Radio testing team

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Meet Mark

What he does:

 As a Network and Systems Design Engineer Mark’s main job role is designing indoor radio coverage solutions for radio networks. This also involves him in other aspects of the work including technical design, making technical predictions and focusing on interfaces. It’s challenging work but he relishes it.

 

How he works:

 

For Mark it’s the people and the great atmosphere that attracted Mark to Virtua. He first got to know of Virtua from his time at Airwave and has now become an enthusiastic member of the team. An all-rounder Mark is happy working alone or as part of a team and likes being either in the office or out at client sites. He enjoys the design side of his job but has a dislike of Microsoft software crashes!

 

Who he is:

After fifteen years in the Royal signals and ten years in the Telecoms industry Mark is a seasoned and experienced systems design engineer. His other great passion is music and in particular going to some of the great annual music festivals. In fact Mark’s idea of a perfect day is sitting in a festival field listening to great music ideally with a few friends, a few beers and some sunshine thrown in too.

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Meet Alan

What he does:

As a Radio Design Engineer Alan’s main  responsibilities are around taking the radio survey data from the field engineers, as well as the design plans, in order to produce ‘prediction models’. Before joining Virtua, Alan worked at both Motorola and O2 where he built up a wealth of experience in the telecoms industry, which now serves him well.

How he works:

For Alan Virtua is not so much his employer as the place he goes to spend time with all his best mates. The part of his job he enjoys most is learning new skills that help him to develop as a radio design engineer. Whether he is on a client site or working at Virtua’s offices it’s being part of a dedicated team that excites him most and he is clearly a man that loves his job.

Who he is:

 Alan and his partner, Christine, have three children Louis, Jack and Millie and a cat called ‘Ruby’. When he’s not at work Alan likes nothing better than caring for his beloved allotment where he grows all his own vegetables. He also owns a camper van which is used for family holidays in France or Spain.

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Meet Ed

What he does:

My qualifications are all from the military but after 24 years working on MOD contracts I’m now a Design Engineer working on one of Virtua’s busiest projects. I produce designs from field surveys in an installation and commissioning project for FMC. I’m involved in all aspects of the project in one way or another which includes installation, upgrades, integration and build work.

My previous experience includes Programme Management & Coordination of on-site System Level Integration and customer acceptance of WAN, LAN, Emergency Service appliance sub-systems and UHF infrastructure. At Cable & Wireless I was responsible for managing network traffic during PDH to SDH migrations and ensuring end-to-end integrity of all newly migrated SDH circuits.  I also worked within the Network Management Centre (NMC).
 
I have also been responsible for liaising between The Department of Health and Emergency Services. This included preparing detailed test schedules and overseeing the whole test event from handover through to dry runs and formal testing to achieve final delivery. I have also been a ‘Resource Manager’ for 54 field engineers ensuring test teams were properly deployed.

How he works:

I love working in this type of environment. It’s the people and the management team that make it so special. Although I was involved in a lot of radio frequency work in the military I find the work here challenging, interesting and different. The hardest part of the job is working away from home sometimes but that’s all part of the package and you get used to it. The best thing about the work is the fantastic support you get from everybody who works here.
 
Who he is:

After a long and enjoyable career in the military I think I have finally managed to adapt to life in civvy street. I have a wife, Rachel, and three children, Daniele, Amee and Kay and we enjoy all-inclusive holidays in exotic places like the Maldives or the Caribbean. I love the work I do at Virtua and although it might seem strange my idea of a ‘perfect day’ is a day in the office. 

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Meet David

What he does:
As a Lead Engineer and Test Conductor most of my job is related to the testing of radio systems and making sure they are fit for purpose. I also get involved in a lot of systems integration and associated testing.

How he works:
I’ve been in the Telecoms industry for twenty years now – the last three years with Virtua. As far as I am concerned the Virtua team are friends as much as they are work colleagues. They are a company that is more focused on people than bureaucracy which is fantastic. I enjoy my work here and I love to be part of the Virtua ‘family’.

Who he is:
I’m married to Shola and we have three children – Kai, Jamil and Eve.  I enjoy riding my motorbike, football, cycling and I love music. I’m taking bass guitar lessons at the moment. My idea of the perfect day would be spending time with my family, doing some jet skiing and relaxing somewhere warm like the Caribbean or the Maldives. I also keep busy as the Vice Chairman of the Swindon West Indian and Caribbean Association.

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Meet Kevin

What he does:  
 
I’m a Systems Engineer with a strong background and specialism in installation, commissioning and integration of 3G systems. At Virtua I am currently working on system testing and problem analysis in a radio deployment project.

I have previously worked as a Senior Field Engineer installing and commissioning Huawei MSAN and DSLAM. I was also “Lead Commissioner” working on the Lucent Juniper T640’s within BT’s 21CN programme. I’ve also worked on Nokia 2G, 3G GSM DE21 DE34 and Ultrasite re the testing and reconditioning of equipment. More recently I’ve worked as part of the SI&T team for an ‘Emergency Services’ project  liaising with both the client and the Department of Health including fault diagnosis/resolution and complete functionality testing.

How he works:

I love working at Virtua and I’m happy to work on my own or as part of a tight knit team. It is the team spirit within the organisation that inspires me the most and also having the opportunity to work with so many experts that I can turn to at any time for advice or assistance. I very much enjoy the friendly, relaxed atmosphere of the company as well as its professionalism and dedication to clients.

Who he is: 

I guess I’ve had an interesting background for a Telecoms Systems Engineer. I hold a National Diploma in ‘Agriculture’, a top-up higher National Diploma in Agriculture and a BSC in Agriculture so there is not much about farming that I don’t know about. My particular area of expertise though is in Water Buffalo herding and the dietary needs of chickens! These days my passion is my family (I have a young son, Oliver) and I love learning as much as possible about the technical details of Telecoms systems (hence my book choice!) When I’m not working I love diving (I am a qualified PADI open water diver) and I’m also learning to fly!

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Meet Lloyd

What he does:

My main responsibility on my current project is testing the functionality of the operating network. I work closely with the testing teams working at various sites and make sure everything is thoroughly tested and all faults are accurately diagnosed and resolved. I also get involved in fibre optic technology, RF comms and Wi-Fi as I have a strong background in these areas. I have previously worked as an ‘Optical Engineer’ commissioning Hauwai WMSAN, FMSAN and CMSAN and a Field Technician installing, commissioning and testing Microwave links. I have also worked on configuring BTS’s and co-ordinating the maintenance, calibration and testing of tools.

How he works:

I work mostly on client sites as part of a small team which I very much enjoy. The things I like most about Virtua, apart from the great people and the enormous support, is that everyone is available 24/7 if I need them – and that’s very reassuring in this line of work i.e. knowing that if I need advice I can always call someone.

Who he is:

I moved from Bardabos to the UK when I was about a year old. I have a wife, Jackie, and a daughter, Natasha. I started my career in the RAF as an engineer and today my passion and my hobby is hot air ballooning. I think one of my greatest achievements happened two years ago at a ballooning festival when a huge ‘Bertie Bassett’ balloon started toppling towards a large tent with a spiked roof. I grabbed a rope and tied it quickly to a vehicle then drove at speed to winch the balloon upright again in the nick of time! I’ve also been in involved in balloon stunts for a recent James Bond film.

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Meet Brian

What he does:

I’m currently the Lead Systems Engineer on an Emergency Services Telco project which means I’m the important link between the Telco data coming in from the field engineers and the overall ‘Issue Management’ aspects of the project. I also get involved in Project Management, Systems Integration and Test Reporting. Other elements of my responsibility include systems integration and testing of DS2000 (Sunguard Public Sector) Integrated Communications Control Systems (ICCS) at various NHS Trust control room locations. (I am
security cleared to work within emergency services control locations.)

In my previous roles I’ve provided technical support to DMN field engineers and worked on Huawei Technologies – (DSLAM including MA5300, MA5600, Quidway Routers & LAN switches). I’ve also worked with Nokia – UMTS including the following: WCDMA Node B - Optima IBBU, RF Extension, MIBBU & Supreme Indoor/Outdoor. Optima/Supreme SSU, Empower 1100/14 including installation, commissioning and integration of the above equipment in the O2 UK & ‘3’ UK networks. 

I am also an NICEIC qualified supervisor.

How he works:

I very much enjoy working with my colleagues as part of a Project team servicing the needs of clients all over the country. I’ve always been passionate about learning new ideas and concepts relating to my work and I love the constant challenges that the fast moving Telco industry provides.
 
I particularly like the way my Virtua colleagues continually share their knowledge openly and the friendly and supportive work environment within the office.

Who he is:

It was my strong background in electronics that initially led me into the Telecoms industry. Outside of work I’m a dedicated family man and keen sports follower with a particular interest in football and golf. I also enjoy holidays anywhere hot and sunny. My idea of a perfect day is to watch Swindon winning at Wembley. Well…everyone can dream!