RF Systems Engineer

Mass Limited; Salisbury; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology firm in Salisbury is seeking an individual to support testing and optimisation of RF receiver hardware within a synthetic laboratory environment. The successful candidate will work autonomously to enhance EW system performance, engage with international stakeholders, and calibrate RF test equipment. A STEM degree or extensive experience in RF electronics is necessary, along with the ability to generate requirements for future developments. Join us in ensuring successful project outcomes in a dynamic setting.

Benefits

Wellbeing programmes

Mental health support

Employee assistance programme

Qualifications

• Experience working autonomously to optimise complex EW system performance.
• Strong understanding of Test & Evaluation (T&E) practices.
• Ability to calibrate hardware within a laboratory environment.

Responsibilities

• Support testing and optimisation of RF receiver hardware in a lab setting.
• Liaise with military, academia, and international stakeholders for validation.
• Drive requirements for future development through analysis of current systems.

Skills

Autonomous working

Understanding of RF sensor systems

Proficiency with RF test equipment

Experience calibrating hardware and software models

Education

STEM Degree or extensive experience with RF Electronics

Tools

MATLAB

Python

Signal generators

Oscilloscopes

Spectrum analysers

Job description

Come and join our expanding Electronic Warfare Operations Support Group (EWOS) which is made up of 60+ electronic warfare specialists. From all manner of backgrounds, our engineers, scientists, and ex-military personnel combine their experience to help our customers achieve the true operational potential and help keep their people and platforms safe. We are continuing to grow our team at Porton Down, Salisbury, working on key state‑of‑the‑art research, development, and delivery projects, led by our technical customer. The primary role is to support testing and optimisation of RF receiver hardware in a new synthetic range (laboratory), with additional support to over‑the‑air testing (anechoic chamber) and field trials. This will require using a range of RF test equipment to perform digital and analogue injection testing within synthetic EW scenarios. This role will allow autonomy to explore ways to optimise RF receiver performance through configurable memory (mission data) to improve real‑world operation of the system when deployed to target platforms. This exploratory process will focus on the increasingly congested and contested electromagnetic environment, developing tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) for the RF receiver. To accurately represent the synthetic use cases these systems are required to integrate into, the role will liaise with military, academia, industry and international stakeholders, to complete the validation process. This new lab will be using the latest commercial‑off‑the‑shelf (COTS) development Radio Frequency System on Chip (RFSoC) boards to achieve a high‑fidelity electromagnetic environment. You will become an expert in configuring and calibrating these devices to aid testing of the RF receiver systems. This role also has influence over future development work, driving requirements through analysis of current EW systems. As such an understanding of requirements generation and the engineering lifecycle will be valuable to the role. Working autonomously with unprecedented access to the customer, you will be crucial to ensure the success of these key projects, all whilst being supported by our on‑site and home‑site MASS teams.

Responsibilities

• Ability to work autonomously to optimise complex EW system performance.
• Understanding of RF sensor systems and Test & Evaluation (T&E) practices.
• Proficient with RF test equipment (signal generators, oscilloscopes, and spectrum analysers).
• Experience calibrating hardware and software models into a laboratory environment.
• STEM Degree or extensive experience with RF Electronics.

Desirable

• Experience creating scripts/programmes (MATLAB, Python, or similar).
• Strong background in EW systems and concepts, including radar systems.
• Experience across the engineering lifecycle (Requirements, V&V, Acceptance).
• Understanding of Analogue & Digital Signal Processing techniques.

Wellbeing is at the core to our culture, allowing employees to flourish and to achieve their full potential. Our people are important to us, and we take pride in our wellbeing programmes and policies that support individuals including mental health first aiders and readily available support through our extensive employee assistance programme.

Security requirements

• A UK National and eligible to work in the UK.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain a UK Government SC‑level security clearance.