPIs and customer satisfaction.
- Drove performance tuning of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) devices, ensuring optimal use of assigned bands (e.g., N77, N71) and delivering enhanced customer experience through reliable and high throughput connections.
- Analyzing RAN KPIs to identify performance gaps and degradation trends.
- Investigating customer trouble tickets and correlating them with network performance metrics to proactively resolve issues.
- Implementing targeted optimization strategies to enhance coverage, capacity, and user experience while maintaining KPI compliance.
- Conducting in-depth performance analysis during validation testing and initial 24-hour monitoring.
- Fine-tuning newly deployed sites to ensure optimal signal quality, throughput, and seamless network integration.
- Developing a standardized checklist for cell site turnups, ensuring local engineers validate all critical performance parameters within the first 30 days of deployment.
- Identifying and mitigating external and internal interference sources affecting RAN performance.
- Conducting drive tests and analyzing logs using industry tools to diagnose and resolve network anomalies.
- Collaborating with Nokia tech support and cross-functional teams to address persistent optimization challenges.
- Tuned A3/A5/A6, HandoverCtrl, N310/N311 timers, reducing handover failures and dropped sessions. Improved EN-DC transitions using HO_ATTEMPT_LTE_NR, HO_SUCCESS_LTE_NR, SCG_CHANGE_ATT/SUCC.
- Optimized high-traffic sites using weight counters (LOAD_BAL_WEIGHT) and priority counters (CELL_PRIORITY, LOAD_PRIO_COUNTER), improving PRB utilization and reducing congestion.
- Maximized 5G spectrum use (N77, N71, DoD, Band C) with ENDC/SA load balancing and neighbor optimization.
- Regular audits of 5G SA counters (RRC_CONN_ESTAB, ERAB_SETUP, PDCP Tput, BLER) and parameters (SRS Config, Beam Mgmt, CSI-RS, BWP Switching) to ensure SLA compliance.
- Optimized FWA CPE metrics (CQI, RSRP/RSRQ, PRB utilization) to deliver high-throughput, reliable service.
- Resolved performance degradation by analyzing using MantaRay nokia Webem and Nokia counters (SCG_FAILURE_CAUSE, CQI Distribution), mitigating interference and coverage gaps.
- Led Nokia 5G-SA site turn-ups and validations with standardized checklists, 24-hour burn-in, and 5G KPI verification for smooth network integration.
- Troubleshooting VONR issues in 5G SA network.
- Feature Implementation.
- Golden Parameters Audit and Implementation on network.
- Monitoring Alarms on site and Alarms management.
- mMwave sites optimization and fine tuning.
- Performed 5G DAS and venue optimization to enhance indoor coverage, capacity, and user experience in high-traffic environments.
- Conducted RF data analysis and troubleshooting using tools such as TEMS, Nemo, and MapInfo for in-building system performance improvement.
- Optimized 5G/LTE layers and antenna configurations to ensure seamless mobility, KPI compliance, and optimal signal propagation across complex venues.
- Hands-on experience in Private 5G (Non-Public Network) design and optimization for enterprise and venue deployments.
- Involved in CBRS/Local Spectrum planning, edge core integration, and network slicing for industrial use cases.
- Conducted Private 5G RAN performance analysis and KPI optimization ensuring low latency and secure connectivity.
RF Engineer - LCC (Tech Mahindra) - Huawei CMPAK
(2018-01 - 2019-06)
- Performed Optimization of Zong (Mobile Network) Rollout Sites 2G, 3G and 4G
- Identified intra/inter-cell handover failures and missing neighbor issues.
- Coordinated with teams working on 2G, 3G and 4G.
- Solved issues related to network and KPIs.
- Reported directly to the project manager.
- Performed 2G, 3G, and 4G post-processing.
- Coordinated with teams working on 2G, 3G, and 4G.
RF Engineer - LCC (Tech Mahindra) - Mobilink
(2015-10 - 2017-07)
- Responsible for soft changes for both 2G & 3G and physical re-design activities.
- Performed RF coverage optimization using antenna tilt and azimuth fine-tuning for optimal coverage. Overlap and reduction of pilot pollution by EC/NO and RSCP improvements.
- Recommended neighbor and physical optimization strategies to achieve desired pilot coverage.
- Performed Troubleshooting of missing neighbors, coverage holes, pilot pollution areas, areas of no dominance, code plan problems, overshooting sites, parameter inconsistency etc. through drive log analysis.
- Performed initial 3G/4G RF tuning and optimization based on drive test result to improve RF coverage, eliminate pilot pollution, detect missing neighbor and compare before/after drive test to verify the adjustment.
- Acted as technical support for customers by providing explanation and technical answers on queries.
- Performed LTE RAN testing & 3GPP Compliance testing.
RF Engineer - Turnotech - Mobilink
(2015-04 - 2015-11)
- Performed RF optimization of 2G/3G worst-performing cells based on KPIs such as drop call rate, call setup success rate, handover success rate, and traffic.
- Performed Frequency and Neighbor planning of the new 2G/3G rollout sites.
- Performed Post drive test analysis of hardware issues (e.g., faulty TRX, VSWR) causing KPI degradation in the network by analyzing TRX-level statistics and alarm information.
- Checked 2G/3G customer complaints and move field team according to the complaints.
- Monitored major 2G/3G KPIs including PRB and BER (UL/DL).
RF Engineer - Mobilink
(2014-10 - 2015-01)
- Performed Single Site Verification (SSV) for 2G/3G using Nemo Outdoor, conducted log analysis of drive tests, and prepared detailed reports with recommendations to improve RSSI and HSDPA throughput.
- Performed traffic optimization for neighbor cells of newly on-air 2G/3G sites.
- Performed 2G/3G cluster drive tests using TEMS Investigation to identify coverage gaps, hardware faults, and quality issues. Conducted post-analysis of log files using MapInfo to benchmark cluster performance against vendor-agreed KPIs.
- Redesigned 2G/3G cell site azimuth, HBA, and tilting to mitigate overshooting and address weak coverage spots.
