Wireless Network Architect

About the role

Cape is seeking a Wireless Network Architect who combines deep expertise in planning, building, and operating cellular networks with the vision and courage to disrupt legacy approaches and reimagine the future of telecom. You are not just an expert in telecom architecture - you are driven to make an impact. You want to join a fast-growing company where your work directly supports the U.S. and its allies in strengthening national security. This is an opportunity to contribute to projects that truly matter - shaping the geopolitical landscape in an era where telecom is an essential element of modern warfighting. In this role, you will bring the technical depth to go toe-to-toe with vendors, partners, and internal teams as we implement a next-generation, cloud-based Core network. You understand IMS, packet cores, and the edge elements that integrate with other networks - including 4G and 5G variants such as HSS, UDM, and UDR. You are both an architect and a builder: capable of seeing the big picture and inventing what's next, while unafraid to roll up your sleeves and execute. This is a hands-on role where strategy and delivery go hand in hand. Here are some ways you will make an impact by designing and delivering core networks that support essential features like voice, data, and messaging while addressing diverse customer use cases and solving hard problems with novel, never-been-done solutions that ensure scale and reliability. You will partner across internal teams and external vendors to stitch together cohesive solutions and successfully bring them to market for our users. You will implement new features with zero disruption to live users through meticulously planned MOPs, maintenance windows, test plans, and phased rollouts that maintain service continuity. You will troubleshoot deeply by investigating network traces alongside partners and vendors to isolate root causes and resolve complex issues that affect performance and security. You will interconnect networks ranging from private and commercial systems to roaming and MVNO environments, ensuring seamless interoperability across all touchpoints. You will drive new standards in security and privacy by innovating around encryption, eliminating unnecessary storage like CDRs, augmenting 3GPP and GSMA functions, and inventing new protections against malicious actors. You will stand up new network instances in emerging regions or with functionality tailored to evolving customer needs, enabling Cape to scale securely and efficiently.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Design and deliver core networks that support essential features such as voice, data, and messaging while addressing customer use cases and solving hard problems with novel, never-been-done solutions that ensure scale and reliability.
• Partner across cross-functional teams and external vendors to integrate components and bring cohesive solutions successfully to market.
• Implement new features with zero disruption to live users through well-planned MOPs, maintenance windows, test plans, and carefully managed phased rollouts.
• Troubleshoot deeply by diving into network traces with partners and vendors to isolate root causes and resolve complex issues affecting performance, security, and user experience.
• Interconnect networks including private, commercial, roaming, and MVNO environments to ensure seamless interoperability and consistent service delivery.
• Drive new standards in security and privacy by exploring encryption options, eliminating unnecessary storage such as CDRs, augmenting 3GPP and GSMA functions, and inventing new protections against malicious actors.
• Stand up new network instances in new regions or with functionality tailored to evolving customer needs, ensuring rapid and reliable deployment aligned with business goals.
• Collaborate with product, engineering, and operations teams to translate high-level requirements into detailed technical specifications and design documentation.
• Mentor and guide junior engineers by sharing your expertise in network protocols, architecture patterns, and operational best practices through code reviews and design discussions.
• Optimize network performance, resilience, and scalability through continuous analysis, testing, and refinement of configurations and architectural decisions.
• Evaluate and pilot emerging technologies and standards that can enhance Cape's privacy-first mission while maintaining compatibility with existing infrastructure.
• Coordinate with regulatory and compliance stakeholders to ensure all network designs meet relevant standards such as e911, NG911, and CALEA.
• Monitor key indicators and report on network health, utilization, and security posture to support data-driven decisions and proactive improvements.
• Contribute to disaster recovery and business continuity planning by designing network architectures that prioritize availability and integrity.

Requirements

• Possess a Bachelor's or advanced degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related technical field, or have equivalent practical experience.
• Have a minimum of 4 years of hands-on wireless Core network architecture experience, including IMS, EPC/PGW, MME, HSS, SGW, or 5G equivalents such as AMF, SMF, UDM, and UDR.
• Demonstrate hands-on operational skills, comfortably deploying, configuring, and debugging network functions in fast-paced, resource-constrained startup environments.
• Exhibit deep expertise in critical telecom features such as VoLTE, VoNR, VoWiFi, SMS, and MMS over IP, along with a strong grasp of regulatory compliance requirements including e911, NG911, and CALEA.
• Show strong familiarity with 4G LTE, 5G Non-Standalone (NSA), and 5G Standalone (SA) architectures and their implications for service design and interoperability.
• Possess detailed knowledge of core protocols including Diameter, SIP, GTP, and other essential cellular network protocols used in control and user plane processing.
• Have proven vendor management experience, with the ability to lead technical discussions, manage dependencies, and hold external partners accountable for delivery and quality.
• Demonstrate excellence in creating design documentation, producing high-level architecture diagrams as well as detailed network diagrams that clarify deployment and operations.
• Show comfort with disruption and a willingness to challenge conventional telecom approaches, embracing alternative methods to solve complex problems.
• Display strong analytical and diagnostic abilities, with a methodical approach to identifying issues, testing hypotheses, and implementing effective solutions under pressure.
• Communicate clearly and persuasively, both in writing and during technical discussions with cross-functional stakeholders and partners.
• Commit to working reliably in an Arlington, VA-based role, with the flexibility to coordinate across time zones as necessary for global partnerships and operations.
• Maintain a strong sense of ownership for operational reliability, security, and privacy, aligning personal work habits with Cape's mission of building a privacy-first mobile carrier.

Nice to have

• Experience with cloud-based network deployments on major public cloud infrastructure platforms.
• Familiarity with LTE core (EPC) and 5G core (5GC) elements, including HSS, UDM, UDR, MME, AMF, SMF, and related network functions.
• Knowledge of security and privacy-enhancing technologies relevant to telecommunications, such as encryption, authentication, and data minimization techniques.
• Experience contributing to standards bodies, industry forums, or open-source projects related to telecommunications and network infrastructure.
• Background in regulatory and compliance frameworks impacting telecommunications, including FCC, FCC Part 68, and international requirements.

Practical notes

This role is based in Arlington, VA, and requires reliable in-person presence during standard business hours. Occasional travel may be required for vendor meetings, customer engagements, or industry events. Employment is full-time, and candidates must be eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship for this position.