Principal RF Engineer

Job Title: Principal RF Engineer

Organisation Overview:

Our Client operates within the high-tech aerospace and satellite communications industry, specialising in advanced RF geolocation systems used in critical national security applications. Renowned for innovation and precision, they offer a collaborative environment driven by technical excellence, continuous growth, and impactful work that enhances global safety and operational capabilities. Employees benefit from a supportive culture that values expertise, development, and cutting-edge technological achievements.

Role Summary:

Due to ongoing operational success and strategic expansion, our Client is seeking a Senior RF Systems Specialist to lead the optimisation of a sophisticated space-based RF geolocation platform. This role is pivotal in refining algorithms that determine the positions of RF emitters via satellite constellations, directly impacting mission-critical applications. The position offers an exciting opportunity to work on a mature, real-world system-taking it to new levels of accuracy and performance-across an environment that values pragmatic engineering solutions driven by data analysis and iterative improvements.

Responsibilities:

Take ownership of existing RF geolocation algorithms, enhancing their performance through rigorous mathematical and practical analysis.
Deeply understand and assess the current system, pinpointing limitations and areas for gain.
Enhance measurement models and calibration methods for timing, antenna alignment, and orbital parameters.
Conduct detailed error analysis including satellite ephemeris uncertainties, environmental propagation effects, and system noise sources.
Develop and validate algorithmic updates with real mission data, iterating based on observed results.
Implement improvements in collaboration with software teams, ensuring robust and accurate operational performance.
Extend system capabilities with new measurement types and adapt to evolving mission requirements.
Document assumptions, models, and validation processes for client review and system transparency.
Support system integration and troubleshoot anomalies, tracing issues through the signal processing workflow.
Essential Skills & Experience:

Advanced degree (MSc or PhD) in electrical engineering, applied mathematics, physics, aerospace, or related fields, with a focus on estimation, signal processing, or statistical modelling.
Proven expertise in estimation theory, linear algebra, probability, and optimisation applied within RF or signal processing contexts.
Strong practical skills in Python, with a history of prototype development, data analysis, and algorithm validation.
Experience working with complex, imperfect datasets-sparse truth data, incomplete calibration-and making pragmatic engineering tradeoffs.
Ability to interpret, understand, and improve existing codebases, particularly for geolocation or RF signal processing systems.
Knowledge of RF propagation physics, satellite manoeuvring, and orbital mechanics relevant to space-based sensing systems.
Capable of translating theoretical models into operational algorithms validated against real-world data.
Desirable Skills & Experience:

Hands-on experience with TDOA, FDOA, AoA, or hybrid RF geolocation techniques.
Background in electronic warfare, SIGINT, GNSS, or radio remote sensing systems.
Prior work within defence, satellite, or aerospace sectors, especially in spaceborne RF systems or phased array antenna design.
Experience reviewing and validating production-level code in C++ or similar languages.
Familiarity with satellite constellation optimisation and orbital dynamics.
Call to Action:

If you possess the necessary expertise and are eager to contribute to a mission-critical, technically challenging environment, please submit your tailored CV for consideration. We look forward to discussing how your skills can support our Client's continued success in space-based RF geolocation systems
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed