Research Specialist

Research & Innovation develops the concepts that shape the evolution of mobile networks and supports their adoption in international standards. We are seeking Senior Research/Standardization Specialists to strengthen our 6G RAN activities. In this role, you will develop technical concepts and contribute to 3GPP RAN3 standardization in one or more areas, including disaggregated RAN architecture, RAN internal and RAN–Core interfaces, cloud-native protocol evolution, AI-enabled RAN, quality of service, network data collection, service awareness, performance monitoring, and network slicing. You will work across research, product, and standards organizations to translate innovation into technically sound proposals, intellectual property, standards contributions, and future product capabilities. Depending on your background, the role may emphasize research and concept development or direct representation of Nokia in 3GPP RAN3.

Responsibilities

• Lead and contribute to Nokia’s 6G standardization activities in 3GPP RAN3 working group in at least one of the following areas:
  • Disaggregated RAN architecture and relevant interfaces for future mobile networks deployments.
  • Evolution of RAN-Core interface and modernization towards cloud native protocols.
  • Innovative AI use cases to help optimize RAN performance and optimizing RAN to support AI traffic.
  • Quality of service (QoS) framework, service characteristics awareness in RAN, and performance monitoring.
  • Architecture and protocol enhancements enabling efficient network data collection and utilization for analytics, automation, and network optimization.
  • Evolution of network slicing in 6G. 
• Collaborate with Nokia Research, Bell Labs, product teams, and ecosystem partners to translate innovations into standards and products.
• Generate valuable intellectual property and support the adoption of Nokia innovations within industry standards.
• Influence Nokia’s technology and standards strategy in the areas of RAN architecture and 6G evolution.

Note: 

You will be acting as Nokia researcher on one of the above-mentioned areas responsible for technical contributions, concept development, numerical evaluations, and aligning standardization research with Nokia's 6G priorities. 

OR

You will be acting as Nokia’s delegate representative to 3GPP RAN3 working group, taking ownership of technical contributions, agenda shaping, consensus building, and alignment of standardization outcomes with Nokia’s 6G research and business priorities.             

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Communications Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
• Strong expertise in 5G and 6G mobile communication systems, RAN network architecture, 3GPP-defined interfaces and protocols.
• Good understanding of RAN-Core interfaces, AI use cases for RAN, network data collection, and other RAN related topics.
• Experience in technology development, research, and patent creation.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as an effective 3GPP delegate or researcher.
• Strong analytical, communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work effectively across research, engineering, product, and standards organizations in a global environment.
• Familiarity with AI-driven methodologies, including data-driven and agentic workflows.
• Experience working in multinational and cross‑cultural environments.
• Strong ability to operate in highly complex, innovation‑driven organizations.
• Proactive in scouting, assessing, and applying state‑of‑the‑art research results.
• Fluent in English, both spoken and written.

It would be nice if you also had:

• 5+ years of research experience in 6G‑relevant topics.
• Proven track record of technical leadership of research projects.
• Experience with AI-RAN and participation in relevant fora like AI-RAN Alliance.

Personal Attributes

• Humble personality with outcome-oriented behaviour. 
• Excellent networking and collaboration abilities across organizational boundaries.
• Open‑minded, adaptable, and resilient in fast‑evolving research and standardization environments.
• Analytical and structured with the ability to cut through complexity and prioritize effectively.
• Passion for continuous learning and professional growth.
• Strong willingness to take on new challenges.

Advancing connectivity to secure a brighter world.

Nokia is a global leader in connectivity for the AI era. With expertise across fixed, mobile and transport networks, powered by the innovation of Nokia Bell Labs, we’re advancing connectivity to secure a brighter world. 

Learn more about life at Nokia.

Our recruitment process

We act inclusively and respect the uniqueness of people. Our employment decisions are made regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. We are committed to a culture of inclusion built upon our core value of respect.

If you’re interested in this role but don’t meet every listed requirement, we still encourage you to apply. Unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences enrich our teams, and you may be just the right candidate for this or another opportunity.

The length of the recruitment process may vary depending on the specific role's requirements. We strive to ensure a smooth and inclusive experience for all candidates. Discover more about the recruitment process at Nokia. 

Some of our benefits:

• Flexible and hybrid working schemes
• A minimum of 90 days of Maternity and Paternity Leave, with the option to return to work within a year following the birth or adoption of a child (based on eligibility)
• Life insurance to all employees to provide peace of mind and financial security
• Well-being programs to support your mental and physical health
• Opportunities to join and receive support from Nokia Employee Resource Groups (NERGs)
• Employee Growth Solutions to support your personalized career & skills development
• Diverse pool of Coaches & Mentors to whom you have easy access
• A learning environment which promotes personal growth and professional development - for your role and beyond

Learn about additional benefits in specific countries.