Principal Rf Engineer

Platform Recruitment; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Platform Recruitment is seeking a Principal RF Engineer in Cambridgeshire to lead RF circuit and system design from concept through production. The role is hands-on and requires mentoring other engineers, with work across 60GHz+ mmWave products for telecoms, defence, and space sectors.

Responsibilities include designing RF blocks, system architecture, lab testing, and collaborating with systems, mechanical, and production teams. PhD welcomed but not essential.

Qualifications

• Design RF circuits and systems for mmWave frequencies (60GHz+).
• Take designs from concept through proto, test, and production.
• Mentor and guide other RF engineers in the team.

Responsibilities

• Lead RF circuit and system design for mmWave products (E-band and W-band).
• Design and simulate RF building blocks: amplifiers, mixers, multipliers, filters and transitions.
• Own RF system architecture, link budgets and cascade analysis.
• Take designs from simulation through to prototype, test and production.
• Carry out lab characterisation and fault-finding at mmWave frequencies.
• Work closely with systems, mechanical and production engineers.
• Mentor and support other RF engineers in the team.

Skills

RF circuit design

RF system design

mmWave experience

production readiness

Education

Electronic Engineering degree

PhD (welcome, not essential)

Tools

ADS

AWR Microwave Office

HFSS

CST

Job description

Are you an RF engineer who designs circuits and systems at mmWave frequencies, and wants to work on products that go into real networks?

My client is a well-established RF and mmWave technology company with a growing design team in Cambridgeshire. They design and build high-frequency products used in telecoms, defence and space, working at 60GHz and 110GHz. They’re looking for a Principal RF Engineer to lead RF circuit and system design from concept through to production. This is a hands‑on senior role: you’ll design the circuits and also guide the technical direction of the team.

Responsibilities

• Lead RF circuit and system design for mmWave products (E-band and W-band)
• Design and simulate RF building blocks: amplifiers, mixers, multipliers, filters and transitions
• Own RF system architecture, link budgets and cascade analysis
• Take designs from simulation through to prototype, test and production
• Carry out lab characterisation and fault-finding at mmWave frequencies
• Work closely with systems, mechanical and production engineers
• Mentor and support other RF engineers in the team

Technical Requirements

• Extensive RF circuit and system design experience at mmWave frequencies (ideally 60GHz and above)
• Strong background in active and passive RF design, not purely antenna design
• Hands‑on with RF and EM simulation tools (e.g. ADS, AWR Microwave Office, HFSS, CST)
• Experience with mmWave lab test: VNAs, spectrum analysers, noise figure and power measurements
• Track record of taking RF products into production
• Degree in Electronic Engineering or similar (PhD welcome but not essential)
• Looking for a permanent position