Senior Advanced Wireless / RF Engineer - QKDSat

Line Up Aviation; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Line Up Aviation in Edinburgh is seeking an experienced Senior RF Engineer to work on a Satellite Quantum Communications programme. You will design and develop RF hardware, from UHF to Ka-band, and take ownership of complex engineering challenges in a fast-moving aerospace team. This 6‑month contract (with extension potential) is onsite in Edinburgh, with simulations, testing, and design reviews conducted in close collaboration with Project Engineers and customers.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of RF/microwave hardware development experience.
• Experience designing, developing and testing active RF circuits.
• Strong RF system analysis including link budgets and phase noise.
• Hands-on RF measurement and debugging experience.
• Ability to work independently on complex technical challenges.

Responsibilities

• Design RF hardware from UHF through Ka band for telemetry and datalink.
• Develop LNAs, SSPAs, driver amps, mixers, PLLs and frequency synthesizers.
• Perform RF simulations using AWR, ADS, CST, HFSS and MATLAB.
• Conduct RF testing with VNAs, spectrum analyzers, power meters and oscilloscopes.
• Produce design reports, test procedures and verification documentation.

Skills

RF engineering

RF design

Link budget analysis

RF testing

Problem solving

Education

Bachelors in Electronic Engineering

Masters in Telecommunication

Tools

AWR

ADS

CST

HFSS

MATLAB

Job description

Are you an experienced RF Engineer looking to work on some of the most exciting developments in satellite and space communications?

Contract: Senior Advanced Wireless / RF Engineer (QKDSat)

Location: Edinburgh (fully onsite)

Period: 6 months initially, with expected extension up to 12 months and potential permanent opportunities (TBC)

Pay: £35.90 per hour PAYE only (plus 12.07% holiday pay in addition)

Hours: Mon - Fri. 37.5 hours/week. (Mon-Thur: 8.15am - 5.00pm. Fri: 8.15am - 1.00pm)

We are recruiting two Senior Advanced Wireless / RF Engineers to join an innovative engineering team supporting a major international satellite quantum communications programme. Working on QKDSat (Satellite Quantum Programme), you will contribute to the design and development of advanced RF hardware and communication systems supporting secure, next-generation satellite communications. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced RF specialist to take technical ownership of complex engineering challenges and contribute to a highly innovative aerospace and space technology project.

Main Responsibilities:

• Design and develop RF hardware for communication systems operating from UHF through to Ka Band, supporting telemetry, telecommand and datalink applications.
• Design active RF circuits, including Low Noise Amplifiers (LNAs), Solid State Power Amplifiers (SSPAs), driver amplifiers, mixers, frequency converters, frequency synthesizers and Phase-Locked Loops (PLLs).
• Undertake RF architecture trade-offs, link budget calculations, gain/noise analysis, linearity assessments and dynamic range calculations.
• Develop RF schematics, select components and support PCB layout activities.
• Perform RF simulations using tools such as AWR, ADS, CST, HFSS and MATLAB.
• Conduct RF testing, measurement and troubleshooting using VNAs, spectrum analysers, signal generators, power meters, oscilloscopes and noise figure analysers.
• Support environmental and qualification testing, including EMI/EMC, thermal vacuum, vibration and shock testing.
• Investigate and resolve RF performance issues throughout development, integration and production.
• Produce technical documentation, including design reports, test procedures, verification reports and design review documentation.
• Support Product Owners and Project Engineers in achieving technical milestones and delivering engineering solutions.
• Participate in customer technical discussions and formal engineering design reviews.

Ideal candidate profile:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electronic Engineering, Telecommunications or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years' industrial experience in RF/microwave hardware development.
• Proven experience designing, developing and testing active RF circuits and systems.
• Strong understanding of RF system analysis, including:
• RF line-up analysis and link budget calculations.
• Linearity, intermodulation, EVM and transmitter performance.
• Noise figure, SNR, BER and receiver sensitivity.
• Phase noise and frequency synthesis.
• Hands-on experience with RF measurements, testing and debugging.
• Experience taking engineering solutions from initial requirements through design and implementation.
• Ability to work independently on complex technical challenges with limited supervision.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and teamwork abilities.

Desirable Experience:

• Aerospace, defence or space communication systems, particularly mission-critical RF applications.
• Telemetry, telecommand and satellite communication systems.
• Software Defined Radio (SDR) and digital communication architectures.
• RF system lifecycle management and qualification processes, including EMI/EMC and environmental testing.
• FPGA-based radio architectures and high-speed digital interfaces.
• Formal engineering design reviews, including SRR, PDR, CDR and TRR.
• Taking technical ownership of designs from initial development through integration and final delivery.
• Working within multidisciplinary engineering teams and structured product development environments.

Nationality & Eligibility:

• Candidates must hold a UK or NATO country passport, AND hold unrestricted right to work in the UK.
• Vetting will include a right to work check, drug screen, full 5 years' referencing and a DBS check.