Protocol Test Engineer: role overview and daily workflow

What Does a Protocol Test Engineer Do?

Protocol test engineers validate that network equipment and devices correctly implement 3GPP specifications. They design and execute test cases for conformance, interoperability, and regression testing across the NR protocol stack — RRC, NAS, PDCP, RLC, and MAC layers. Their daily workflow involves configuring test beds, running automated test suites, analyzing protocol logs to identify specification violations, filing defect reports, and collaborating with development teams to reproduce and fix issues.