Principal RF Engineer

Leonardo; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 53,000 - 71,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Time to recharge

Pension scheme

Mental health support

Bonus scheme

Online courses

Referral bonus

Flexible benefits

Hybrid working

Job summary

Leonardo in Edinburgh is seeking a Principal RF Engineer to join the GCAP Multifunction RF System team. You will design multifunctional RF hardware, develop PCB and module designs, and drive testing and integration for a key technology demonstrator program.

The role requires a degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering (or related) and 5+ years in RF design, with strong collaboration and mentoring abilities. Hybrid working is available, with primary on-site engagement in Edinburgh.

Qualifications

• Degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering or related field.
• 5+ years of RF circuit design experience with microwaves.
• Strong collaboration and leadership ability.

Responsibilities

• Own full hardware lifecycle from concept to production support.
• Create high quality RF PCB and module designs.
• Design test prototypes and validate development models.
• Prepare robust data packs and support manufacturing interfaces.
• Collaborate with Systems, Test and Electronics teams.
• Mentor junior engineers for GCAP delivery.

Skills

RF microwave design

RF test & integration

Lab measurements

MMIC design

Passive microwave design

Low phase noise

Component selection

Technical reporting

Design reviews

Team leadership

Education

Electrical & Electronic Engineering degree

Physics (optional)

Tools

Microwave design tools

Job description

Job Description

Salary: Principal: £53,300 to £71,400

Leonardo UK operates a grade-based salary framework with broad bands. The salary range shown reflects the approved grade band for this role, or a narrower hiring range published within that band, and is benchmarked against the external market. Exceptions above the standard range are managed through governance controls to protect internal equity.

We are looking for a Principal RF Engineer to join Leonardo in Edinburgh. Leonardo are a world-class defence Technology Company. We develop cutting-edge Radars as well as Maritime and Airborne surveillance systems. We are also investors in innovation, undertaking all our own research to fuel our future products. This role sits within the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) Multifunction RF System (MRFS) team, where you will join our growing Electronics team to contribute to the delivery of a key Technology Demonstrator Programme (TDP), paving the way for the next generation of fire control radar.

Hybrid working - in this role it is possible to work from home some of the time, but the nature of the work and security requirements mean that you should expect to be mostly working on site.

This is an exciting opportunity for you as an engineer to bring your skillset and knowledge into our working environment. You will be involved in developing a range of multifunctional RF, PCB and Module designs using the latest technologies available and contribute to the definition and execution of a testing and integration phase of a key TDP to enable GCAP.

As An RF/Microwave Engineer, You Will Be Responsible For

• Full hardware lifecycle for our products: from system concept, through detailed design and prototyping, test and verification, system integration and support in production.
• Creating high quality and robust designs, conducting design reviews for your design, fully documenting and recording your work products, keeping them under configuration management and providing plans and progress reports.
• Developing a range of multifunctional RF PCB and Module designs using the latest technologies available and enhancing your understanding of key design and manufacture processes.
• Designing to test, creating test prototypes for design validation, verification of development models and support for production test.
• Preparing robust manufacturing data packs and provide technical support to sub-contracts and engineering interface with manufacturing.
• Working closely with Systems, Test and Electronics engineers, you will be solving real integration problems on advanced systems
• Coach and mentor junior team members to support the development of a high-performance engineering team in preparation for the delivery of the demands of the GCAP programme

What You’ll Bring

• RF microwave sub-system design
• RF system test and integration
• Lab measurements such as signal generation, spectrum analysis and vector network analysis
• Microwave design tools
• GaAs/GaN MMIC design and application
• Design of passive microwave structures
• Low phase noise design and measurement
• Microwave component selection
• Technical report writing
• Design reviews and lifecycle management

This Role Requires You To Have

• Degree qualified in Electrical & Electronic Engineering (preferable) or related science (e.g. Physics).
• Proven experience (5+ years) in RF circuit design and analysis and a strong understanding of microwave techniques and electromagnetic theory
• Ability to work effectively and lead in a collaborative team environment

Personal attributes and values are just as important to us as technical ability so we are looking for engineers with a willingness to learn, progress and develop through our devoted technical career path. If you are passionate in what you do and can deliver a pragmatic approach to problem-solving we would like to hear from you.

Security Clearance

Please Note That To Apply For This Opportunity You Must Be Eligible For UK Security Clearance. Normally This Is To The Level Of Security Check (typically Known As "SC") For Our Business Which Includes Having a Minimum Of 5 Years Permanent Residency In The UK. For More Information And Guidance Please Visit

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels

Why join us

• Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.
• Secure your Future: Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).
• Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
• Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
• Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
• Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.

Primary Location:

GB - Edinburgh

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hybrid Working:

Hybrid