Keysight is at the forefront of technology innovation, delivering breakthroughs and trusted insights in electronic design, simulation, prototyping, test, manufacturing, and optimization. Our ~15,000 employees create world-class solutions in communications, 5G, automotive, energy, quantum, aerospace, defense, and semiconductor markets for customers in over 100 countries. Learn more about what we do.

Our award-winning culture embraces a bold vision of where technology can take us and a passion for tackling challenging problems with industry-first solutions. We believe that when people feel a sense of belonging, they can be more creative, innovative, and thrive at all points in their careers.

Keysight is looking for a recent graduate (MSc or PhD) in Telecommunications Engineering to join our R&D; team as a Wireless Protocol Software Engineer focused on Layer 2 (L2).

This is an excellent opportunity to start your career working on cutting-edge 5G and emerging 6G technologies, contributing to real-world implementations of 3GPP protocol stacks used in advanced wireless test and emulation platforms.

You will work alongside experienced engineers in a collaborative, multi-site international environment, gaining hands-on experience in designing and developing high-performance protocol software.

Responsibilities

- Contribute to the design, development, and testing of Layer 2 protocol stack components:

- MAC (Medium Access Control)

- PDCP (Packet Data Convergence Protocol)

- Support development of UE and base station (gNB) emulation solutions

- Analyze and implement features from 3GPP LTE and 5G NR specifications

- Assist in translating requirements into:

- Clean and maintainable code

- Test cases and validation scenarios

- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (systems, RF, protocol, software) to:

- Investigate and debug protocol behavior

- Support issue analysis and resolution

- Participate in continuous learning of evolving standards and technologies (5G Advanced,



pre-6G)

Required Qualifications

- MSc or PhD in Telecommunications Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field

- Strong theoretical knowledge of wireless communications and 3GPP LTE / 5G NR

- Understanding of Layer 2 protocols (MAC, RLC, PDCP) from coursework, thesis, or research

- Programming skills in C or C++

- Basic knowledge of:

- Multithreading or concurrent programming

- Software development practices and debugging

- Analytical mindset and strong problem-solving skills

- Good communication skills in English

Preferred Qualifications

- Hands-on experience (academic projects, internship, or thesis) in:

- Wireless protocol implementation or simulation

- Network emulation or system-level modeling

- Familiarity with:

- Version control systems (e.g., Git)

- Debugging or protocol analysis tools (e.g., Wireshark)

- Exposure to:

- O-RAN concepts or modern network architectures

- Scripting languages (e.g., Python)

Tools & Technologies (You Will Learn and Use)

- Wireshark

- Debugging tools (e.g., Valgrind)

- CI/CD and modern development workflows

What We Offer

- Opportunity to work on real 5G and future 6G systems

- Mentorship from experienced protocol and system engineers

- Exposure to industry standards (3GPP) and real implementations

- A collaborative and international R&D; environment

- Clear growth path toward technical expertise or leadership roles

Ideal Candidate Profile

- Passion for wireless technologies and protocol design

- Strong learning agility and curiosity

- Motivation to bridge theory and real-world systems

- Interest in building high-performance, production-quality software

Salary Range (Italy): €38,780 – €64,630 gross annual

While posted at a specific level, this role may be filled at a different level based on the selected candidate's experience and qualifications. Compensation will be aligned with the final level of the role.

Careers Privacy Statement***Keysight is an Equal Opportunity Employer.***

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📌 Wireless Protocol Software Engineer – Layer 2 (MAC, RLC, PDCP) (Milano)
🏢 Keysight Technologies
📍 Milano