Senior RF/Microwave Design Engineer

Honeywell Aerospace Technologies; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Honeywell Aerospace Technologies is seeking a Senior RF/Microwave Design Engineer to support the design and development of advanced RF systems in our Edinburgh location. You will be integral in creating innovative solutions for communication systems, contributing your expertise to ensure performance and reliability.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in RF hardware development with a minimum of five years’ experience, a relevant engineering degree, and a passion for technical excellence. This role offers an on-site work environment within a dynamic team.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years' industrial experience in RF/microwave hardware development.
• Proven track record in designing and testing active RF circuits and systems.
• Hands-on experience with RF measurements and debugging.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop RF hardware for communication systems.
• Conduct RF simulations and testing using industry-standard tools.
• Produce technical documentation including design reports and test procedures.

Skills

RF Circuit Design

RF Testing

Communication Systems

Software Defined Radio

Analytical Skills

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electronic Engineering

Tools

AWR

MATLAB

CST

ADS

HFSS

Job description

Job Description

As a Senior RF/Microwave Design Engineer at Honeywell, you will play a key role in the design, development, and delivery of advanced engineering solutions that drive innovation, performance, and reliability across critical systems. You will work within cross‑functional teams on complex projects that support next‑generation products and technologies.

In this role, you will contribute to the development of sophisticated Software Defined Radio solutions for space communications systems, ensuring robust design, integration, and performance of components and subsystems. Your strong technical expertise and hands‑on approach will be essential in delivering high‑quality, reliable systems that meet demanding mission and customer requirements.

You will report directly to our Engineering Manager and work out of our Edinburgh, UK location on an on‑site work schedule.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop RF hardware for communication systems from UHF to Ka Band for telemetry, telecommand and datalink applications
• Design active RF circuits including LNAs, SSPAs, driver amplifiers, mixers, frequency converters, frequency synthesizers and PLLs
• Perform RF architecture trades, link budgets, gain/noise analysis, linearity, and dynamic range calculations
• Develop RF schematics, perform component selection, and support PCB layout
• Conduct RF simulations using tools such as AWR, ADS, CST, HFSS, and MATLAB
• Perform RF testing and troubleshooting using VNAs, spectrum analysers, signal generators, power meters, oscilloscopes, and noise figure analysers
• Support environmental and qualification testing (EMI/EMC, thermal vacuum, vibration, shock, etc.)
• Investigate and resolve RF performance issues across development, integration, and production
• Produce technical documentation (design reports, test procedures, verification reports, design reviews)
• Support product owner and project engineer in product development and meeting technical milestones
• Support customer technical interactions and design reviews

Key Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electronic Engineering, Telecommunications, or related field
• Proven track record in designing and testing active RF circuits and systems
• Minimum 5 years’ industrial experience in RF/microwave hardware development
• Strong understanding of RF system analysis, including:
  • RF line‑up analysis
  • Link budget calculation
  • Linearity, intermodulation, EVM, transmitter performance
  • Noise figure, SNR, BER, receiver sensitivity
  • Phase noise and frequency synthesis
• Hands‑on experience with RF measurements and debugging
• Ability to work independently on complex technical tasks with limited supervision
• Proven experience in developing and delivering engineering solutions from requirements through to implementation
• Strong communication and teamwork skills
• Passion for innovation and continuous learning
• Attention to detail and commitment to high‑quality delivery

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in aerospace, defence, or space communication systems, including exposure to mission‑critical RF applications
• Experience in telemetry, telecommand, or satellite communication systems, with familiarity in SDR‑based and digital communication architectures
• Understanding of RF system lifecycle and qualification processes, including EMI/EMC, environmental testing, and product certification
• Familiarity with advanced radio architectures, including FPGA‑based systems and high‑speed digital interfaces
• Experience supporting formal engineering design reviews (e.g. SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR) and structured development processes
• Strong technical ownership and accountability, with the ability to take designs from development through integration and delivery
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to work independently and across multidisciplinary teams
• Strong analytical thinking and structured problem‑solving capability in complex RF/system environments
• Commitment to engineering excellence, continuous improvement, and high‑quality delivery in a fast‑paced environment

Equal Opportunity Employment

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.