Principal System Architect

Nokia is hiring a Principal System Architect. Level rates it ; you can apply on Nokia.

Level's read on this job

Works on AI ●●●○ is how Level rates this role: the daily work is on AI products, without building the model.
Tools and skills the posting cites include Openapi, Grpc and system architecture.
Level classifies it as a lead role.
Level lists 579 other open roles at Nokia.
The role was posted within the past week.

AI in this role

Lead system architecture and drive AI DLC and automation projects for the WaveSuite product portfolio.

OpenapiGrpc

system-architecturerequirements-engineeringagileoptical-networkingapi-design

As the Principal System Architect, you will be at the forefront of our R&D efforts, contributing to the analysis and specification of key features for our WaveSuite product. Working closely with a team of domain experts and over 400 SW developers, you will own the system architecture, lead cross-functional technical initiatives, and ensure the successful delivery of high-quality solutions. Your customer-centric mindset and ability to engage with key partners will be instrumental in driving the success of our products.

Seeking highly skilled R&D architect and systems engineer to contribute to analysis and specifications of features and components of our Network Management and Control Systems (WaveSuite).
Working in a team of Optical and Telecommunications domain experts supporting a team of >400 SW developers and testers
Working in an agile Scrum setup for SW development
Customer focused mindset, adaptable and ability to drive engagement and collaboration with key Services Practices and Business partners
Deriving product and R&D requirements from feature requests discussed with Sales and PLM teams as well as with customers and communicate them to the R&D teams
The role includes
- System architecture ownership
- End-to-end solution design
- Requirements analysis and decomposition
- Feature specification and SRD creation
- Cross-functional technical leadership
- Customer requirement analysis
- Technical decision making and trade-off analysis
- Interface definition across NMS/EMS/network elements
- Review and approval of designs and specifications
- Technical leadership across multiple Scrum teams
- Mentoring engineers and architects

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Telecommunications/Electrical engineering or Computer Science with >10y or Experience in the TelCo domain
Requirements Engineering: You can define and refine both functional and non-functional requirements to ensure clear product goals.
Translate complex technical insights into clear, actionable business requirements for internal teams and stakeholders
Experience in SW and System Architecture and Systems Engineering
Experience with AI DLC, agentic AI harnesses as well as automation projects
Optical Networking: You have deep knowledge on L0/L1/L2 networks and and ideally some experience on how to operate and manage transport networks
Guide and engage with cross-functional teams, ensuring high-quality and timely solution delivery
Restful API definition: knowledge on OpenAPI, gRPC and general API best practices (like TAPI, OpenConfig)
Systems Thinking & Detail Orientation: You can see the big picture and pay attention to the details, ensuring complex systems are built with precision and reliability.
Communication & Leadership: You are an excellent communicator, able to deliver presentations and detailed specifications. You are fluent in English and have a collaborative approach
Standardization: You should be able to follow up with and contribute to standardization (ONF, MEF, TMF, IETF)
Kubernetes/Containerization: You deeply understand container technology and Kubernetes, including building API extensions to manage complex applications.
Distributed Systems: You have 10+ years of experience architecting and scaling resilient, high-performance distributed systems, ideally in observability or data-driven products.
Cloud-Native & DevOps: You have a foundation in cloud-native and DevOps practices, including CI/CD, infrastructure as code, system reliability, root cause analysis, and performance optimization.
Cloud Engineering: You have cloud engineering skills with experience deploying in both on-prem and public cloud environments.

How we rate this

Principal System Architect at Nokia rates 65 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Works on AI (AI Level 3 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Works on AI. The daily work is on AI products, without building the model.

●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
●○○○ Little AI0 to 39

Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.

Key facts

Principal System Architect is an open job at Nokia.
Level rates this role AI Level 3 of 4: Works on AI.
The role is based in India.
The job was posted on November 6, 2026.
Seniority: lead.
Applications are handled by Nokia. Apply on Nokia

Prepare for this job

Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.

Skills and AI tools this role asks for

System ArchitectureRequirements EngineeringAgileOptical NetworkingAPI DesignOpenapiGrpc

Questions you could be asked

Tell me about a project where system architecture was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where requirements engineering was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where agile was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where optical networking was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where api design was part of your work. What did you do?

Adapt your resume

List these exact terms on your resume: System Architecture, Requirements Engineering, Agile, Optical Networking, and API Design. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
Show where AI is part of your daily process, not a one-off project. This role expects it to be a running habit.

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