Passive System Engineer At Airtel
full-time
About the Role:
The job entails supporting in the planning, control, management, monitoring, and optimization of Airtel Nigeria's nationwide power and passive infrastructure operations, including site fueling, passive projects, infrastructure replacements, power upgrades, and energy cost management. The role is responsible for ensuring a robust and sustainable power infrastructure that delivers optimal power quality, maintains network power availability of 99.99% and above, and drives energy OPEX reduction and operational efficiency to achieve Annual Operating Plan (AOP) targets, while ensuring strong partnerships with vendors and infrastructure providers across 4 regions and 12 zones.
Airtel Africa is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and remain fully committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Responsibilities
Responsible for day-to-day management of all Airtel sites (DC & Owned BTS), passive, power operations & maintenance (O &M) power upgrade, site fueling and diesel delivery to deliver optimal availability.
Provide end-to-end operational support for the entire power network and infrastructure, ensuring reliable power supply to Core, IN, VAS, Base Station Systems, and Transmission domains.
Plan and implement effective maintenance schedules for all passive equipment across BTS, BSC, Transmission, MSC, and Data Center sites.
Perform preventive maintenance audits, tracking, and compliance monitoring.
Plan and coordinate the replacement, upgrade, and installation of power equipment, including DGs, AC and HVAC units, rectifiers, batteries, transformers, stabilizers, power panels, inverters, UPS systems, fire protection systems, and warranty claims across major switch sites, Data Centers, BSC, BB, and BTS locations.
Support operational interfaces with internal and external stakeholders, particularly Enterprise, Commercial, Customer Service Delivery, and IT teams.
Manage passive spares requests and replacement activities to ensure the availability of both critical and non-critical spare parts.
Manage the resolution of passive alarms and crises arising from emergencies or unexpected failures of critical network power equipment.
Provide recommendations for incident management and follow up on the resolution of power and passive infrastructure issues.
Provide design support and recommend changes to specifications and standards for regional teams and vendors to improve preventive and corrective maintenance programmes and enhance power equipment efficiency.
Plan and manage the monthly diesel fuel requirements for all network sites.
Monitor and manage key variables that drive energy costs and recurring site operating expenditure, including Diesel CPH, DG Run Hours, EB Hours Availability, Battery Backup, EB/Non-EB status, DG Capacity, PHCN Disconnections, Late Payment Penalties, PHCN Tariffs, and Diesel Rates, while driving vendor performance to achieve cost reduction targets.
Develop Bills of Quantity (BOQ) for power equipment and support the preparation, review, and evaluation of RFQ and RFP documents.
Review and validate power-related invoices, progress payments, billings, and job close-out documentation.
Manage the acceptance and sign-off of ATP documents, JCCs, and warranty certificates.
Plan, coordinate, and ensure regular vendor governance for operations and maintenance activities.
Prepare and manage the annual operating plans OPEX (AOPs) for all the passive network systems in Airtel Nigeria
Prepare and manage the annual Power CAPEX and OPEX budgets, including coordinating management approvals for power and passive infrastructure expenditures.
Monitor, control, and track CAPEX and OPEX spend against approved budgets, ensuring accurate reporting to senior management.
Track and report performance against Annual Operating Plan (AOP) targets, including energy OPEX savings achieved through cost optimization initiatives.
Monitor and optimize key energy cost drivers, including diesel consumption, DG run hours, utility power availability, battery backup performance, DG capacity utilization, tenancy ratios, site configurations, utility tariffs, diesel rates, and other recurring operating expense variables, while ensuring vendors deliver agreed cost reduction targets.
Manage and optimize MSC diesel and electricity costs to reduce recurring operating expenditure and improve energy efficiency.
Conduct continuous monitoring, analysis, and control of energy costs through innovation, best practice implementation, and operational efficiency initiatives.
Lead the compilation, execution, and delivery of the Airtel Nigeria Network Energy and Passive Infrastructure Annual Operating Plan (AOP), ensuring achievement or overachievement of energy OPEX targets and overall network cost optimization objectives.
Drive process documentation, implementation, and compliance with operational procedures, policies, and standards to ensure seamless service provider (SP) operations.
Define the scope of work and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for passive infrastructure contracts, and monitor performance against agreed objectives to ensure effective and efficient compliance across all service touchpoints.
Develop and manage process documentation, procedures, and guidelines for network power equipment repairs, replacements, and maintenance activities.
Ensure compliance with applicable policies and procedures and monitor the availability of relevant documentation across all touchpoints to drive consistency and synergy among service providers.
Implement and manage SLA measurement methodologies to ensure service providers are accurately monitored, rewarded, or penalized based on performance.
Develop, standardize, and manage network power equipment specifications in line with operational and business requirements.
Develop, maintain, and ensure the accuracy of the passive equipment database, including conducting periodic audits of all installed power equipment across the network.
Manage and coordinate operational reporting, including DG swap reports, diesel delivery reports, PHCN reports, hybrid system reports, and other passive infrastructure reports.
Develop, implement, and manage approved process documents relating to passive infrastructure operations and maintenance.
Manage change request procedures and approvals relating to passive infrastructure, ensuring proper governance and compliance with established processes.
Regulatory Compliance
Ensure all power equipment specifications, including generator noise levels, smoke emissions, and other operational parameters, comply with applicable regulatory standards and requirements.
Ensure all network operations and maintenance activities adhere to relevant regulatory, statutory, and environmental compliance requirements.
Partner Management and Governance
Manage and oversee ISM, MS, and other support contracts between Airtel and its partners to ensure contractual obligations and service deliverables are achieved.
Manage third-party vendors responsible for power infrastructure deployment, maintenance, and passive infrastructure activities.
Support operational interfaces with internal and external stakeholders, particularly Commercial, Customer Service Delivery, and IT teams.
Ensure adherence to established governance frameworks, policies, and operating models.
Define and monitor Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for internal processes and partners to ensure effective service delivery across all touchpoints.
Develop and maintain process documents, procedures, and guidelines for network power equipment repairs, replacements, and maintenance.
Ensure compliance with applicable policies, procedures, and standards, while maintaining relevant documentation to drive consistency and synergy across service providers.
Educational Qualifications
First degree in a related field
Relevant Experience & Functional / Technical Skills
Minimum of 8 years of varied experience in power operation and maintenance in the Telecom industry
Sound knowledge of Knowledge of Telecommunication Architecture
Sound knowledge of Mobile Network O&M
Power equipment Database development and management
Sound knowledge of MSC and Data Center passive equipment
Sound knowledge of following electrical power systems:
DC Rectifier plant and Battery banks
Inverters system,
UPS system,
Generators (Caterpillars, Perkins, Cummins, etc )
Power control panels, Synchronizing panels, Distribution panels, AMF / ATS panel
Power Transformer and voltage Stabilizer,
Grid HV, MV, LV systems and distribution boards
cooling system & HVAC,
Power conditioning, surge protection and Earthing,
FM200 fire protection systems,
DC and AC cables,
Hybrid power, Solar Power, and IPMS system
Hybrid system,
Basic understanding of BTS site civil
Ability to develop and interpret M & E drawings.
Project Management skills and proficiency in Microsoft office applications
AutoCAD Skills with ability to create Single line diagrams
Analytical and Presentation skills
Strategic negotiation skills
Proficiency in Microsoft office application (word, excel power point, etc.)
Ability to develop and manage site database.
Other requirements
Entrepreneurial disposition in decision making and managing resources
Logical decision-making abilities
Flexible and dedicated
Ability to innovate and deliver value to business
Ability to manage an outsourcing partner to effectively deliver on service level agreements
Ability to motivate and lead both internal and external partners
Impeccable integrity and character
Go-getter
Communication Skills