Principal RF Engineer

Filtronic; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday + public holidays (UK)

Contributory pension scheme

Job summary

Filtronic in Cambridge seeks a Senior Electronics Systems Engineer to contribute to the design and development of advanced RF and digital electronic systems across the product lifecycle.

Join a multidisciplinary team and take responsibility for system-level design, integration and verification, working with RF, software and mechanical engineers to deliver reliable, manufacturable products for telecoms, space and defence applications.

Qualifications

• Degree in Electronic Engineering or equivalent.
• Strong analogue and digital circuit design experience.
• Experience with schematic capture and PCB design tools; Altium Designer preferred.
• Knowledge of EMC/EMI design and testing principles.
• Experience with oscilloscopes, multimeters, spectrum analysers and logic analysers.
• Structured problem solving and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Design analogue, digital and mixed-signal circuits.
• Develop signal conditioning circuits, filters, amplifiers and power modules.
• Develop digital systems with microprocessors, ADCs, DACs and logic.
• Prepare specs, run simulations and support component selection.
• Capture schematics and define PCB requirements, materials and stack-up.
• Define system-level architecture for mains-powered industrial products.
• Specify inter-module connections, interfaces and connectors.
• Prepare wiring and harness documentation including wire sizing and shielding routing.
• Support safety and EMC compliance and certification activities.
• Produce interface control documentation and define power/ground topologies.

Skills

Analogue design

Digital design

Schematic capture

PCB design

EMC/EMI knowledge

Lab instrumentation

Education

Electrical/Electronic Engineering degree

Tools

Altium Designer

Job description

At Filtronic, we design and manufacture advanced RF and microwave solutions that power critical communication networks across the globe. Working with leading technology partners, we are at the forefront of innovation in high-frequency electronics. We are looking for a Senior Electronics Systems Engineer to join our Systems Engineering team in Cambridge and contribute to the development of advanced RF and communications products.

The Role

As a Senior Electronics Systems Engineer, you will contribute to the design and development of advanced analogue and digital electronic systems, working across the product lifecycle from concept through to volume manufacture. Working within a multidisciplinary engineering environment, you will collaborate with RF, software, firmware and mechanical engineers to develop high-performance solutions for applications including telecommunications, space, defence and high-altitude platforms. The role provides the opportunity to take responsibility for system-level design, integration and verification, applying your engineering expertise to develop reliable, manufacturable products using modern tools and technologies.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop analogue, digital and mixed-signal electronic circuits.
• Develop signal conditioning circuits, filters, amplifiers and power supply modules.
• Develop digital systems incorporating microprocessors, ADCs, DACs and associated logic.
• Produce technical specifications, undertake simulation and support component selection.
• Capture schematics and define PCB requirements, including materials and stack-up.
• Define system-level architecture for mains-powered, multi-module industrial products.
• Specify inter-module connections, interfaces and connectors.
• Produce wiring and harness manufacturing documentation, including wire sizing, shielded/twisted-pair routing and screen terminations.
• Support system design for safety and EMC compliance and certification.
• Produce interface control documentation and define power and grounding topologies, taking account of thermal and environmental requirements.
• Work with mechanical and RF engineers to specify system-level components, including connectors, cooling components and cables.
• Support system-level integration, verification and validation testing.
• Work with interfaces including PCIe, USB, Ethernet, CAN bus, I²C and SPI.
• Investigate and resolve hardware and communication issues.
• Prepare test specifications, reports and reliability assessments.
• Participate in and lead design reviews, identifying and addressing technical risks.
• Support product introduction, fault diagnosis and diagnostic activities.
• Manage component obsolescence and recommend suitable alternatives.
• Contribute to continuous improvement and maintain awareness of relevant technologies and industry standards.
• Conduct thermal analysis, MTBF calculations and tolerance analysis.
• Ensure designs meet performance, cost, quality and manufacturability requirements.

About You

We are looking for an engineer with strong analogue and digital electronics experience and the technical capability to develop complex electronic systems across the product lifecycle.

You will bring:

A degree in Electronic Engineering, a relevant subject, or equivalent professional experience.

Strong experience in analogue and digital circuit design at component level.

Experience with schematic capture and PCB design tools; Altium Designer experience is desirable.

Knowledge of EMC/EMI design and testing principles.

Practical experience using laboratory equipment such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, spectrum analysers and logic analysers.

The ability to work effectively with colleagues across different engineering disciplines.

A structured approach to problem solving, design and technical evaluation.

Desirable Experience

Experience in one or more of the following would be advantageous: IP-rated or ruggedised outdoor products, particularly within telecommunications or defence.

RF or microwave electronics.

High-volume manufacturing and surface mount technologies.

Relevant industry standards, including IEC 62368-1, IEC 61000, CISPR, IPC/WHMA-A-620 and AS50881.

Why Join Filtronic?

This is an opportunity to work on advanced products at the intersection of RF, microwave and communications technology, contributing to products used in demanding applications across telecommunications, space, defence and other high-performance environments.

You will have the opportunity to contribute across the product lifecycle, from system architecture and electronic design through to integration, verification and manufacture.

If you have the technical experience and skills to contribute to the development of complex electronic systems, we would be pleased to hear from you.

Salary benchmarked at the top end of the market range to attract the strongest candidates.

37.5 hour working week 25 days' holiday plus public holidays, with the option to buy up to 5 additional days Contributory pension scheme with u