Support Engineer

Thales Aerospace Communications; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a talented RF Engineer to support the design and development of cutting-edge satellite communication products. This role involves designing and developing circuits, ensuring reliability and compliance, and providing technical guidance to the team. You will work with advanced RF equipment and contribute to innovative methodologies in a dynamic environment. If you have a passion for RF development and a desire to mentor others, this opportunity offers a chance to make a significant impact in the aerospace communications sector.

Qualifications

• 3+ years degree in Engineering required; MSc/MEng/PhD preferred.
• 2-10 years experience in RF development environment.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop RF and analogue electronic products.
• Support production troubleshooting and enhance production capability.
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to team members.

Skills

RF Development

Circuit Design

Troubleshooting

Mentorship

Technical Guidance

Low-Level Design Validation

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Postgraduate Degree (MSc/MEng/PhD)

Tools

Altium Designer

Microwave Office

LTSpice

Spectrum Analyser

Network Analyser

Oscilloscope

Power Meter

Signal Generator

Power Supplies

Job description

Overall Job Function

Responsible for the technical support of the design team in the design, analysis and testing of satellite communication products, including various complex antennas, power amplifiers, low noise amplifiers and cavity filters.

Support product development evaluations and final product characterization testing, working with the development team to provide testability planning, strategies and methodologies.

Responsible for developing and executing test solutions for RF products from concept and development through to the manufacturing process.

Job Responsibilities

• Design and develop circuits from concept through to manufacturing of a range of RF and analogue electronic products.
• Sub-system specification in order to translate the requirements derived from upper level (system specification) into more detailed technical specifications of how the subsystem should function internally to create the required responses to certain input signals.
• Ensuring that reliability requirements are met in the design: these include E.M.C (electromagnetic compatibility), safety, manufacturability and thermal design aspects.
• Support production in terms of trouble shooting if there is any issue with the existing test programs impacting customer delivery.
• Specify and recommend test resources, processes, capabilities, and technology to enhance production capability.
• Responsible for lab work during the prototype phase of product development.
• Frequent usage of RF equipment including: Spectrum and Network Analysers, Oscilloscope, Power Meter, Signal Generator, and Power Supplies.
• Adopt and/or participate in technological innovation or methodologies.
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to other members of the discipline, including production.
• Support the system engineering with low-level design validation.
• Contribute to the system-level or conceptual design.
• Assist with Industrialisation of prototype designs.
• Assist with Production and field return failure analysis.

Job Requirements

• A minimum of a three-year degree with honours or four year degree in Engineering, a post graduate degree in engineering (MSc/MEng/PhD) is preferred.
• 2-10 years working experience in a RF development environment.
• Design experience in power amplifiers, low noise amplifiers and cavity filter design.
• Experience with/in:
  • RF metrology (e.g. digital modulation, Spectrum and Network Analysers, Oscilloscope, Power Meter, Signal Generator, and Power Supplies).
  • schematic capture and PCB layout tools (Altium Designer).
  • RF and analog simulation tools (Microwave Office, LTSpice).
  • designing or testing for RTCA DO-160 compliance.