RF Systems Engineer

MASS; Allington; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Buy/sell up to 5 days leave

Annual wellbeing allowance

Two pension schemes

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Share save scheme

Electric/hybrid car leasing

Cycle to work

Retail discounts

Career development support

Job summary

MASS is recruiting for an on-site, permanent RF/EW specialist at Porton Down, Salisbury, to join the EW Operations Support Group under Dstl leadership. You will work on state-of-the-art test environments and contribute to advanced EW missions.

The role requires autonomy, a strong RF/EW background, and hands-on testing with RF hardware, MATLAB/Python scripting, and lifecycle validation. Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits are provided.

Qualifications

• Ability to work autonomously to optimise complex EW system performance.
• Understand RF sensor systems and Test & Evaluation practices.
• Proficiency with RF test equipment including signal generators, oscilloscopes, and spectrum analysers.
• Experience calibrating hardware and software models into a laboratory environment.
• STEM degree or extensive experience with RF electronics.
• Experience creating scripts or programmes using MATLAB, Python, or similar tools.
• Strong background in EW systems and concepts including radar systems.
• Experience across the engineering lifecycle including requirements, verification and validation, and acceptance.
• Understanding of analogue and digital signal processing techniques.
• Must be a UK national and eligible to work in the UK.
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain UK Government SC-level security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Support testing and optimisation of RF receiver hardware in a new synthetic range laboratory.
• Provide additional support for over-the-air testing in an anechoic chamber and field trials.
• Use RF test equipment to perform digital and analogue injection testing within synthetic EW scenarios.
• Explore ways to optimise RF receiver performance through configurable memory to improve real-world system operation.
• Develop tactics, techniques, and procedures for the RF receiver in a congested and contested electromagnetic environment.
• Liaise with military, academia, industry, and international stakeholders to complete the validation process.
• Configure and calibrate COTS RFSoC boards to support high-fidelity electromagnetic environment testing.
• Influence future development work by driving requirements through analysis of current EW systems.

Skills

Autonomy

RF systems

Lab testing

MATLAB/Python

Signal processing

EW concepts

Security clearance eligible

Education

STEM degree or RF electronics experience

Tools

MATLAB

Python

RF test equipment

Job description

Salary: £40,000 - 60,000 per year

Requirements

• Ability to work autonomously to optimise complex EW system performance.
• Understanding of RF sensor systems and Test & Evaluation (T&E) practices.
• Proficiency with RF test equipment, including signal generators, oscilloscopes, and spectrum analysers.
• Experience calibrating hardware and software models into a laboratory environment.
• STEM degree or extensive experience with RF electronics.
• Experience creating scripts or programmes using MATLAB, Python, or similar tools.
• Strong background in EW systems and concepts, including radar systems.
• Experience across the engineering lifecycle, including requirements, verification and validation, and acceptance.
• Understanding of analogue and digital signal processing techniques.
• Must be a UK national and eligible to work in the UK.
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain UK Government SC-level security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Support testing and optimisation of RF receiver hardware in a new synthetic range laboratory.
• Provide additional support for over-the-air testing in an anechoic chamber and field trials.
• Use RF test equipment to perform digital and analogue injection testing within synthetic EW scenarios.
• Explore ways to optimise RF receiver performance through configurable memory to improve real-world system operation.
• Develop tactics, techniques, and procedures for the RF receiver in a congested and contested electromagnetic environment.
• Liaise with military, academia, industry, and international stakeholders to complete the validation process.
• Configure and calibrate COTS RFSoC boards to support high-fidelity electromagnetic environment testing.
• Influence future development work by driving requirements through analysis of current EW systems.

Technologies

• Hardware
• Support
• Matlab
• Python
• Security

More

We are MASS and our expanding Electronic Warfare Operations Support Group (EWOS) is made up of more than 60 electronic warfare specialists from a wide range of backgrounds, including engineers, scientists, and ex-military personnel. We are growing our team at Porton Down, Salisbury, working on state-of-the-art research, development, and delivery projects led by our technical customer, Dstl. This is an on-site, permanent role with a salary of £40,000 to £60,000 and a strong benefits package that includes 25 days annual leave, the option to buy or sell up to 5 days leave, an annual wellbeing allowance, two pension schemes, private medical insurance, life assurance, a share save scheme, electric/hybrid car leasing, cycle to work, retail discounts, and career development support. We place wellbeing at the core of our culture and provide support through mental health first aiders and an employee assistance programme.

last updated 33 week of 2026