Radio Frequency Design Engineer Full Time

RF Design Engineer | Defence & National Security Programmes | Southampton or Gloucestershire

This organisation is a trusted engineering partner delivering advanced technology solutions across national security, defence, and adjacent high‑assurance domains. Working closely with end customers, teams tackle complex, real‑world challenges where performance, reliability, and innovation genuinely matter.

Projects are deliberately varied. You may find yourself:

• Rapidly prototyping novel technical approaches, or
• Enhancing, evolving, and hardening existing solutions for deployment in demanding environments

As a result, this role suits engineers who enjoy applying their expertise across different problem spaces, technologies, and project phases.

You’ll be part of a stimulating, collaborative, and highly driven engineering team that values autonomy, technical excellence, and shared purpose. Depending on the programme, there are opportunities to support customer demonstrations, trials, and acceptance activities.

Your Role:

Perfect opportunity for an experienced and motivated RF Design Engineer to contribute to the development of cutting‑edge RF and analogue electronics for defence‑focused and electromagnetic systems.

This role blends hands‑on technical delivery with opportunities to influence projects, support technical leadership, and mentor others within the team.

What you’ll do:

• Design, simulate, and implement RF and analogue electronic circuits and systems for defence‑related applications, including areas such as electromagnetic systems, resilient positioning and timing, and survivability
• Integrate, test, troubleshoot, and debug RF and analogue electronics to optimise performance characteristics such as impedance matching, VSWR, bandwidth, and stability
• Participate in design reviews, providing constructive technical challenge and input to improve solutions
• Produce and maintain high‑quality technical documentation, including design specifications, test plans, and compliance evidence
• Support the Technical Lead, contributing to activities such as risk management and technical input to customer discussions
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior engineers, supporting professional development across the team
• Collaborate proactively with stakeholders across engineering disciplines and project delivery functions
• Work in line with established engineering, quality, and development processes

Your background:

Experience in one or more of the following would be advantageous:

• RF and microwave design from LF through to X‑band
• Design of low‑noise amplifiers, receivers, and high‑power amplifiers
• Use of RF simulation and modelling tools (e.g. Microwave Office)
• PCB design using professional CAD tools (e.g. Altium)
• Designing solutions with very low SWaP‑C constraints
• RF design for harsh or constrained environments (EMC, vibration, thermal)
• Transitioning hardware from development into production and qualification
• Hands‑on use of RF test equipment including spectrum analysers, vector analysers, signal generators, power meters, and related instrumentation

Qualifications & Security

• Degree‑qualified in Electronics Engineering (or equivalent practical experience)
• Relevant experience in RF or analogue electronic design
• Due to the nature of the work, applicants must be eligible and willing to undergo UK security clearance (SC)