New opportunity

Principal Architect

Singtel Group · Singapore

About this role

The Principal Architect reports to the Senior Director of Group Strategy, Engineering, and Innovation (GSEI) / Network Services Development (NSD). This role is responsible for shaping Singtel Group’s AI-driven network, Autonomous Networks (AN), OSS, and CPaaS architecture strategy. The position focuses on transitioning traditional network operations to AI-enabled and autonomous models while ensuring architectural consistency and scalability across the Group. Responsibilities include defining Group Network AI and AN roadmaps, partnering with OpCos to identify use cases, providing architectural leadership for OSS transformation, and guiding CPaaS initiatives. The role also involves technical governance, vendor engagement, and contributing to industry standards. Required qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field and at least 15 years of experience in telecommunications with deep expertise in network, OSS, and IT architecture. Candidates must have a proven track record in defining and governing large-scale architectures, hands-on experience with Network AI and Autonomous Network designs (including telemetry, AI/ML inferencing, and closed-loop control), and familiarity with TM Forum AN frameworks and maturity models. Strong technical leadership, consultancy skills, and the ability to drive cross-functional collaboration in complex, multi-vendor environments are essential.

For full details about this role, click “Apply on company site” to view the employer’s original posting.

Skills for this role

Network AIAutonomous NetworksOSS ArchitectureCPaaSAI/ML InferencingClosed-loop automationIntent-based operationsAgentic AITM Forum AN frameworksOpen Digital ArchitectureNetwork OperationsTelecommunications Architecture

Checking your profile…

Preparation suggestions, not the employer’s actual interview questions. Always check the original posting for current requirements.

Understand the role

What matters most

Autonomous Network (AN) Strategy and Roadmap
The primary objective is to define and govern the Group's AI-driven network architecture, specifically targeting TM Forum AN maturity levels L3/L4. This requires creating reference architectures and guardrails that ensure consistency across RAN, Core, Transport, and OSS domains while aligning regional operating companies (OpCos) with the broader Singtel28 strategy.
OSS Transformation and AI Integration
The role must lead the architectural evolution of OSS platforms to support AI-driven service assurance and closed-loop automation. This involves evaluating whether to modernize existing platforms or implement new solutions, ensuring that all OSS investments facilitate the transition to autonomous, agentic AI-enabled operations.
Cross-Functional Governance and Vendor Influence
Success depends on the ability to govern architectural standards across multiple OpCos and influence major telecommunications vendors. You must provide technical leadership during tender specifications and solution evaluations to ensure that external vendor roadmaps align with Singtel's internal requirements for scalability, security, and future-ready CPaaS and network architectures.

Likely challenges to think through

Balancing Standardization with Regional Autonomy
A significant challenge is enforcing architectural consistency across diverse OpCos that may have varying levels of technical maturity and legacy infrastructure. Prepare by demonstrating experience in 'soft' governance—using influence, reference architectures, and collaborative workshops to align regional stakeholders without stifling their operational agility.
Complexity of Legacy-to-AI Transition
Transitioning traditional network operations to AI-enabled, closed-loop models involves deep integration risks between legacy OSS and modern AI/ML inferencing platforms. Prepare by being ready to discuss specific strategies for incremental migration, such as how to introduce agentic AI into existing environments while maintaining service stability and performance.

Practice your answers

Technical practice

Autonomous Networks (AN) Maturity Models

What to coverExplain how you would apply TM Forum AN maturity models (L3/L4) to assess a current network environment. Discuss the architectural requirements for transitioning from manual or semi-automated operations to L4 closed-loop, intent-based systems.

Closed-Loop Automation and Telemetry

What to coverDescribe the architectural components required for a robust closed-loop automation system in a telco environment. Focus on the integration of real-time telemetry ingestion, AI/ML inferencing engines, and the orchestration layer needed to execute network changes.

Agentic AI in OSS Transformation

What to coverDiscuss the trade-offs between integrating agentic AI into legacy OSS platforms versus implementing a full platform replacement. How would you evaluate the scalability and long-term sustainability of these approaches?

Network AI and Intent-Based Operations

What to coverHow do you design an architecture that supports intent-based operations? Explain how high-level business or operational intent is translated into technical configurations across RAN, Core, and Transport domains.

CPaaS and Network Integration

What to coverWhat are the key architectural considerations when integrating CPaaS platforms with core network infrastructure? Address API exposure models, security, and ensuring that digital service exposure remains scalable across multiple OpCos.

Architectural Governance in Multi-Vendor Environments

What to coverDescribe your approach to defining architectural guardrails that ensure consistency across diverse, multi-vendor OpCo environments. How do you balance the need for standardization with the flexibility required by individual operating companies?

OSS Platform Strategy

What to coverWhen evaluating OSS solutions for AI-driven service assurance, what technical criteria do you prioritize? Explain how you ensure these solutions align with Open Digital Architecture (ODA) principles.

AI/ML Inferencing at the Network Edge

What to coverWhat are the challenges of deploying AI/ML inferencing models within a distributed telecommunications network? Discuss latency, data synchronization, and the architectural patterns used to manage model lifecycles.

Behavioural practice

Driving Cross-Functional Alignment

What to coverDescribe a situation where you had to align multiple stakeholders or OpCos on a complex architectural roadmap. How did you manage competing priorities and technical disagreements to reach a consensus?

Influencing Vendor Product Direction

What to coverProvide an example of how you successfully influenced a major vendor's product roadmap or solution architecture. What evidence or technical arguments did you use to ensure the solution met your strategic needs?

Managing Large-Scale Transformation

What to coverTell us about a time you led a significant architectural transformation in a complex telco environment. What were the primary technical hurdles, and how did you ensure the transition remained sustainable and scalable?

Translating Strategy into Execution

What to coverGive an example of a high-level strategic goal you were tasked with implementing. How did you break this down into actionable technical designs and reference architectures for your teams?

Sharpen your knowledge

Topics to prepare

TM Forum Autonomous Networks (AN) Maturity Models
Review the L1-L4 maturity levels defined by TM Forum to understand the progression from manual to fully autonomous network operations. Exercise: Map a hypothetical network domain (e.g., RAN or Transport) to L3/L4 requirements and identify the specific architectural gaps needed to reach the next level of autonomy.
Closed-Loop Automation and Intent-Based Operations
Study the conceptual framework of intent-based networking where high-level business goals are translated into network configurations. Exercise: Draft a high-level design document for a closed-loop service assurance use case, detailing the telemetry ingestion, AI/ML inferencing, and orchestration steps required to maintain service level objectives.
Agentic AI in OSS Transformation
Understand the shift from traditional rule-based OSS to agentic AI architectures that can autonomously perform tasks. Exercise: Compare the architectural implications of integrating agentic AI into legacy OSS platforms versus implementing a greenfield platform, focusing on scalability and interoperability.

Skills to revise

Network AI Architecture Design
Develop proficiency in designing end-to-end architectures that integrate telemetry, AI/ML inferencing, and network orchestration. Exercise: Create a reference architecture diagram showing how data flows from network elements through an AI/ML inference engine to trigger automated actions in the OSS layer.
Multi-Vendor Technical Governance
Practice the ability to evaluate vendor solutions against strategic architectural guardrails. Exercise: Develop a scorecard for evaluating a vendor's CPaaS or OSS solution, focusing on their adherence to Open Digital Architecture (ODA) standards and their ability to support future AI-driven autonomous operations.

Your preparation checklist

Map TM Forum AN Maturity Models to Strategic Roadmaps
Prepare a presentation or document demonstrating how you have previously guided an organization from lower-level network operations to L3/L4 Autonomous Network maturity. Include specific examples of how you defined architectural guardrails and reference architectures to ensure consistency across multiple business units or operating companies.
Develop an AI-Driven OSS Transformation Case Study
Create a technical walkthrough detailing a large-scale OSS transformation project you led. Focus on your decision-making process regarding 'agentic AI' versus platform replacement, and explain how you integrated AI/ML inferencing and closed-loop automation into legacy network environments.
Prepare a Vendor Governance and Tender Strategy Framework
Outline your approach to evaluating complex, multi-vendor solutions in the telecommunications space. Detail how you conduct technical governance, manage vendor roadmaps, and ensure that third-party solutions align with internal standards for CPaaS, network telemetry, and intent-based operations.
Formulate Strategic Questions for the GSEI/NSD Leadership
Prepare high-level questions regarding the current state of Singtel's 'Singtel28' strategy, the specific challenges in aligning regional OpCos to a unified AN architecture, and the team's current priorities for balancing immediate OSS operational stability with long-term AI-driven innovation.

Availability last checked: 18 Oct 2026. Status can change after a check; confirm on the employer’s website. Report an issue · Our checking policy

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