Principal Radio Frequency Engineer - #2192677

Are you an expert in RF engineering looking to take your designs into orbit?

We are seeking a highly skilled RF Design Engineer with a proven track record in active circuit design to join a fast-paced, high-profile team. In this role, you will take true ownership of complex hardware—designing, simulating, and testing RF communication systems from UHF all the way to Ka Band for mission-critical space and satellite applications.

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

Work Pattern: 37.5 hours | Monday–Thursday 8:15 AM – 5:00 PM, Friday 1:00 PM finish.

Pay Rate: £35.90/hr

Contract: 6-9 months

Key Responsibilities

• Create and develop RF hardware for telemetry, telecommand, and datalink applications (UHF to Ka Band).
• Design active RF circuits, including LNAs, SSPAs, driver amplifiers, mixers, frequency converters, synthesizers, and PLLs.
• Perform architecture trades, link budgets, and gain/noise analysis. Conduct advanced simulations using AWR, ADS, CST, HFSS, or MATLAB.
• Lead RF testing, debugging, and troubleshooting using VNAs, spectrum analysers, and signal generators.
• Support environmental testing (EMI/EMC, thermal vacuum, vibration, shock) and investigate performance issues through to production.
• Produce high-quality technical documentation and act as a key technical point of contact for customer design reviews (PDR, CDR).

Key Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electronic Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years’ industrial experience in RF/microwave hardware development.
• A proven track record in designing and testing active RF circuits and systems.
• Strong understanding of RF line-up, linearity, phase noise, EVM, and receiver sensitivity.
• Ability to work independently on complex technical tasks with limited supervision, taking designs from requirements to delivery.

If you have experience or familiarity with any of the following, we want to hear from you:

• Aerospace, defence, or space communication systems (especially mission-critical RF applications).
• Telemetry, telecommand, or satellite systems (SDR-based and digital communication architectures).
• RF system lifecycles, including EMI/EMC, environmental testing, and product certification.
• Advanced radio architectures (FPGA-based systems and high-speed digital interfaces).
• Supporting formal engineering design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR).

Any offer is subject to full BPSS* Screening (*Baseline Personnel Security Standard), including proof of Legal Right to Work, Criminal Records Check, and Drugs Screening.

Due to security requirements on this site all worker's nationality needs to be UK, EU or NATO.

If you are looking for your next opportunity, please apply with your Updated CV.