Research Scientist

L3Harris Technologies; Tewkesbury; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid onsite work where possible

Flexible or part-time arrangements

Half day finish on a Friday

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Private medical insurance

Pension scheme 8% employer contrib

Life Assurance 4x salary

Group income protection

Flexible opt-in extras

Employee Family Assistance Program

Professional membership reimbursement

Job summary

L3Harris Technologies in the United Kingdom is seeking an ambitious Research Scientist to conduct advanced electromagnetic warfare research and technology development. You will explore RF communications, spectrum sensing, and machine-learning based signal analysis in contested environments.

Working within multidisciplinary teams, you will design experiments, develop prototypes, publish findings, and help transition research into operational capability, while contributing to cutting-edge defense

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent industrial research experience in relevant STEM fields.
• Strong background in digital signal processing theory and implementation.
• Knowledge of RF communication systems and wireless networking.
• Experience developing algorithms using Python, MATLAB, or C++.
• Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams and with stakeholders.
• Curiosity, innovation, and a passion for scientific discovery.

Responsibilities

• Conduct original research into advanced electromagnetic warfare concepts and technologies.
• Investigate emerging RF communication systems, waveforms, and network architectures.
• Explore machine learning and AI applications to electromagnetic signal analysis and spectrum awareness.
• Design, develop, and evaluate DSP algorithms for detection, identification and geolocation.
• Publish technical findings through internal reports, patents, and conferences.

Skills

Digital signal processing

RF communication systems

Algorithms in Python, MATLAB or C++

Analytical thinking

Team collaboration

Curiosity & innovation

Education

PhD in Electronic Engineering / Computer Science / Telecommunications / Physics

Equivalent industrial research experience

Tools

Python

MATLAB

C++

Job description

L3Harris is dedicated to recruiting and developing high-performing talent who are passionate about what they do. Our employees are unified in a shared dedication to our customers’ mission and quest for professional growth. L3Harris provides an inclusive, engaging environment designed to empower employees and promote work-life success. Fundamental to our culture is an unwavering focus on values, dedication to our communities, and commitment to excellence in everything we do.

L3Harris is the Trusted Disruptor in defense tech. With customers’ mission-critical needs always in mind, our employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security.

Operating at 11 sites in the United Kingdom, L3Harris supports Britain's mission to secure and strengthen the country by delivering sovereign innovation across the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains.

L3Harris in Tewkesbury is part of our Global Spectrum Superiority (GS2) division. In the land domain, our T7 and T4 multi-mission robots deliver next-generation remote capabilities and uncompromised performance. We design and manufacture world-leading land force protection systems, cyber and electromagnetic activities (CEMA), electronic warfare (EW) and encryption capabilities. Our cyber capabilities provide an information advantage in the fields of kinetic conflict, cyber warfare, force protection and counterterrorism.

We are seeking an initiative-taking Research Scientist to conduct advanced research and technology development in the field of Electromagnetic Warfare (EW). The successful candidate will investigate emerging challenges in the electromagnetic domain and develop innovative approaches to understanding, exploiting, protecting, and enhancing communication and sensing systems operating in contested environments.

Working within multidisciplinary teams, you will contribute to future capabilities across electronic support, electronic attack, electronic protection, spectrum operations, and cognitive electromagnetic warfare.

A few of our employee benefits are:

• Hybrid working where possible, three days onsite per week. Please note this is project dependent.
• Flexible or part-time working arrangements considered upon request
• Half day finish on a Friday
• 25 days holiday per year (plus bank holidays), increasing with long service and with the opportunity to buy/sell up to 5 days
• Private medical insurance with optional family cover
• Pension scheme of up to 8% employer contribution
• Life Assurance 4x salary (flexible up to 10x)
• Group income protection
• Flexible opt-in extras such as a health care cash plan, dental insurance, gym membership, critical illness cover, cycle to work scheme, travel insurance and electric car scheme
• Employee Family Assistance Program providing mental health and wellbeing support
• Professional membership reimbursement (discretionary)

What The Role Will Involve

The responsibilities of your role will include the following:

Research and Innovation

• Conduct original research into advanced electromagnetic warfare concepts and technologies.
• Investigate emerging RF communication systems, waveforms, and network architectures.
• Explore the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence to electromagnetic signal analysis and spectrum awareness.

Signal Processing

• Design, develop, and evaluate algorithms for areas such as Signal detection, emitter identification and fingerprinting, direction finding and geolocation and modulation recognition.
• Process and analyse large-scale RF and IQ datasets from laboratory and operational environments.
• Develop simulation and analytical tools to model complex electromagnetic environments.

RF Communications and Protocol Analysis

• Research modern wireless communication technologies, including software-defined radio, tactical communications, cellular networks, satellite systems and mesh networks.
• Assess the security, resilience and operational characteristics of communication protocols and evaluate opportunities to improve resilience and operational effectiveness.
• Identify vulnerabilities arising from protocol design, implementation, signalling mechanisms, and spectrum utilisation.

Experimental Activities

• Design and conduct laboratory and field experiments to validate research outcomes using RF test equipment and software-defined radio platforms.
• Collect, analyse, and interpret experimental data.
• Develop prototypes and proof-of-concept demonstrations.

Technical Leadership

• Publish technical findings through internal reports, patents, academic papers, and conference presentations.
• Provide expert technical input to project teams, customers, and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with engineers, data scientists, and systems architects to transition research into operational capability.

What You’ll Bring

• PhD, or equivalent industrial research experience, in: Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Telecommunications, Signal Processing, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a related STEM discipline.
• Strong understanding of digital signal processing theory and implementation.
• Knowledge of RF communication systems and wireless networking technologies.
• Experience developing algorithms using Python, MATLAB, C++, or similar languages.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, including the ability to derive insights from complex datasets and address ambiguous technical challenges.
• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams and engage with a range of stakeholders.
• Curiosity, innovation, and a passion for scientific discovery.

Important to know

Due to the nature of our work many our roles require a UK nationality and the ability to obtain a security clearance. Applicants who accept a conditional offer of employment must meet the requirement of right to work in the UK and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information and will be subject to government security checks.

L3Harris Technologies is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to maintaining a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination and offers equal opportunities for all. Applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, and marriage and civil partnerships.