Technical Bid Lead

Ernst & Young; Hartford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 97,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consultancy firm is seeking a Technical Bid Lead to drive technical solutions for bids in Space & Defence. In this key role, you will lead the technical input for proposals, define solution architectures, and produce essential technical documentation. Candidates must possess a strong background in RF Engineering or similar, along with excellent technical writing skills. The position is based in Belfast with a competitive salary range of £60,000 - £97,000, and it offers a high-impact opportunity to directly shape bid content and strategy.

Qualifications

• Deep experience in RF/microwave systems and technical product leadership.
• Strong understanding of RF subsystems used in aerospace or secure communications.
• Exceptional technical writing and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical input for bids from qualification through submission.
• Define solution architectures and engineering estimates.
• Produce technical documentation including compliance matrices and system overviews.

Skills

RF Engineering

Technical writing

Commercial awareness

Project management

Education

Degree in RF Engineering, Electronics, Physics or similar

Master’s/PhD in related disciplines

Job description

Job Title: Technical Bid Lead

All applicants must be able to pass UK Security Clearance (SC).

My client is a long‑established leader in high‑performance RF, microwave and mmWave technology, supplying advanced subsystems into telecommunications, aerospace, defence, space, and other mission‑critical communications markets. The Technical Bid Lead will drive the technical direction of bids across Space & Defence, owning the development of technical solutions and supporting material throughout the bid lifecycle, ensuring proposals are robust, compliant, competitive and aligned with the company’s strategic roadmap.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical input for bids from qualification through submission and handover, transforming complex engineering capabilities into clear, winning proposal content.
• Define solution architectures, delivery strategies and engineering estimates in collaboration with subject‑matter experts.
• Produce technical documentation including compliance matrices, PBS/WBS, system overviews, and contributions to risk registers.
• Work with project/bid management and finance to ensure full alignment with scopes of work and costed schedules.
• Ensure proposals meet specific Space & Defence qualification and regulatory requirements.
• Represent the technical function during customer clarifications and negotiation phases.

Qualifications

• Degree in RF Engineering, Electronics, Physics or similar (Master’s/PhD a bonus).
• Deep experience in RF/microwave systems, technical product leadership or bid ownership within Space or Defence.
• Strong understanding of RF subsystems such as amplifiers, filters, and integrated RF modules used in aerospace or secure communications.
• Knowledge of defence/space procurement processes, proposal formats and bid governance.
• Experience operating across both technical and commercial domains in customer‑facing environments.
• Hands‑on approach to developing technical bid content – writing, reviewing and refining complex solution descriptions and estimates.
• Familiarity with Space/Defence development cycles, MoD/ESA standards and associated qualification pathways.
• Exceptional technical writing and communication skills.
• Strong commercial awareness with strategic thinking.
• Highly collaborative and able to manage inputs from multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent organisation, accuracy and deadline management.
• High level of attention to detail and commitment to compliance.
• Desirable: Understanding of UK/US export controls (ITAR, EAR, UK Export Control) and knowledge of software‑defined or digitally enhanced RF systems.

Salary & Location

£60,000 - £97,000; Belfast.

Our client is seeking enthusiastic and proactive individuals to join their growing team. This is a hands‑on position: you will be directly involved in crafting high‑quality technical bid content under tight deadlines, not simply coordinating inputs. It is a high‑impact opportunity at the intersection of engineering, strategy and customer engagement.