RF Design Engineer

Expleo; Queen's Island; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Collaborative working environment

ExpleoAcademy training opportunities

Competitive company benefits

Job summary

Expleo Defence is seeking an experienced RF Design Engineer to design and validate advanced RF/mixed-signal electronics for defence applications. You’ll take RF concepts from schematic design to PCB integration and lab verification, collaborating across RF, electronics, PCB layout, systems and firmware teams.

The role involves hands-on lab work and occasional travel to Belfast for integration activities, with flexibility to be UK mainland-based.

Qualifications

• Solid knowledge of RF principles including signal propagation, noise, dynamic range and filters.
• Ability to interpret RF test results and translate datasheets into practical designs.
• Experience debugging RF designs using laboratory measurements and test equipment.
• Familiarity with RF design standards and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop RF analogue and mixed-signal electronics for complex systems.
• Develop RF transceiver and front-end architectures using MMIC, SiP and SoC devices.
• Create RF schematics, component selections and circuit designs per system requirements.
• Design and implement RF impedance matching networks (L/C matching).
• Translate datasheets and app notes into robust designs for PCB implementations.
• Collaborate with PCB layout engineers to ensure signal integrity and manufacturability.
• Develop and execute RF verification and validation activities.
• Conduct hands-on laboratory testing with spectrum analysers, VNAs, signal generators and power meters.
• Analyse measured data to troubleshoot and improve RF designs.
• Investigate RF performance issues and debug across hardware, layout and interfaces.
• Produce clear documentation: schematics, design calculations, test plans and reports.

Skills

RF principles

Signal propagation

RF link budgets

Noise

Dynamic range

Gain and attenuation

Filtering

RF performance metrics

RF regulations

Interpret RF test results

RF components datasheets

Problem-solving & debugging

RF design standards

Tools

CST

Ansys HFSS

Job description

Overview

Expleo Defence is seeking an experienced RF Design Engineer to join our growing engineering team, supporting the design, development and validation of advanced RF and mixed-signal electronics for defence and high-technology applications.

This role is particularly suited to an engineer with strong practical RF design experience who is comfortable taking RF solutions from component selection and schematic design through to PCB integration, laboratory validation and system-level integration.

The successful candidate can be based on the UK mainland, with the flexibility to travel to Belfast for laboratory activities. Laboratory work is expected to take place in blocks of a few weeks at a time, rather than requiring permanent relocation to Belfast.

You will work closely with RF, electronics, PCB layout, systems, software/firmware and test engineers to develop robust, production-ready solutions.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop RF analogue and mixed-signal electronics for complex engineering systems.
• Design RF transceiver and front-end architectures using monolithic RF chipsets, including MMIC, SiP and SoC-style devices.
• Develop RF schematics, component selections and circuit designs in accordance with system requirements.
• Design and implement RF impedance matching networks, including L/C matching and other appropriate techniques.
• Translate RF component datasheets, application circuits, biasing requirements and recommended matching networks into robust designs.
• Work closely with PCB layout engineers to ensure RF designs are implemented correctly, considering signal integrity, grounding, shielding, routing and manufacturability.
• Integrate RF blocks and sub-systems into larger electronic and system architectures.
• Develop and execute RF design verification and validation activities.
• Conduct hands-on laboratory testing using equipment such as:
• Spectrum analysers.
• Vector Network Analysers (VNAs)
• RF signal generators.
• Power meters.
• Oscilloscopes and associated RF test equipment.
• Analyse measured data and use results to troubleshoot and improve RF designs.
• Investigate RF performance issues and systematically debug problems across hardware, layout and system interfaces.
• Produce clear and traceable engineering documentation, including:
• Schematics.
• Design calculations.
• Design notes.
• Test plans.
• Test procedures.
• Verification and validation reports.
• Test results.
• Collaborate with test and validation teams to ensure designs meet specified performance requirements.
• Work with firmware/software engineers where required to support RF device configuration, control and system integration.
• Support design reviews, technical investigations and engineering problem-solving activities.
• Contribute to the development of engineering processes, standards and best practice within the wider Expleo team.

Essential skills

The successful candidate will have:

• Solid knowledge of RF principles, including:
• Signal propagation
• RF link budgets
• Noise
• Dynamic range
• Gain and attenuation
• Filtering
• RF performance metrics
• Basic RF regulations and compliance considerations
• Ability to interpret RF test results and use measured data to identify and resolve design issues.
• Ability to interpret RF component datasheets and translate manufacturer recommendations into practical circuit designs.
• Strong problem-solving and debugging capability, with the ability to iterate RF designs based on laboratory measurements.
• Knowledge of relevant RF design standards and regulatory requirements.

Experience

We are looking for a hands‑on RF Design Engineer who can combine strong theoretical RF knowledge with practical design and laboratory experience.

You should be comfortable working independently on RF design problems, but equally capable of collaborating with multidisciplinary engineering teams. The ideal candidate will be someone who enjoys getting into the laboratory, measuring real hardware, understanding why a design is not performing as expected and iterating the design to achieve the required performance.

This role would suit an experienced RF Engineer, RF Design Engineer, RF Electronics Engineer or Electronics Design Engineer with significant RF experience.

• Recent experience using RF simulation and modelling tools, particularly:
• • CST
  • Ansys HFSS
• Experience within the defence, aerospace, telecommunications or other high‑reliability engineering sectors.
• Experience with RF systems operating in challenging or safety‑critical environments.
• Experience taking RF designs through development, verification and into production.
• Proven experience designing and validating RF analogue and mixed‑signal electronics.
• Hands‑on experience designing RF transceivers using monolithic chipsets, such as MMIC, SiP or SoC‑style RF devices.
• Demonstrable experience with RF impedance matching, including L/C matching and matching networks.
• Experience producing detailed electronic schematics and working effectively with PCB layout engineers.
• Practical experience validating RF designs within a laboratory environment.
• Experience using common RF test equipment, including spectrum analysers, VNAs, signal generators and RF power measurement equipment.
• Experience integrating individual RF blocks into a larger electronic or system‑level architecture.
• Experience working collaboratively with RF/electronics engineers, PCB layout engineers, test and validation teams and firmware/software engineers.
• Strong technical documentation skills, with experience producing clear and traceable engineering documentation.

What do I need before I apply

• This position offers flexibility for candidates based on the UK mainland.
• The role will involve periodic travel to Expleo's Belfast facilities to undertake laboratory‑based development, integration and verification activities. These visits are expected to take place in blocks of a few weeks at a time, depending on project requirements.

Benefits

• Collaborative working environment – we stand shoulder to shoulder with our clients and ourpeers through good times and challenges
• We empower all passionate technology loving professionals by allowing them to expand their skills and take part in inspiring projects
• ExpleoAcademy - enables you to acquire and develop the right skills by delivering a suite of accredited training courses
• Competitive company benefits
• Always working as one team, our people are not afraid to think big and challenge the status quo

• As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we have committed to:
  • Ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible
  • Communicating and promoting vacancies
  • Offering an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job
  • Anticipating and providing reasonable adjustments as required
  • Supporting any existing employee who acquires a disability or long term health condition, enabling them to stay in work at least one activity that will make a difference for disabled people

“We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age”.

We treat everyone fairly and equitably across the organisation, including providing any additional support and adjustments needed for everyone to thrive