Principal RF Engineer

Leonardo; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous leave

Award-winning pension scheme

Free mental health support

Bonus scheme eligibility

Access to 4,000+ online courses

Financial rewards for referrals

Flexible benefits package

Hybrid working options

Job summary

A global aerospace and defense firm is looking for an experienced Engineer with RF and microwave engineering expertise to join their team in Southampton or Bristol. The role involves designing electronics for complex sensor systems, offering technical support throughout the product lifecycle. Ideal candidates will have practical RF design experience and the ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, ensuring optimal solutions for high-tech applications across defence sectors.

Qualifications

• Practical experience in RF circuitry design.
• Experience with PCB layout personnel.
• Hands-on experience with RF testing equipment.
• Ability to model and simulate RF systems.
• Concise technical report generation.
• Experience working in a high-technology defence environment.
• Degree in Electronics Engineering or related field (preferred).
• Willingness to collaborate with mechanical engineers on integrated solutions.

Responsibilities

• Deliver work packages on analogue and RF electronics.
• Model architectures for optimal RF design.
• Simulate RF designs for performance evaluation.
• Document design processes and configurations.
• Support RF hardware development and testing.

Skills

RF design

PCB layout collaboration

RF test and measurement equipment

RF and system modelling

Technical report writing

Understanding design reviews

Education

Degree in Electronics Engineering

Tools

Teamcenter

RF test equipment

Job description

Job Description

We are excited to be recruiting for an experienced Engineer with microwave engineering knowledge, familiar with working on complex electronic (ideally RF-based) sensor systems. The role can be based in either Southampton or Bristol and will focus on the electronics design of the RF and control subsystems to be implemented on laboratory and aircraft concept demonstrators.

You will provide technical support throughout the product lifecycle including design implementation, integration and test, system trials and product delivery.

You will be part of the Leonardo Airborne Communications product development group within the Integrated Sensing & Protection line of business; interacting with partner organisations / sub-contractors and potential customers.

Your Impact

• You will be responsible for delivery of work packages focused on analogue and RF electronics, covering the inter vehicle data link design, system test and integration.
• Modelling of proposed architectures to determine the optimal solution.
• Simulation of RF design.
• Documentation of design including configuration management within Teamcenter.
• Support laboratory hardware demonstrator development and test.

What We Are Looking For

• Practical hands on experience of RF design of circuitry, ideally between DC and 30 GHz, but if you don’t have experience over this whole range then we’d still be interested to hear from you.
• Experience of working with PCB layout personnel in an advisory capacity.
• Hands on experience of using RF test and measurement equipment to develop and debug RF circuitry.
• Ability to use RF and system modelling and simulation tools.
• Ability to produce concise technical reports detailing design solutions and implementation.
• Ability to understand and follow the business practices, such as design reviews, which come with working in a high technology defence environment.
• Degree in relevant engineering or related scientific discipline (Electronics Engineering preferred).
• As part of an electromechanical project, be willing to work closely with the mechanical team members to create a solution which addresses all design requirements.

It would be nice if you had

• Knowledge / experience of digital or mixed signal design.
• Experience in system level and sub‑system integration and debug.
• Experience of working in the defence electronics sector.
• Chartered Engineer status, or a member of a professional engineering institution.

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre‑employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting

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.

For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website.

Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team—they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.

At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.

Be part of something bigger - apply now!

Primary Location

GB - Southampton

Additional Locations

GB - Bristol - Coldharbour Lane

Contract Type

Employee-Permanent

Hybrid Working

Hybrid