Location: Philadelphia, PA (Hybrid)
Rate – 70
Visa – No H1B if not on your w2, No OPTs
Tata Elxsi/Comcast
Role Summary
We are seeking an experienced Principal Architect to define and drive the test architecture, certification strategy, and validation roadmap for broadband gateway and router platforms, with a primary focus on RDK-B ecosystems. The individual will be responsible for identifying test coverage gaps, defining future validation strategies, influencing technical direction across engineering teams, and engaging with customers, standards bodies, and open-source communities to ensure comprehensive coverage of emerging networking technologies.
This is a highly technical architecture role requiring deep expertise in broadband networking, Wi-Fi technologies, certification frameworks, and automated validation systems. The role is focused on defining what should be tested, why it should be tested, and how coverage should evolve, rather than managing execution schedules or project delivery.
Key Responsibilities
· Define end-to-end test strategy, architecture, and coverage requirements for broadband gateway/router platforms covering Wi-Fi, LAN, WAN, Mesh, Security, IPv6, and remote device management.
· Drive test coverage planning for emerging technologies, including Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi 8 and future Wi-Fi standards.
· Assess existing test environments, identify coverage gaps, prioritize missing areas, and create a technical roadmap for improving test coverage.
· Recommend high-priority versus lower-priority testing areas based on product risk, customer impact, and industry trends.
· Evaluate and leverage open-source frameworks, tools, and methodologies to enhance test automation and certification capabilities.
· Collaborate with customer architects, technical leaders, and senior management to align testing strategy with business and product objectives.
· Represent the organization in industry forums and RDK community working groups, influencing and communicating the test roadmap and architecture direction.
· Review and provide technical guidance on test plans, architecture proposals, certification approaches, automation frameworks and engineering deliverables.
· Define best practices for scalability, interoperability, compliance, and certification testing across broadband devices.
· Mentor engineering and architecture teams on networking validation strategies and industry standards.
Required Skills
· Strong experience architecting large-scale test and certification systems for broadband routers, gateways, or CPE devices.
· Deep expertise in networking technologies including LAN, WAN, Routing, Switching, QoS, DHCP, DNS, NAT, IPv6, IPv4 and Security.
· Extensive experience with Wi-Fi technologies, including Wi-Fi 6/6E/7, Mesh, performance validation, and troubleshooting.
· Proven ability to define test strategies, coverage models, and long-term validation roadmaps.
· Strong stakeholder management skills with experience working directly with customer SLTs, architects, and senior technical leadership.
· Experience reviewing engineering work products and providing architectural guidance for test and certification solutions.
· Familiarity with industry standards defined by BBF, IEEE, WFA, WBA
· Experience with RDK, RDK-B, and TDK-B ecosystems, Knowledge of broadband industry certification programs and compliance frameworks, Experience with Wi-Fi Alliance certification processes and related test methodologies are an added advantage
