Sr. Staff Software Engineer (NR-NTN L2/L3 Protocols)

About Skylo Technologies
Skylo is a global Non-Terrestrial Network service provider based in Mountain View, CA, offering a service that allows smartphone and IoT cellular devices to connect directly over existing satellites. Skylo’s direct-to-device service is now live on millions of activated devices across five continents, with more than 60 million square kilometers of coverage, in partnership with multiple satellite operators, mobile network operators (MNOs), Tier-1 chipset makers, and OEMs. Devices connected over satellite are managed and served by Skylo's commercial NTN vRAN, featuring a 3GPP standards-based cloud-native base station and core. Skylo provides anywhere, anytime connectivity solution that seamlessly roams between terrestrial and satellite networks. Our focus is on enabling connected services for people outdoors and connected workflows across three main verticals: mass-market consumer devices, automotive, and industrial IoT.

This role is located in Espoo, Finland where we are onsite 3 days a week in office.

Summary Of How You Will Impact Skylo

As a 5G NR-NTN L2/L3 staff software engineer, you will be the technical visionary driving the development of Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) capabilities within our gNodeB software stack. This role sits at the intersection of traditional cellular protocol engineering and the evolving domain of satellite communications. You will oversee the entire software lifecycle—from 3GPP feature analysis to high-level architectural design—ensuring our RAN systems meet the unique timing and mobility challenges of satellite-integrated 5G.

How You Will Contribute

• Architectural Leadership: Lead the end-to-end design, development, and maintenance of 5G NR L2/L3 protocol stacks and MAC-Schedulers specifically optimized for NTN (LEO/GEO) environments.
• Requirement Analysis: Translate 3GPP Release 17/18+ NTN specifications into actionable software requirements and technical roadmaps.
• Design & Development: Author High-Level Designs (HLD) and Low-Level Designs (LLD) for gNodeB components, focusing on compensation for large propagation delays and high Doppler shifts.
• Feature Prioritization: Analyze and prioritize 3GPP features (e.g., HARQ disabling, timing advance enhancements, and cell discontinuous coverage) for integration into the RAN subsystem.
• Mentorship & Quality: Provide technical guidance to development teams, perform code reviews, and ensure the architectural integrity of the product during maintenance and delivery phases.

What We Look For

• Experience: In LTE/5G NR protocol software development, with at least 3 years in an Architect or Lead Developer role.
• Satellite Domain: Proven track record of adapting terrestrial RAN software for satellite payloads or transparent/regenerative architectures.
• Testing: Experience with UE simulators and channel emulators configured for high-latency satellite profiles.
• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Telecommunications, or Electronic Engineering.

What We Offer

With employees working across three continents, Skylo is proud to be an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. Our worldwide and inclusive culture encourages a flexible approach to work, and we also offer an attractive range benefits such as:

• Competitive compensation packages including a stock option based equity program
• Comprehensive benefits plan
• Monthly allowances for wellness and education reimbursement
• Dental plans as well as Health and Life Insurance
• Commuting allowance
• Phone and Internet allowance
• Daily lunch allowance
• A fantastic L&D budget for further personal and professional development.
• A generous time off policy, holidays, and the opportunity to temporarily work abroad
• Once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of developing and running world’s first commercial, live direct-to-device satellite network and service
• Access to world-class team and talent across tech domains: software, hardware, chipsets, telecom, satellite and network virtualization
• Open, transparent, inclusive culture that blends the Silicon Valley, Nordic and South Asia characteristics