RF Optimization & Drive Test Engineer – Water Coverage Survey

The Role

We are seeking a skilled and field-oriented RF Drive Test Engineer to support a specialized Water Survey Project, focused on evaluating mobile network coverage, quality, and service performance across designated marine and coastal routes.

The role will involve conducting RF measurements while travelling along predefined water-survey routes, using Nemo Handy and associated drive-test equipment to capture real-time LTE/4G and 5G NR network performance. The engineer will be responsible for ensuring accurate data collection, GPS/route tracking, test execution, identification of coverage gaps and service degradation, and preparation of survey results for further RF analysis and optimization.

This is a highly field-intensive position requiring strong hands-on drive-test expertise, attention to measurement accuracy, and the ability to operate effectively in marine/outdoor environments.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct RF water surveys and drive tests across assigned marine, coastal, offshore, waterfront, and other designated water routes.
• Execute predefined survey routes using Nemo Handy and approved RF measurement devices to capture LTE/4G and 5G NR network performance.
• Set up, configure, and validate test devices, Nemo Handy measurement profiles, GPS tracking, test scripts, and required network/service configurations before commencing each survey.
• Perform continuous monitoring and logging of key RF parameters, including RSRP, RSRQ, SINR, RSSI, PCI, serving cell, frequency/band, throughput, latency, handovers, and network technology.
• Conduct voice and data service testing, where required, to assess the actual end-user experience along the surveyed water routes.
• Accurately track the GPS coordinates, survey route, timestamps, serving cells, network conditions, and measurement locations throughout each survey.
• Identify and document coverage gaps, weak-signal areas, poor-quality zones, interference conditions, abnormal handovers, service interruptions, throughput degradation, and other RF performance issues encountered along the route.
• Monitor changes between serving cells and technologies during vessel movement and identify potential mobility or handover issues.
• Ensure survey routes are completed according to the approved test plan and that all required route sections and measurement points are covered.
• Maintain proper naming, organization, storage, and daily backup of all Nemo log files, GPS records, route information, screenshots, test results, and supporting field data.
• Perform initial field-level validation of collected logs to ensure that survey data is complete and usable before leaving the assigned survey area.
• Import and process collected measurement files using Nemo Analyzer for detailed RF performance evaluation.
• Generate route-based coverage plots, KPI analysis, geographical performance views, and other required outputs to highlight network performance across surveyed areas.
• Correlate RF performance with geographical location to identify specific coordinates or route sections requiring further investigation or optimization.
• Prepare clear daily survey reports and technical observations, highlighting completed routes, network performance, coverage concerns, abnormalities, and pending/retest areas.
• Coordinate closely with RF Optimization, Network Planning, Project Management, and field teams to communicate findings and support corrective or optimization activities.
• Conduct repeat surveys and verification testing where required following network changes or optimization activities.
• Ensure testing equipment, smartphones, GPS devices, power banks, cables, laptops, and other survey tools remain operational and adequately charged throughout field activities.
• Follow all applicable project HSE, marine safety, client, and field-work procedures while conducting surveys on boats or other water transport.
• Immediately report any safety concern, equipment issue, route-access restriction, weather-related constraint, or operational condition that could affect survey completion or data quality.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or diploma in Telecommunications, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Practical experience as an RF Drive Test Engineer, RF Optimization Engineer, RF Survey Engineer, or similar telecom field-testing role.
• Strong hands-on experience with Nemo Handy for RF data logging and field measurements.
• Practical working knowledge of Nemo Analyzer for log-file processing, KPI analysis, route plotting, and RF performance assessment.
• Good understanding of LTE/4G and 5G NR radio networks, including network architecture, frequency bands, cells, mobility, handovers, and service performance.
• Strong understanding of RF KPIs and measurements, particularly RSRP, RSRQ, SINR, RSSI, PCI, throughput, latency, handovers, serving cells, and coverage/quality behaviour.
• Ability to configure test devices and measurement scenarios based on project requirements, including relevant band/channel/network locking and automated test scripts where required.
• Experience conducting drive tests, route surveys, coverage verification, benchmarking, or field RF measurements.
• Ability to interpret RF measurement data and distinguish between coverage, quality, interference, mobility, and service-performance issues.
• Good knowledge of GPS-based route tracking and geographical RF analysis.
• Strong attention to detail, particularly regarding log-file integrity, GPS accuracy, route completion, equipment configuration, and field documentation.
• Ability to prepare structured technical reports and clearly communicate survey observations to RF optimization and project teams.
• Comfortable working extensively in outdoor and marine environments, including travelling by boat or other water transport for prolonged survey activities.
• Willingness to work flexible hours depending on survey routes, marine access, operational requirements, weather conditions, and project schedules.
• Ability to work independently in the field while maintaining close coordination with the project and technical teams.
• Strong commitment to HSE and marine safety requirements throughout water-survey activities.
• Previous experience in marine, offshore, coastal, island, or water-route RF surveys will be considered a strong advantage.

Work Location: In person