Radio Frequency Test Engineer

IC Resources; West of England; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

IC Resources is helping a defence technology company recruit an RF Test Engineer. You will own RF validation from bring-up to product validation, defining tests and developing approaches for RF systems and signal chains.

You will build test setups with VNAs, spectrum analysers, signal generators and oscilloscopes, and automate measurements using Python/SCPI. Expect hands-on lab work and potential UK SC clearance eligibility.

Qualifications

• Strong hands-on RF test, validation or characterisation experience.
• Ability to define tests rather than follow predefined test sheets.
• Experience developing RF test plans and procedures.
• Experience with RF system and signal-chain measurements.
• Defence, aerospace or secure communications experience is useful but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Develop RF test strategies and write test plans and procedures from scratch.
• Characterise RF performance including sensitivity, gain, noise figure, dynamic range and bandwidth.
• Build and run test setups using VNAs, spectrum analysers, signal generators and oscilloscopes.
• Automate measurements and instrument control using Python and/or SCPI.
• Support RF hardware bring-up, debugging and root-cause investigation.
• Analyse results and feed findings back into RF, hardware and systems engineering.
• Develop repeatable validation and regression testing as products mature.

Skills

RF test

test development

RF validation

RF system measurements

Tools

Python

SCPI

LabVIEW

VNA

Oscilloscopes

Spectrum Analyzers

Signal Generators

Job description

We’re working with a growing defence technology company developing advanced RF sensing and communications systems for demanding operational environments.

They’re looking for an RF Test Engineer to take ownership of how RF systems are validated and characterised, from early hardware bring-up through to structured product validation.

The Role

This is not simply a role running predefined test procedures.

You’ll be given RF systems and signal chains, understand how they are supposed to perform, determine what needs to be tested, and develop the test approach to prove it.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Developing RF test strategies and writing test plans and procedures from scratch
• Characterising RF performance including sensitivity, gain, noise figure, dynamic range and bandwidth
• Building and running test setups using VNAs, spectrum analysers, signal generators and oscilloscopes
• Automating measurements and instrument control, typically using Python and/or SCPI
• Supporting RF hardware bring-up, debugging and root-cause investigation
• Analysing results and feeding findings back into RF, hardware and systems engineering
• Developing repeatable validation and regression testing as products mature

The work covers complete RF systems and signal chains rather than purely component-level or production pass/fail testing.

What They're Looking For

You’ll need strong hands‑on RF test, validation or characterisation experience, but more importantly, you should be comfortable defining the test rather than being given the test sheet.

Relevant experience could include:

• RF validation, characterisation or test development
• Developing RF test plans and procedures
• Python, SCPI, LabVIEW or similar test automation
• RF system and signal-chain measurements
• SDR, communications, radar or mixed‑signal systems
• Hardware bring‑up and RF debugging

Experience within defence, aerospace or secure communications would be useful but isn’t essential.

Why Consider It?

You’ll have genuine ownership of RF validation rather than operating as a routine lab test engineer. The work spans early development, characterisation and product validation, with the results directly influencing how the underlying RF systems are designed and improved.

The role requires a minimum of 3 days per week onsite in Bristol due to the hands‑on lab work.

Candidates must be eligible for UK SC clearance.