Advanced RF Systems Engineer

Honeywell Aerospace; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Honeywell Aerospace in Edinburgh is seeking an Advanced Systems Engineer to design, implement and manage complex RF/SDR systems for space and defence applications, reporting to the Engineering Manager and working on-site.

You will lead architecture development, perform RF analysis, and collaborate with RF, hardware, firmware and systems engineers to ensure quality, reliability and performance against milestones.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electronic/Electrical/RF engineering.
• 4+ years of industrial RF systems engineering experience.
• Strong RF analysis skills: link budgets, EVM, noise figure.
• Experience with MIL-STD/ECSS standards.
• Proven requirements capture, decomposition and traceability.
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and develop RF system architectures for aerospace, space and defence.
• Translate requirements into verifiable RF subsystem specs.
• Lead technical reviews and drive design progress.
• Collaborate with RF, hardware, firmware and systems engineers.
• Define RF verification, validation strategies, tests and acceptance criteria.
• Support RF testing in lab environments and analyze results.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of RF engineering processes.

Skills

RF systems engineering

Requirements capture & traceability

RF analysis

RF link budget

Verification & validation

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical leadership

Communication of complex technical信息

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electronic Engineering / Electrical Engineering / RF Engineering

Tools

Vector Network Analyser

Spectrum Analyser

Signal Generator

Power Meter

Oscilloscope

EMC/EMI testing equipment

Job description

As an Advanced Systems Engineer here at Honeywell Aerospace, you will play a critical role in the design, implementation, and management of complex systems and solutions that drive innovation, safety, and efficiency across various industries. You will work within cross-functional teams on cutting-edge projects that transform the way businesses operate.

You will report directly to our Engineering Manager, and you'll work out of our Edinburgh, UK location on an on-site work schedule.

In this role, you will impact the development of advanced Software Defined Radio solutions for space communications systems, ensuring the design and architectural aspects of these complex systems meet Honeywell Aerospace's quality standards and industry best practices. Your leadership and technical expertise will be essential in delivering innovative, reliable, and high-performance communication systems that support critical space missions.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and develop RF system and subsystem architectures for aerospace, space and defence applications
• Translate customer, platform and system-level requirements into clear and verifiable RF subsystem requirements
• Own products to drive technical decisions during design phases and ensure technical progress is on track to meet the project milestones
• Contribute to technical trade studies and make evidence-based architecture and design recommendations
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including RF, hardware, firmware, mechanical and systems engineers to integrate system components effectively and ensure final product meets the requirements
• Define RF verification and validation strategies, test requirements and acceptance criteria
• Support laboratory integration, troubleshooting and RF performance testing
• Analyse test results and investigate system-level RF performance issues
• Support environmental and qualification testing including EMC/EMI, thermal, vibration and other relevant aerospace qualification activities
• Analyse test results and investigate system-level RF performance issues
• Participate in and, where appropriate, lead technical reviews including requirements reviews, design reviews, test readiness reviews and qualification reviews
• Support the Engineering Manager in resource planning, project scheduling, and reporting to senior leadership
• Contribute to continuous improvement of RF engineering processes, methods and design practices.

Key Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electronic Engineering, Electrical Engineering, RF/Microwave Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, Physics or a related engineering discipline.
• 4+ years of industrial experience in RF systems engineering
• Strong understanding of RF system analysis, including:
• RF link budget calculation
• Linearity, Intermodulation, EVM, transmitter performance
• Noise figure, SNR, BER, Receiver sensitivity
• RF interference and spurious performance
• Strong command of applicable industry standards such as MIL-STD, ECSS, etc.
• Practical experience in requirements capture, decomposition and traceability as well as verification and validation
• Technical risk management and definition of mitigation strategies
• Comprehensive knowledge in RF system integration, implementation, and troubleshooting
• Ability to communicate complex technical information clearly to both specialist and non-specialist stakeholders
• Hands on experience with interpreting RF measurements and systematically troubleshooting complex RF problems
• Practical experience with RF laboratory equipment such as vector network analysers, spectrum analysers, signal generators, power meters, oscilloscopes, noise figure measurement equipment
• Experience producing high-quality engineering documentation and technical reports.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capability.

We Value

• Demonstrated hands‑on experience in active RF design engineering is highly desirable
• Experience in radar systems engineering is considered a plus
• Experience in leading complex communication system integration projects in aerospace or space domains
• Knowledge of industry best practices and emerging technologies in space communications and software defined radio
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced and dynamic environment
• Attention to detail and excellent problem‑solving capability
• Focus on delivery to meet the project milestones
• Passion for innovation and continuous learning