Embrace change and challenges and always be positive
I described my career as a roller coaster ride - from an engineer to a teacher to a technical manager to a QA engineer to a speciation engineer and now a software architect …
After my Bachelor's degree, I joined a company as a management information system engineer responsible for the system, network, and computers. As a young engineer, I learned the urge to gain experience outside the books and academics. As they said: "experience is the best teacher”. As I advanced my knowledge, a school had an open position for a teacher role (with subjects in math, physics, chemistry, and computer) that was a great and exciting opportunity for me to impart knowledge to the future generation. After a few years of teaching, I returned to the industry to acquire additional knowledge and experience. A company opened a position to manage its technology and service division. Exciting to handle a third of their operation in the Philippines and to learn new technology and equipment.
Fast-forward, a friend invited me to join Nokia. It opened a wealth of opportunities for me to learn, grow and use my abilities in several ways. I moved from a QA engineer to a specification engineer and am now a software architect. Next to my day-to-day role, I joined several activities like hackathons, conferences, and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Designing software solutions to keep us always connected
As part of the software architecture team, we create architectural definitions, designs, and specifications for multiple hardware and software domains. The responsibility includes the software architectural design of the base station according to the industry standards like 3GPP, ESTI, and O-RAN in collaboration with various telecoms and third-party vendors.
As part of my daily activities:
1. to create, research and participate in technical feasibility and discussions defining how to implement new solution/ technology according to the industry network evolution trends and standards.
2. to drive and design high-level software design to ensure aligned software solutions across all components.
3. to provide a relevant solution for the specification team, the software developers, and the quality assurance team.
Change is the only constant
As part of a research and development team where our motivation is to find a new solution, where creativity flows, and where collaboration is key to the continuous improvement of technology, I'm enjoying my work environment. That's exciting to be part of and see the shape of communications evolve from a simple GSM to 5G (and 6G is on its way!)
Finding a new solution to improve the current technology includes reading and research. Sometimes what you need is already around the corner. Why should you reinvent the wheel if it already exists and is free to use – use it.
Creativity flows to provide a relevant design solution that would satisfy the problem at hand. You should review all design possibilities, such as the sunny day and the failure scenarios.
And lastly, the collaboration with different domains to discuss, optimize, evaluate and finalize the solution.
How will you know if you don’t try it?
A friend invited me to apply as a software developer, so I did. When I got the results from the assessment test – the examiner informed me that I failed the exam but suggested me a QA position. I immediately jumped on the opportunity without knowing what QA was. The manager offered me that opportunity in the company as he knew my learnability. Nokia provided training, coaching, and mentoring, and I enjoyed the work.
As I developed my knowledge, an architecture and specification position opened, and I was excited about it. But I thought I was not yet ready for the role. I consulted my manager about it and asked for his opinion, and he encouraged me to go for it and to try it out.
Fast forward to hardship and several leaps of faith, and I am excited to grow and try new things. This year I started my new position.
Looking back, I am grateful to mention three key points:
1. Don’t be afraid to try new things. There’s no additional knowledge if you already know it – what is QA?
2. Develop your knowledge. Learning is a never-ending process: if you don’t know – study!
3. How will you know if you don’t try? You might regret it one day if you haven't tried.
Being part of the initial design and implementation of new technology
At Nokia, I am proud of designing and implementing new technology with my team.
First, I am a part of the initial specification and architectural design of Nokia’s single RAN base station with a single Nokia base station supporting 2G, 3G, and 4G.
Secondly, I am part of the architectural design and specification of frontal Nokia's 5G technology base station with an O-RAN solution.
