Payload RF Systems Engineer

SII Group; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

SII UK is seeking a skilled Payload RF Systems Engineer to lead design, analysis, integration, and validation of satellite payloads. You will work across the full project lifecycle, ensuring RF performance meets customer requirements while balancing cost, schedule, and quality.

Collaboration with engineering, procurement, manufacturing and test teams is essential. The role focuses on RF performance budgeting, frequency planning, and subsystem integration, with strong emphasis on documenting

Qualifications

• Proven RF systems engineering experience in space, satellite, aerospace, telecommunications or defence.
• Experience across the full project lifecycle from design to operational support.
• Hands-on RF performance analysis and modelling.
• Experience supporting environmental, functional and RF validation test campaigns.
• Familiarity with supplier technical management and requirements flow-down.

Responsibilities

• Perform RF performance analysis including gain, noise figure, linearity, stability, EIRP, G/T, phase noise, spurious and intermodulation assessments.
• Develop and maintain RF payload models, simulations, and performance budgets.
• Define payload architectures, frequency plans, and equipment specifications.
• Flow customer requirements through to subsystem and equipment level.
• Support supplier technical management and review component-level performance data.
• Produce RF performance reports, technical documentation, presentations, and user guides.
• Support AIT activities, including test planning, predictions, and results analysis.
• Investigate and resolve RF performance issues and non-conformances during integration and testing.
• Present technical findings at design reviews and technical review boards.
• Collaborate with systems, equipment, procurement, manufacturing, and test teams throughout the project lifecycle.

Skills

RF systems engineering

RF analysis & modelling

Payload architectures

Frequency planning

RF testing & verification

Documentation & presentations

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

RF modelling tools

Link budget software

Job description

We are seeking a highly skilled PAYLOAD RF SYSTEMS ENGINEER to support the design, analysis, integration, and validation of advanced satellite communications payloads. Working across the full project lifecycle, you will be responsible for ensuring RF system performance meets customer requirements while balancing technical, cost, schedule, and quality objectives. The role requires close collaboration with multidisciplinary engineering, procurement, manufacturing, and test teams.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform RF performance analysis including gain, noise figure, linearity, stability, EIRP, G/T, phase noise, spurious and intermodulation assessments.
• Develop and maintain RF payload models, simulations, and performance budgets.
• Define payload architectures, frequency plans, and equipment specifications.
• Flow customer requirements through to subsystem and equipment level.
• Support supplier technical management and review component-level performance data.
• Produce RF performance reports, technical documentation, presentations, and user guides.
• Support Assembly, Integration and Test (AIT) activities, including test planning, predictions, and results analysis.
• Investigate and resolve RF performance issues and non-conformances during integration and testing.
• Present technical findings at design reviews and technical review boards.
• Collaborate with systems, equipment, procurement, manufacturing, and test teams throughout the project lifecycle.

SKILLS REQUIRED

• Strong RF systems engineering knowledge within satellite or telecommunications systems.
• Expertise in RF analysis, modelling, simulation, and link budget calculations.
• Understanding of payload architecture and spacecraft communications systems.
• Experience with frequency planning and RF performance budgeting.
• Knowledge of RF testing, integration, and verification methodologies.
• Ability to analyse complex technical data and troubleshoot performance issues.
• Strong technical documentation and presentation skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration abilities.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Proven experience in RF Systems Engineering within the space, satellite, aerospace, telecommunications, or defence sectors.
• Experience across the full project lifecycle from design through integration, testing, and operational support.
• Hands-on experience performing RF performance analysis and modelling.
• Experience supporting environmental, functional, and RF validation test campaigns.
• Familiarity with supplier technical management and requirements flow-down.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Desirable

• Experience with satellite payload communications systems.
• Knowledge of Assembly, Integration and Test (AIT) activities for spacecraft or complex RF systems.
• Experience using specialist RF modelling and simulation tools.
• Understanding of space industry standards and product development processes.

With five strategic offices in Belfast, Chester, Farnborough, London and Oxford, we work in partnership with our customers UK-wide to deliver high-impact engineering solutions.

SII UK is a trusted Aerospace and Defence engineering partner, supporting the delivery of complex, mission-critical programmes while helping to shape the future of innovation across next-generation systems and technologies.

Our teams contribute daily to creating a fulfilling, stimulating and career development focused work environment.

True to our human-centred values, we are committed to making SII UK a Great Place To Work, having been certified 5 years running.

Joining SII UK means being part of our collective goals, guided by our mission "Lets Tech Together", and helping to build a digital future that is sustainable, at the heart of an environment that values learning & collaboration.