Location: Barcelona (Spain)
Contract: Permanent
Working day: Full time
Vacancies: 1
Salary: 46000/50000€ Gross/year
Work modality: HybridThe role of a Senior AI-RAN Researcher
The AI-driven Systems Research Group, led by ICREA Professor Xavier Costa, is looking for a visionary Senior Researcher to bridge the gap between Applied AI and Mobile Networking.
We don’t just theorize; we build. From Network Slicing and mmWave to Smart Surfaces (RIS), our mission is to drive the digital transformation of society through high-impact 6G use cases and mission-critical communications.
As a Senior member of our international team, you will:
Lead Innovation: Design and implement AI-based automation solutions for 5G/6G architectures within our state-of-the-art lab.
Drive Research: Spearhead publications in top-tier venues and contribute to the evolution of Open RAN and Network Softwarization.
Bridge Theory & Practice: Develop Prototyping/PoC demonstrations using SDR platforms and commercial-grade network equipment.
Shape the Future: Participate in and lead EU-funded research projects, helping prepare winning proposals and mentoring the next generation of PhD students.
Who we are:
The i2CAT Foundation is a non-profit research and innovation center promoting mission-driven R&D activities on advanced Internet architectures, applications, and services. More than 15 years of international research define our expertise in the fields of 5G, IoT, VR, and Immersive Technologies, Cybersecurity, Blockchain, AI, and Digital Social Innovation. We partner with companies, public administration, academia, and end-users to leverage this knowledge in order to meet real social and business challenges.
The greatest value of i2CAT is the talent of the people who make up our human team. We enjoy a team of people from more than 13 different nationalities and work every day to create and foster a work environment where we all feel comfortable creating, innovating and growing.
Want to know more? Visit our webpage! www.i2cat.net
What will you enjoy?
Where will you do it?
At i2CAT we already have an established ‘work-from-home’ policy for some time. You can work from home or from the office, whichever suits you best. We expect that you attend the office one day per week to stay connected with your team and to engage with other colleagues
i2CAT was granted the "HR Excellence in Research" award by the European Commission in 2018, recognizing our commitment to aligning HR practices with the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct. As part of the HRS4R strategy, we ensure Open, Transparent, and Merit-based Recruitment (OTM-R) in all selection processes.
Diversity is key to progress and innovation, and at the i2CAT Foundation, we actively work to create an inclusive and equitable environment where everyone can develop their full potential. That’s why we are committed to plurality and aim to increase the number of people with functional diversity within our team.
We seek talented individuals with diverse perspectives to enrich our team. In our selection processes, we are committed to promoting female talent and are particularly interested in the experience of women and other underrepresented groups in the scientific and technological fields. This will help us be better prepared to tackle complex challenges. If candidates have similar qualifications, priority will be given to those belonging to one of these groups.
We know that talent manifests in many different ways, and we are eager to discover new perspectives!
Ideal Candidate Profile & Requirements
Academic & Research Excellence:
Specialized PhD: A PhD in Telecommunications or Computer Science with a strong focus on AI-driven resource management within 5G and B5G (Beyond 5G) architectures.
Top-Tier Publication Record: Proven track record of publishing high-impact research in IEEE/ACM journals and conferences, specifically in the areas of mobile network optimization and applied machine learning.
International Research Pedigree: Experience working within world-class research institutes and collaborating on multi-partner European Union (H2020/Horizon Europe) projects.
Technical Deep-Dive:
O-RAN Visionary: Deep architectural knowledge of Open RAN (O-RAN), with hands-on experience developing xApps and rApps for the RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC).
Advanced AI for Networking: Expertise in applying Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) and Graph Neural Networks (GNN) to solve complex networking problems like radio resource allocation and traffic steering.
Network Slicing & Orchestration: Strong background in End-to-End Network Slicing and the orchestration of virtualized resources in multi-tenant environments.
Protocol & Architecture Mastery: Expert understanding of 3GPP standards, 5G NR protocols, and the transition toward 6G "native AI" air interfaces.
Hands-on Engineering & Prototyping:
Open Source RAN Stacks: Extensive "in-the-trenches" experience with open-source frameworks such as srsRAN (srsLTE) and OpenAirInterface (OAI).
Hardware & SDR Platforms: Practical proficiency in using Software Defined Radio (SDR) platforms (e.g., NI/Ettus USRP) for real-world experimental validation.
Linux Systems Mastery: Advanced skills in Linux-based environments, including low-level resource management (CPU shielding, kernel optimization) and containerization (Docker/Kubernetes).
Leadership & Strategic Value:
Mentorship & Team Building: Demonstrated experience supervising PhD and Master’s students, guiding them from conceptual research to successful publication and implementation.
Project Leadership: Ability to take a lead role in technical work packages for international consortia, including contributing to high-level project proposals and deliverables.
Fluent Technical Communication: Ability to bridge the gap between complex mathematical AI models and practical telecommunications engineering for diverse stakeholders.
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