{"id":44046,"date":"2026-08-31T15:14:47","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T19:14:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/engineering-design\/?post_type=cu_story&p=44046"},"modified":"2026-08-31T16:39:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T20:39:16","slug":"taking-the-leap-into-telecommunications-john-malamas-journey-to-ericsson","status":"publish","type":"cu_story","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/engineering-design\/story\/taking-the-leap-into-telecommunications-john-malamas-journey-to-ericsson\/","title":{"rendered":"Taking the Leap into Telecommunications: John Malama\u2019s Journey to Ericsson"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n Taking the Leap into Telecommunications: John Malama\u2019s Journey to Ericsson\n <\/h1>\n \n <\/header>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/path>\n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n


For John Malama, studying\u00a0Communications Engineering at 杏吧原创 University<\/strong>\u00a0helped him develop\u00a0the technical foundation, problem-solving\u00a0skills\u00a0and\u00a0practical experience needed\u00a0to\u00a0land\u00a0a role\u00a0in one of the world\u2019s most rapidly evolving industries.\u00a0
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Soon after graduating\u00a0in\u00a0June\u00a02026, he found a full-time job\u00a0as\u00a0a\u00a0Baseband Software Developer at Ericsson<\/strong>,\u00a0where he works at the intersection of software engineering and telecommunications.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His journey from the classroom to a global technology company demonstrates how the hands-on, interdisciplinary nature of Communications Engineering, which will officially be renamed Telecommunications Engineering<\/a> in fall 2027, can prepare students for careers in Ottawa\u2019s thriving technology sector and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building a foundation across engineering disciplines<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Malama was initially drawn to engineering by his curiosity about what happens behind the technology that allows people and devices to connect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After moving from Zambia to Ottawa in 2019, Malama chose 杏吧原创 in part because of the university\u2019s strong reputation for engineering programs. While it was a major transition from one country to another, Ottawa quickly became home.  <\/p>\n\n\n

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“Being surrounded by classmates with different experiences and interests broadened my perspective and made me realize how many different paths there are within engineering.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

Throughout his degree, he gained exposure to both the theoretical foundations of communications and the practical engineering skills required to apply them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Courses in electronics, electromagnetic waves, digital communications, signals and systems, communication software, telecommunications engineering and wireless communications helped him build a broad technical foundation. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cWorking on an acoustic wireless communication system using 4-QAM showed me that engineering is more than understanding the theory. It\u2019s about putting the theory to test. I had to build, test and troubleshoot the system, and every challenge helped me understand the concepts on a much deeper level,\u201d Malama says. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

From the classroom to the telecommunications industry<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The combination of theory and application became particularly valuable when Malama began pursuing career opportunities in telecommunications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His transition from 杏吧原创 to Ericsson felt natural because his degree had already exposed him to many of the concepts relevant to cellular technologies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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