Cobham Aerospace Connectivity has a requirement for a Senior RF Design Engineer. This person is directly responsible to the Electronics Design Team Lead – Technology, implementing RF design activities in support of all deliverable products required to satisfy our NATO JEWCS contract. This is a key NATO program for the design and development of operational training electronic warfare pods.

This position is based at Bournemouth International Airport located at Hurn, Christchurch.

As a Senior RF Design Engineer, your skills and qualifications will ideally include:

Essential Personal Skill & Attributes:

• Bachelor Degree in Science/Technology or suitable equivalent.
• Credentials to or have the ability to be cleared to UK SC level.
• Proven track record of at least 5 years’ experience designing RF products up to 6GHz.
• RF system design - link and power budgets and noise figure analysis.
• Good knowledge of current RF technologies including – low noise receiver design, RF sampling ADCs and DACs, Oscillator / Synthesisers, digital attenuators, receiver protectors, lumped-element filter design.
• Proven hands-on RF design and simulation software experience (preferably ADS, Momentum or Microwave Office). CST simulation experience would be desirable but not essential.
• Knowledge of RF Antenna Systems and awareness of Phase Array Antennas.
• Good knowledge of power supply design, amplifier gating, circuits, etc.
• Experience in multi-page schematic capture and layout preferably using Altium.
• Experience in developing mixed technology PCBs incorporating RF and digital aspects using multi-layer substrates.
• Ability to write and deploy software to automate test equipment.
• Awareness of digital signal processing of RF and baseband signals.
• Knowledge of GPS and its vulnerabilities would be advantageous but not essential.
• Good knowledge of modern RF test equipment – VNA, RF Power Meter, RF Signal generator, RF Spectrum Analyser.
• Experience of deriving and capturing system level requirements from high level customer requirements preferably using IBM DOORS NG.
• Experience of developing, writing and implementing test and verification plans for RF sub-systems and complete systems.
• Experience of writing technical requirements for connectorized RF components & sub-systems.
• Experience of evaluating technical proposals from suppliers of RF components & sub-systems.
• Experience in Project life-cycle delivery from bids to operation.
• Computer literate – MS Office Software.

Desirable Personal Skill & Attributes:

• Knowledge of common interface busses such as SPI, I2C and PMBus would be advantageous.
• Knowledge of Industry Standards – ISO 9001, AS9100, Def Stan 00-56, DO178, etc.
• Knowledge of UK Civil Aviation Regulations – CAA/EASA.
• Experience of design or manufacturing in the aviation industry.
• Experience in Quality Management System management within an aviation environment.
• Experience in Safety Management System management within an aviation or engineering environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication Skills. Ability to interface and effectively influence and negotiate with internal and external customers at all levels.
• Excellent problem solving skills, utilising experience, sound judgment and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent time management skills, with the ability to achieve deadlines.
• Maintain high levels of integrity, work ethic and confidentiality and use discretion appropriately.
• Self-motivated, resilient with the ability to hold their own.
• Consistently demonstrate a commitment to company values.

As a Senior RF Design Engineer – NATO JEWCS your main responsibilities will involve:

• Designing RF systems and sub-systems to meet the requirements of NATO JEWCS.

• Design and develop RF sub-systems for new electronic warfare equipment.
• Use design expertise to create RF design solutions to electronic warfare engineering problems, particularly those relating to operational requirements for radar jammers and simulators for NATO JEWCS.
• Develop and maintain some knowledge of International Radar and Communications equipment types and function to enable solutions to electronic warfare engineering problems to be achieved.
• Carry out peer review of designs and technical proposals authored by other engineers from an RF point of view.
• Comply with Cobham Safety Standards.
• Maintain positive and constructive relationships with all internal and external stakeholders and customers.

Special Conditions

• Ad Hoc / Out-of-Hours work during urgent / unforeseen business requirements.

Any other reasonable duties which may requested by Electronics Design Team Lead - Technology that falls within the scope / capability of the incumbent.

Cobham Aerospace Connectivity

Manufacturers of secure, reliable communications and navigation systems

We are innovative system integrators with a pedigree of capability in Communications, Navigation and Electronic Warfare for aerospace and defence. Through continual innovation, we are able to supply highly resilient, totally dependable systems with low through-life costs that deliver outstanding performance and value. Our air, land and maritime products include Antenna Systems, Anti-Jam GPS, Radio, Audio, Air Traffic Management Systems and Electronic Warfare.