Researcher - Applied AI for Telco Networks and Systems

Responsibilities

• Conduct original research in AI applied to telecom networks, including autonomous networks, architecture design, and anomaly detection.
• Research the native integration of AI models into telecom systems such as NFV and cloud-native architectures.
• Build end-to-end pipelines for data processing, feature engineering, and model training using large-scale telecom datasets.
• Publish findings in top-tier conferences and journals to foster Telefonica's research brand.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to bridge the gap between research prototypes and deployed solutions.
• Establish relationships with external partners, universities, and standards organizations through EU-funded projects.

Requirements

• PhD in Computer Science, AI, Machine Learning, or a related field, OR a Master's degree with extensive applied research experience.
• Strong expertise in machine learning, deep learning, and statistical modeling.
• Proficiency in Python and ML frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.
• Solid understanding of mobile network architectures (RAN/Core) and network protocols.
• Experience working with large-scale datasets and distributed systems (e.g., Spark, Hadoop).
• Proven experience publishing academic papers as a lead author or essential contributor.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in AI for network optimization, self-organizing networks, edge AI, or generative AI.
• Familiarity with Open RAN, IoT ecosystems, or cloud-native telecom environments.
• Knowledge of cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Contributions to open-source projects or research communities.

Benefits

• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge AI and telecom research that shapes future 5G and 6G networks.
• Access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure and global collaboration opportunities.
• A strong culture of publication and innovation with a direct path from research to production.
• An inclusive and diverse team environment that supports a healthy work-life balance.

About the Company

Telefónica is a global leader in connectivity, building the infrastructure and intelligence layer for a connected world. Through our Innovation Lab's Scientific Research group, we conduct mid- to long-term research to define the next generation of telecommunications, translating scientific breakthroughs into real-world capabilities for millions of users.