RF Test Engineer

SII Group; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 57,000; Full time

Job summary

A digital services and engineering firm in Portsmouth is seeking an experienced RF Test Engineer to join their team. You will handle planning, execution, and analysis of RF test activities on advanced communication systems. The ideal candidate should have a minimum of 5 years of RF testing experience and knowledge of various RF equipment. This position offers a competitive salary of £56,155 along with various employee benefits, including private medical insurance and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Competitive Basic Salary

Private Medical Insurance

25 days holiday

Flexible working

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in RF, microwave, or satellite communications testing.
• Strong practical knowledge of RF test equipment such as spectrum analysers and oscilloscopes.
• Hands-on experience with RF test automation via Python, LabVIEW, or MATLAB.

Responsibilities

• Plan, perform, and document RF and microwave test activities.
• Execute functional and performance tests on RF subsystems and components.
• Collaborate with design and teams to troubleshoot issues during tests.

Skills

RF test equipment knowledge

Data analysis

Problem-solving skills

Communication skills

Education

5 years in RF or microwave testing

Tools

Python

LabVIEW

MATLAB

RF test instrumentation

Job description

SII is seeking an experienced RF Test Engineer to join our growing engineering team supporting advanced communications and aerospace systems projects. The successful candidate will be responsible for planning, executing, and analysing RF test activities across complex subsystems, ensuring performance compliance with demanding technical requirements. This role involves hands‑on testing, validation, and troubleshooting of RF and microwave systems within a structured engineering environment.,

Responsibilities

• Plan, perform, and document RF and microwave test activities across development, integration, and qualification phases.
• Execute functional and performance tests on RF subsystems and components, including transmitters, receivers, filters, amplifiers, and antennas.
• Develop and maintain automated and manual test procedures using standard RF test instrumentation.
• Perform data acquisition, analysis, and reporting to verify compliance with system requirements and specifications.
• Support integration activities, identifying and resolving test‑related anomalies and system performance issues.
• Calibrate and maintain RF test equipment to ensure measurement integrity and traceability.
• Collaborate closely with design, systems, and software teams to troubleshoot and resolve issues identified during test campaigns.
• Contribute to test documentation, including test plans, procedures, results reports, and configuration control records.
• Ensure adherence to quality, safety, and configuration management processes.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in RF, microwave, or satellite communications testing.
• Strong practical knowledge of RF test equipment (e.g. spectrum analysers, signal generators, network analysers, power meters, oscilloscopes).
• Hands‑on experience with RF test automation using tools such as Python, LabVIEW, or MATLAB.
• Solid understanding of RF and microwave principles, including S‑parameters, gain, noise figure, intermodulation, and linearity.
• Experience in system integration and verification environments.
• Ability to interpret RF schematics, block diagrams, and test specifications.
• Competent in data analysis and reporting, using Excel or dedicated data processing tools.
• Excellent problem‑solving skills and attention to detail.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills for technical documentation and team collaboration.

Desirable Skills

• Experience with aerospace or defence communications systems.
• Familiarity with environmental or qualification testing (thermal, vibration, EMC).
• Understanding of modulation schemes, link budgets, and communication protocols.
• Knowledge of test data management systems and configuration control processes.
• Exposure to hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) or system‑level testing.

SII Group UK

Portsmouth £56,155 per year – estimated? SII Group delivers Digital Services, IT, Engineering, and Consulting to diverse industries, enabling digital transformation through our commitment to Growth, People, and CSR. With over 16,000 professionals across 21 countries, we’re recognised as a "Great Place to Work" for fostering a high‑trust culture. Our core values of Trust, Transparency, and Quality drive our work package delivery, ensuring we meet and exceed client expectations as a committed partner. Since 2016, SII UK has supported top Aerospace & Defence, Aviation, Transportation, and Finance clients, empowering digital transformation with industry‑leading engineering expertise. Let’s Tech Together is our promise to encourage innovation and teamwork. We support our engineers with development opportunities and a collaborative, inclusive environment where every voice is valued and empowered.

Benefits

• Competitive Basic Salary
• 6% Employers Contribution + 6% as a salary sacrifice
• Private Medical Insurance, Life Cover and Income Protection
• 25 days holiday
• 10 days full sick pay per year
• Flexible working
• Cycle to Work & TechScheme
• Continuous professional development
• Corporate access to the Udemy platform
• If you're applying for a role requiring security clearance, please be aware that foreign or dual nationality is not an automatic bar, however certain posts may have restrictions which could affect those who do not have sole British nationality or who have personal connections with certain countries outside the UK.