Principal RF Engineer

IC Resources; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

IC Resources is seeking a Principal RF Engineer in Cambridge to own RF design decisions that determine bench performance and manufacturability. You will lead RF and mmWave circuit/module development from specification through to production, coordinating with cross-functional teams.

The role requires strong hands-on design and simulation skills, plus the ability to guide other engineers, review designs, mitigate risks, and drive repeatable production releases.

Qualifications

• Significant RF, microwave or mmWave circuit or system design experience, supported by a relevant degree or equivalent expertise.
• Confidence using RF and electromagnetic simulation tools such as ADS, Microwave Office, CST or EMPro
• A strong understanding of system line-up analysis, tolerance and yield analysis, and design for manufacture
• The ability to lead technical work, support other engineers and turn design or measurement problems into practical solutions

Responsibilities

• Own the RF design decisions that determine bench performance and manufacturability.
• Lead RF and mmWave circuit/module development from spec to production.
• Guide other engineers, review designs, resolve risks and troubleshoot hardware during product introduction.

Skills

RF circuit design

Microwave/mmWave

Leadership

Manufacture-aware design

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent

Tools

ADS

Microwave Office

CST

EMPro

Job description

Own the RF design decisions that determine how a product performs on the bench, and how reliably it can be manufactured.

Our client designs and manufactures RF and microwave hardware for communications and defence applications. They are looking for a Principal RF Engineer based in Cambridge who can combine practical design expertise with the judgement to guide complex developments from specification through to production.

You’ll lead the development of RF and mmWave circuits, modules and subsystems, taking technical responsibility for simulation, implementation and verification. The challenge is to deliver the required electrical performance while accounting for component tolerances, manufacturing yield, reliability and cost.

Working closely with mechanical, electronics, PCB layout, manufacturing and test engineers, you’ll select components and MMICs, review designs, resolve technical risks and troubleshoot hardware during product introduction. You’ll also guide other engineers and help improve how designs are developed, reviewed and released.

The Essential Experience

• Significant RF, microwave or mmWave circuit or system design experience, supported by a relevant degree or equivalent expertise
• Confidence using RF and electromagnetic simulation tools such as ADS, Microwave Office, CST or EMPro
• A strong understanding of system line-up analysis, tolerance and yield analysis, and design for manufacture
• The ability to lead technical work, support other engineers and turn design or measurement problems into practical solutions

Experience designing transceivers, amplifiers, filters or integrated RF modules would be useful.

As Principal RF Engineer, you’ll have influence over both the hardware and the engineering decisions behind it. With in‑house RF manufacturing capability and experienced engineers across design and test, you can follow your work through implementation, measurement and production, using that feedback to refine the design.