Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Phone
Languages
Affiliations
References
Timeline
Generic
ARAVINDA BHAT

ARAVINDA BHAT

Bangalore

Summary

Seasoned Quality Engineering and Technical Test Management professional with over 24 years of experience in global telecom sectors, including impactful positions at Nokia UK and Mobileum Ltd. Demonstrates expertise in Big Data ecosystems and Telecommunications, effectively leading cross-functional teams to achieve exceptional product quality enhancements. Proven ability in problem-solving and project management, driving timely delivery of high-quality solutions.

Overview

25
25
years of professional experience

Work History

Director, Quality Engineering

Mobileum Ltd
Bangalore
06.2024 - Current
  • Team Size: 20 FTE.
  • Mobileum offers telecom analytics solutions across roaming, core network, and security sectors.
  • Roamer Analytics (RA), Roaming Customer Engagement Management (RCEM), Profitability Analytics (PA), and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) are the key areas for Mobileum products and solutions.
  • These are supported in Hadoop-based and containerized versions.
  • Oversaw end-to-end software delivery and quality for Mobileum Analytics products and solutions in Hadoop-based and containerized versions.
  • Ensuring quality deliverables to the biggest telecom operators worldwide (U.S., Europe, Asia).
  • Facilitated coordination among Development, Product Management, and Delivery teams and global customers for seamless requirement-to-deployment transitions.
  • Delivered prompt solutions to business-critical customer requests.
  • Formulated strategies to enhance product quality.
  • Directed test management initiatives to respond to market changes.

Test Engineering Manager

Nokia UK
London
01.2019 - 05.2024
  • Three UK and Nokia launched the world’s first 5G-ready, fully integrated cloud core network in preparation for the communications provider’s rollout of 5G under the Maya Programme.
  • Delivered a 5G-ready core network in a virtual environment offering enhanced security and flexibility.
  • Managed a team of 30 FTE spread across the UK, Europe, and India.
  • Led high-visibility, critical projects, ensuring product quality, which includes customer and cross-domain management.
  • Managing the budget, resources, and schedule for complex telecom projects.
  • Identified potential issues and risks, implementing mitigations in real-time.
  • Fostered strong working relationships with customers, Operations, Engineering teams, and vendors in developing complex 4G/5G telecom infrastructure.
  • Coordinating test activities, defect management, and production deployment of multiple projects simultaneously.
  • Participated in technical discussions with both customers and vendors, showcasing extensive cross-domain knowledge.
  • Single point of contact for various teams, including build, design, customers, and vendors, for queries on test capabilities and test environment.
  • Managing test support for production incidents (including P0 and P1s) by providing 24/7 cover.
  • Single POC for Operations and Process Control teams.
  • Define test strategy, plan testing, and report to program management.

Senior Test Lead

Virgin Media
Reading
01.2016 - 01.2019
  • The 21st Century Voice program delivers voice services over a next-generation IMS network, delivered via HFC or fiber access, seamlessly moving away from the legacy TDM infrastructure.
  • Ownership of the Test Strategy, Test Planning, Resource Allocation, Test Execution, and Reporting for the various test activities within the 21st Century Voice Programme (Lab and Production Networks).
  • Led the end-to-end test activities for the IMS core network (SBC/CSCF/ATS/MRFC/MGCF/CCF/SPG/HSS), enabling the successful consumer launch of the Virgin Media IMS network in January 2017.
  • Coordinated with vendors on design discussions (MS core and CPE).
  • Interfacing with the program/project managers for planning.
  • Full ownership of timely delivery and quality of the IMS core network.
  • Involved in design discussions with the Architecture and Design teams (as an IMS SME).
  • Supporting the Operations team before and after the product/service launch.
  • Good understanding of the various technical specifications (3GPP, RFCs, etc.).

Senior Technical Lead/Technical Architect

Mitel
Reading
02.2014 - 01.2016
  • Mavenir Systems (NYSE: MVNR) provides software-based networking solutions that enable mobile service providers to deliver next-generation services over 4G LTE networks.
  • Mavenir has a fully virtualized end-to-end portfolio of Voice/Video, Messaging, and Mobile Core products that include IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), Evolved Packet Core (EPC), and Session Border Controller (SBC).
  • Led planning and quality delivery of Mavenir projects, including CTAS, RCS, and IP-SMS-GW.
  • Performing the role of Technical Architect for one of the major VoWiFi and VoLTE launches within the UK (for the products CTAS and IP-SMS-GW), handling the vendor's responsibilities.
  • Participated in design discussions with customer's design teams.

Principal Test Engineer/Automation Lead

Sonus Networks, Inc.
Swindon
10.2007 - 12.2013
  • Product: Signaling Gateway SGX4000, Media Gateway GSX, Policy Servers PSX, and Session Border Controller SBX.
  • Customers: AT&T (USA), Level 3, Citic, SBTM.
  • Excellent understanding of SIGTRAN functionality, SME for Signaling Gateway, and Media Gateway Products.
  • Completed comprehensive testing for the new Signaling Gateway product across multiple protocols, including M3UA, MTP3, SCCP, and SUA.
  • Directed Automation and Validation team.
  • Facilitated seamless progress with feature automation by contractors in Bangalore, India, validated by Sonus employees in the UK.
  • Contributed to the full test cycle, including effort estimates, test strategy formulation, and creation of detailed test plans, test execution, defect reporting/tracking, and automation using Perl.
  • Validated key customer features such as Geographic Redundancy, Limits, and Performance.
  • Voluntarily undertook maintenance and upgrades of MGTS test tool, including software installation.
  • Served as SME in Sonus Signaling Gateway, MGTS test tool, and Automation Framework.

Test Lead/Technical Architect/System Engineer

Motorola India Pvt.Ltd.
Bangalore
07.2003 - 10.2007
  • Products: Seamless Mobility Server, IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem), A-IMS, Motorola Soft Switch-GSM (MSS-G), CDMA (MSS-C), and UMTS (MSS-U).
  • Team Size: 10 FTE.
  • Developed customized solutions aligned with network and customer needs.
  • Translating customer needs into technical specifications consistent with system architecture.
  • Good understanding of the IMS, Seamless Mobility, A-IMS technologies, and 3GPP Specifications/RFCs.
  • Developed comprehensive system requirements document using DOORS.
  • Directed and guided quality assurance team of MSS-G, MSS-C and MSS-U.
  • Managed multifaceted Product and System Test projects prioritizing excellence.
  • Managed team, conducted performance appraisals, and handled hiring and training.
  • Understanding the complete QA cycle (Test Strategy, Test Plan creation, Product testing, System testing, Performance testing, Regression testing, Integration testing, Acceptance testing).
  • Complete testing of the CAMEL (IN), supplementary services, performance, and authentication features.
  • GSM soft-switch deployment and configuration at the customer site, and interconnection with the real RAN, media gateway, HLR, SMSC, SCP from other vendors, IOT testing, etc.
  • Handled customer meetings and managed high-pressure situations seamlessly.
  • Handled urgent customer concerns with efficiency.
  • Executed software upgrades at the customer site for a system handling live traffic.
  • Monitored performance of GSM soft switch at customer location.

Software Engineer

Infosys Technologies Ltd.
Bangalore
10.2000 - 07.2003
  • Requirements Analysis, Documentation, Design, and Development of Nortel DMS/PSTN switches.
  • Complying with SEI CMM and TL9000 standards.
  • Test Plan Design, Unit Testing, and Integration Testing.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Engineering - Elecronics And Communications

Mysore University
India
08-2000

Skills

  • Telecommunications: LTE/VoLTE, 5G/4G/3G/2G, GSM, CDMA, UMTS, IMS, SIGTRAN, SS7
  • Big Data Ecosystem: Hadoop, HDFS, HBase, Spark, Hive, Oozie, Presto, and Zookeeper
  • ETL testing
  • Test Tools: IXIA, Empirix, MGTS, INET, TestingTech, K1205 Protocol Analyzer, and Spectra
  • Network Elements: SGW, PGW, MME, EPDG, Security Gateway, vFWs, DRA/DEA, DNS, P/S/I-CSCF, Application Servers, SBC, MGW, SGW, BGSF, MGCF, IP-SMS-GW, AGCF, HSS, MSC, GRAN, GERAN, UTRAN, HLR, VLR, SCP, SMSC
  • Reporting and Tracking Tools: HP Quality Center, Jira
  • Shell, Perl scripting
  • Risk management
  • Process improvement
  • Industry knowledge
  • Conflict resolution
  • People management
  • Team management
  • Resource allocation
  • Problem-solving
  • Verbal and written communication
  • Cross-functional team leadership
  • Budget management
  • Project coordination
  • Client relations
  • Project management
  • Intellectual property management
  • Hiring and retention

Accomplishments

Submitted 4 disclosures related to Handoff Procedure between IMS and Cellular network. 2 of them are filed as Patents.

Phone

  • UK, +44 (0) 79400 09725
  • India, +91 (0) 73386 78629

Languages

English
First Language
Hindi
Proficient (C2)
C2
Kannada
Proficient (C2)
C2
Tulu
Proficient (C2)
C2

Affiliations

  • Trained Clasical flute player
  • Trained classical dancer

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

Director, Quality Engineering

Mobileum Ltd
06.2024 - Current

Test Engineering Manager

Nokia UK
01.2019 - 05.2024

Senior Test Lead

Virgin Media
01.2016 - 01.2019

Senior Technical Lead/Technical Architect

Mitel
02.2014 - 01.2016

Principal Test Engineer/Automation Lead

Sonus Networks, Inc.
10.2007 - 12.2013

Test Lead/Technical Architect/System Engineer

Motorola India Pvt.Ltd.
07.2003 - 10.2007

Software Engineer

Infosys Technologies Ltd.
10.2000 - 07.2003

Bachelor of Science - Engineering - Elecronics And Communications

Mysore University

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ARAVINDA BHAT