Hardware Engineer

RC Fornax; Wideopen; Hybrid; GBP 61,992 - 103,320; Full time

Job summary

RC Fornax seeks a hardware engineer to join a team delivering advanced underwater sensing and acoustic technologies. You will contribute from requirements through to integration, testing and verification of sonar and maritime systems.

Ideal candidates will have extensive hardware development experience in safety-critical environments, with knowledge of sonar, underwater acoustics and DFx methodologies. Hybrid/onsite work arrangements are available and the role supports cross-discipline

Qualifications

• Proven experience in hardware design for safety-critical environments.
• Experience applying DFM and DfT methodologies.
• Knowledge of sonar, underwater acoustics or maritime technologies.
• Ability to produce clear engineering artefacts and documentation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and formalise hardware specifications for sonar and underwater systems.
• Define hardware requirements, interfaces, and performance for subsystems.
• Support architecture activities via modelling, simulation, and prototyping.
• Design, develop and integrate electronic hardware for sonar and maritime sensing.
• Develop circuitry for transducers, hydrophones, transmitters, and data acquisition.
• Contribute to beam-forming, signal conditioning, and data processing hardware.
• Create verification plans, test procedures and acceptance criteria.
• Perform integration, fault-finding and root-cause analysis on complex systems.
• Analyse tests and operational data to identify optimisations.
• Support hardware qualification, verification and validation throughout lifecycle.
• Collaborate with systems, software and mechanical teams to deliver integrated solutions.

Skills

Hardware design

Design for Manufacture

Design for Test

Sonar systems

Underwater acoustics

Documentation

Environmental considerations

Job description

Location: UK Wide (Hybrid/On-site as required)

Location: UK Wide (Hybrid/On-site as required)

Outside IR35 - Rate £45-£75 p/h
Security Clearance: Must be eligible to obtain and maintain UK Security Clearance (SC)

RC Fornax is looking for Hardware Engineer to join a team developing advanced underwater sensing and acoustic technologies.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced hardware engineer to contribute to the development of innovative sonar and maritime systems used in challenging and mission-critical environments. The successful candidate will be involved throughout the engineering lifecycle, from requirements definition and system architecture through to integration, testing and verification.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and formalise hardware specifications for sonar and underwater acoustic systems.
  
• Define hardware requirements, interfaces, functionality and performance characteristics for sonar subsystems and associated equipment.
  
• Support system architecture activities through modelling, simulation, prototyping and trade studies.
  
• Design, develop and integrate electronic hardware for advanced sonar and maritime sensing applications.
  
• Develop circuitry associated with acoustic transducers, hydrophones, transmitters, receivers and data acquisition systems.
  
• Contribute to the design of beam-forming, signal acquisition, amplification, filtering and signal-conditioning hardware.
  
• Produce verification plans, test procedures and acceptance criteria for hardware subsystems.
  
• Conduct integration, fault-finding, troubleshooting and root-cause analysis activities on complex electronic systems.
  
• Analyse test and operational data to identify opportunities for performance improvement and optimisation.
  
• Support hardware qualification, verification and validation activities throughout the development lifecycle.
  
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including systems, software and mechanical engineers to deliver integrated solutions.
  

Required Experience & Knowledge

• Proven experience developing complex hardware systems within defence, maritime, aerospace or other safety-critical industries.
  
• Strong understanding of electronic hardware design principles and engineering best practices.
  
• Experience applying Design for Manufacture (DfM) and Design for Test (DfT) methodologies.
  
• Knowledge of sonar systems, underwater acoustics and maritime technologies.
  
• Experience working with subsea or underwater equipment and an understanding of associated environmental challenges.
  
• Awareness of current and emerging technologies within sonar, sensing and underwater systems.
  
• Ability to generate clear and comprehensive technical documentation, specifications and engineering artefacts.
  
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with experience investigating complex technical issues.
  

Desirable Experience

• Experience with beam-forming systems and signal-processing hardware.
  
• Knowledge of acoustic transducers and hydrophone technologies.
  
• Exposure to defence or naval programmes.
  
• Familiarity with systems engineering processes and requirements management tools.
  
• Experience supporting environmental, qualification or acceptance testing activities.
  

We are open to Permanent applications to the role. We are considering a salary ranges of £45k - £75k with more flexibility around Hybrid working.