RF Engineer

ALTEN; Greater London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private Medical Insurance

Cycle & Tech Scheme

Employee assistance programme

Life insurance & Pension Scheme

Social atmosphere, team buildings

Flexible way of working

Job summary

ALTEN is seeking an experienced RF Engineer to join our London team for an advanced space mission. This role suits professionals who thrive in high‑complexity environments and want to contribute to next‑generation orbital technologies.

Location: London, on-site 1–2 times per month, with clearable security. You will design RF systems, develop subsystems, test hardware, and collaborate across systems engineering, avionics and mission operations on cutting‑edge spacecraft programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, or equivalent military experience.
• Hands-on space/RF systems experience.
• Ability to translate mission RF requirements into subsystem specs.

Responsibilities

• RF system design for spaceborne platforms, including link budgets and antenna performance.
• Develop and optimise RF subsystems (transceivers, amplifiers, filters, telemetry).
• Testing and validation of RF hardware in lab and simulated space environments.
• Supporting EMC/EMI analysis and ensuring mission-level compliance.
• Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams across systems engineering, avionics, and mission operations.

Skills

Space RF experience

RF design

RF hardware

RF testing

Mission requirements

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s in Engineering

Tools

VNA

Spectrum Analyzers

Signal Generators

Job description

• Clearance: Clearable

ALTEN is a global engineering and technology consultancy operating across over 35 countries worldwide. We partner with industry leaders across sectors including Aeronautics, Aerospace, Defence, Naval, Automotive, Energy, Rail, IT and many more to deliver innovative engineering solutions that drive technological advancement & support sustainable transformation.

Our teams of passionate and agile engineers work on cutting-edge projects that shape the future of technology and sustainability. At ALTEN, we empower talented engineers to innovate, solve complex challenges, and deliver impactful solutions that build tomorrow’s world—today.

Join us and start building tomorrow’s world today!

Job Description

Seeking an experienced RF Engineer to join our team in London for an advanced engineering team supporting a cutting‑edge space mission. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in high‑complexity environments and wants to contribute to the development of next‑generation orbital technologies.

• Location: London
• On Site: 1-2X a month
• Clearance: Clearable
• Experience Level: Mid - Senior

Key Responsibilities

• RF system design for spaceborne platforms, including link budgets, antenna performance, and end‑to‑end signal integrity.
• Development and optimisation of RF subsystems such as transceivers, amplifiers, filters, and telemetry systems.
• Testing and validation of RF hardware in lab and simulated space environments.
• Supporting EMC/EMI analysis and ensuring compliance with mission‑level requirements.
• Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams across systems engineering, avionics, and mission operations.

Qualifications

Required Skills:

• Mandatory Space industry experience — hands‑on involvement in satellite, spacecraft, or space‑mission RF systems.
• RF system design for spaceborne platforms (link budgets, RF chain architecture, signal integrity).
• RF hardware development including transceivers, amplifiers, filters, and telemetry systems.
• RF testing & validation using lab equipment such as VNAs, spectrum analysers, and signal generators.
• Ability to interpret mission‑level RF requirements and translate them into subsystem specifications.

Required Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, or equivalent military experience.

Desirable Skills:

• EMC/EMI analysis for spacecraft RF systems.
• Experience with SDRs, modulation schemes, and digital signal processing.
• Knowledge of TT&C (Telemetry, Tracking & Command) architectures.
• Familiarity with environmental testing (thermal‑vacuum, vibration, radiation).
• Experience collaborating with systems engineering teams on spacecraft integration.
• Understanding of orbital mechanics and how they influence RF link performance.
• Exposure to cleanroom or high‑reliability hardware development environments.

Additional Information

Why join us?

We bring together entrepreneurial, tech-driven people to deliver innovative solutions for leading companies.

At ALTEN, you’ll work on exciting projects, supported by ongoing learning, mentoring, and clear career development tailored to your goals.

Join a passionate team and help build tomorrow, today.

In short you get:

• A personalised career path and a rewarding management style
• A huge diversity of engineering projects and industries
• Private Medical Insurance
• Cycle & Tech Scheme
• Employee assistance programme
• Life insurance & Pension Scheme
• Social atmosphere, regular gatherings & team buildings
• Flexible way of working (role dependent)

We are proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant & actively encourage applications from members of the Armed Forces community, including veterans, reservists, service leavers, and military spouses/partners. We recognise the value of military skills and experience and are committed to ensuring that no applicant is unfairly disadvantaged during our recruitment and selection processes.

ALTEN is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and values the strength that comes from a global mix of backgrounds and perspectives. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of background or protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

This role may require you to have or be willing to go through Security Clearance. As part of the onboarding process candidates will be asked to complete a Baseline Personnel Security Standard; details of the evidence required to apply may be found on the government website Gov.UK. If you are unable to meet this and any associated criteria, then your employment may be delayed, or rejected . Details of this will be discussed with you at interview.