Technical Bid Lead

Filtronic; Sedgefield; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company in England is seeking a Technical Bid Lead to drive technical proposals for the Space & Defence sectors. This high-impact role requires strong RF engineering expertise, exceptional writing skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively across teams. You will be responsible for leading bid technical content development, ensuring compliance, and helping the company achieve its ambitious growth plans. A competitive salary with bonus and benefits is offered for this role.

Benefits

Outstanding salary

Bonus

Exceptional benefits

Qualifications

• Significant experience in RF/microwave systems or bid leadership in space or defence sectors.
• Proven ability to develop technical bid content, including writing and editing.
• Exceptional communication skills to distil complex ideas.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical bid development through the bid lifecycle.
• Coordinate and generate compliance matrices and technical documentation.
• Collaborate with various teams to align technical deliverables.

Skills

Technical writing

RF engineering

Strategic thinking

Collaboration

Commercial awareness

Education

Degree in RF Engineering

Job description

Please note: For this role, all candidates must be able to pass the UK Security Clearance (SC) vetting process. To obtain further information on this, please click here.
We are open to a hybrid, remote or onsite work pattern for this important role which supports our accomplished, high performing global business development and commercial team.

Filtronic plc is a leading designer and manufacturer of high‑performance radio frequency (RF), microwave, and millimetre‑wave (mmWave) subsystems, specialising in mission‑critical communication networks. Since 1977, we have built a strong reputation as trusted partners to global technology leaders across the telecommunications infrastructure, aerospace and defence, space, and critical communications sectors. Our legacy of innovation and engineering excellence has positioned us at the forefront of advanced connectivity solutions worldwide, and we continue to grow as we deliver cutting‑edge technology for some of the most exciting programmes in the industry.

We design and deliver a broad portfolio of products including transceivers, power amplifiers, filters, and custom solutions operating up to 175 GHz. Our technologies play a key role in enabling high‑capacity 5G backhaul, satellite communications, and secure defence systems. Recent collaborations, including our work with SpaceX, highlight our capability to provide world‑class solutions for next‑generation satellite networks. Alongside our product innovation, we offer fully integrated services spanning design, manufacturing, and testing, supported by advanced hybrid manufacturing and microelectronic assembly.

Joining Filtronic plc means becoming part of a team that combines decades of RF expertise with a collaborative, forward‑thinking approach to solving complex communication challenges.

We are seeking to appoint a highly skilled Technical Bid Lead to head up our technical proposition development for the Space & Defence sectors. In this pivotal role, you will lead technical bid development through the bid lifecycle, ensuring that technical solutions are robust, compliant, and aligned with customer requirements and our strategic objectives & long‑range plan.

As the primary technical point of contact for bids and proposals, you will develop engineering content, cost & schedule estimates, risk assessments, and compliance matrices. You will work closely with business development, bid management, finance, and commercial teams to contribute to the generation of compelling, competitive, and technically sound proposals that position the company for success within the highly regulated Space and Defence Markets.

This role demands a hands‑on approach, working closely within a bid team to dig into technical detail and produce high‑quality bid content under tight deadlines. You will be expected to roll up your sleeves and actively contribute to the creation of deliverables, not just coordinate inputs, making this an ideal position for someone who thrives on both technical depth and practical execution.

This is a high‑impact role at the intersection of engineering, strategy, and business development, playing a critical role in securing future projects and partnerships and enabling the company’s ambitious growth plans.

Requirements

• Lead the technical aspects of bids from qualification (bid / no‑bid) through submission and handover to delivery teams. Translating complex engineering capabilities into winning proposal content
• Define and develop solution architectures, delivery approaches, and engineering estimates in collaboration with SMEs and functional leads
• Coordinate and generate the technical documentation, such as compliance matrices, system overviews, Product Breakdown Structures (PBS), Work breakdown structures (WBS) and contribute to generation of risk registers
• Collaborate with project management / bid management, engineering, and finance teams to align technical deliverables with statement of work requirements and ensure fully costed and resource loaded schedules
• Ensure proposal compliance with Space and Defence specific qualification requirements
• Act as the technical representative during customer clarification or negotiation phases

What We Would Like To See

• Degree in RF Engineering, Electronics, Physics, or equivalent technical discipline (Master’s or PhD advantageous)
• Significant experience in RF/microwave systems, technical product management, or bid leadership in the space or defence sectors
• Strong understanding of RF subsystems, including amplifiers, filters, and integrated modules for aerospace or secure communication systems
• Knowledge of defence and space procurement processes, proposal formats and bid governance
• Experience bridging technical and commercial domains in a customer‑facing role
• Proven ability to take a hands‑on role in developing technical bid content — including writing, reviewing, and editing solution descriptions, estimates, and compliance responses
• Deep familiarity with space and defence development processes and product lifecycles, including MoD and ESA standards and requirements

Essential To Have

• Exceptional technical writing and communication skills, with a proven ability to distil complex ideas into clear, compelling messaging
• Strong strategic thinking with commercial awareness
• Excellent collaboration skills; able to work across functions and manage inputs from diverse technical teams
• Organised, deadline‑driven, and able to manage multiple bid timelines concurrently
• High attention to detail, with a commitment to proposal quality and compliance

Desirable to Have

• Familiarity with UK/US export control regulations (ITAR, EAR, UK Export Control)
• Knowledge of software‑defined or digitally enhanced RF systems

Benefits

We recognise the value of exceptional talent. That’s why this role is backed by an outstanding salary with bonus and benefits benchmarked close to the top of the sector.

Please call Bruce Mair, our Talent Partner, on 07483 917543 (anytime) if you would like further details on this important role, or to clarify the salary and benefits package - and what success in this role looks like to us - before investing your time in applying. Every call is answered, and every voicemail or message is responded to.

Filtronic plc is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or disability status. If you require any adjustments or accommodations to support you during the interview process, please let us know and we will be happy to assist.