Electronics Engineer

Xeroth AI; Bath; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Part time

Job summary

An innovative technology company in Bath is seeking an experienced electronics engineer or technician to assemble and test a prototype RF system. The role requires hands-on skills in mechanical and electronic assembly, with an emphasis on RF systems. Ideal candidates will have access to specialized test equipment and be available for an immediate start on this unique project that contributes to environmental sustainability.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience building and testing RF systems.
• Proficiency in mechanical fabrication.
• Strong skills in soldering and wiring for signal and power.
• Comfort working with Linux command line.

Responsibilities

• Mechanical assembly of a prototype unit.
• Precision assembly of the RF signal chain.
• Wiring the power distribution network.
• Configuration of the core processing unit.
• Executing a test and verification plan.

Skills

Mechanical assembly of subsystems

Experience building RF systems

Soldering and wiring skills

Basic Linux familiarity

Problem-solving mindset

Tools

Digital Multimeter

Oscilloscope

Spectrum analyzer

Torque wrench

Job description

We are developing an innovative sensor system designed to combat an array of human wildlife conflict problems including animal poaching, illegal fishing and beyond. We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced electronics engineer or technician to undertake the complete assembly, integration, and commissioning of our latest prototype.

This is a unique opportunity to apply your deep technical expertise to a project with a direct and meaningful impact on environmental sustainability. By helping to build this instrument, you will be directly helping to save lives.

Estimated duration 3 to 5 weeks. Fixed price. Immediate start.

The Role

We will provide all components and a comprehensive, detailed assembly and verification manual. You will be responsible for the complete build of a single prototype unit, from a bare chassis to a fully functional and tested system.

Key Tasks Will Include

• Mechanical assembly of all subsystems into a 2U rack-mount chassis, including precise drilling and preparation of RF grounding points.
• Precision assembly of the 2.4 GHz RF signal chain using high-quality SMA connectors and semi-rigid coaxial cables.
• Wiring of the complete power distribution network, including termination of XT30/XT60 connectors and implementation of a star-grounding scheme.
• Configuration of the core processing unit (a Zynq-7020 SoC running PetaLinux) and adaptation of existing C code and scripts.
• Execution of a detailed, phased test and verification plan to bring the system to full operational status.

About You

You are a hands-on builder with a passion for making complex systems work. You have a strong background in electronics assembly and a meticulous, detail-oriented approach. The ideal candidate will have:

• Demonstrable experience building and testing RF systems, ideally in the GHz range.
• Proficiency in mechanical fabrication, including chassis preparation and layout.
• Strong skills in soldering and wiring for both signal and power applications.
• Basic familiarity with Linux on single-board computers (e.g., Raspberry Pi, Zynq) and comfort working with the command line.
• A problem-solving mindset and the ability to systematically debug issues in a complex, mixed-signal system.

Essential Equipment

This is a critical requirement. To be considered for this role, you must own or have reliable access to a well-equipped electronics workshop, including:

• A high-quality Digital Multimeter (DMM).
• An oscilloscope suitable for viewing digital and analog signals up to at least 10 MHz.
• A spectrum analyzer capable of making power measurements at 2.4 GHz.
• A calibrated 5/16\" SMA torque wrench.

Compensation

This is a one-off contract project. We are open to discussing compensation on either an hourly basis or as a fixed-price proposal for the completed, tested unit. We are particularly interested in hearing from highly skilled, semi-retired or retired engineers looking for a fascinating and rewarding project.

To Apply

Please submit a brief cover letter outlining your relevant experience, confirming your access to the required test equipment and immediate availability.