Job Title: Principal RF Engineer
Location: Isle of Wight – Cowes, Portsmouth Broad Oak or Chelmsford – Great Baddow – Hybrid pattern
We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements – please speak to your recruiter about the options for this particular role.
Salary: Circa £77,100 DOE + bonus scheme
Come and put yourself into a dynamic Principal RF Engineering role at the forefront of real‑world demands in the defence industry. Alongside ensuring operational excellence for our existing products, there will be the opportunity to develop next‑generation radar products to counter emerging threats and contribute to our strategy for new technology. Your day‑to‑day will be exciting and diverse by applying the principles of RF Engineering across the entire engineering development lifecycle as you join in developing radar systems used by those who serve and protect us.
Who we are: Join BAE Systems and you’ll be part of something bigger. As a valued member of our global colleague network, you’ll bring your unique skills and perspectives to help pioneer progress and protect what matters most. You’ll be trusted to play your part in delivering advanced, technology‑led defence, aerospace and security solutions for tomorrow, shaping a safer future for all of us. From the depths of the ocean, to the far reaches of space, there’s no limit to where a career at BAE Systems could take you.
Role description:
In this role, you will apply deep RF design expertise to develop innovative solutions for both new products and the integration of advanced technologies into legacy systems. You will lead the full design lifecycle, from initial concept through detailed development, verification, and delivery, addressing complex RF engineering challenges with rigor and creativity. Acting as the RF lead at subsystems and Line Replacement Unit (LRU) level, you will provide authoritative technical guidance, ensure design integrity, and collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams to meet performance, safety and compliance requirements.
Core duties:
- Providing technical leadership on RF engineering, guiding design decisions and assuring technical integrity
- Developing, promoting and sharing new RF technologies for adoption across programmes and business areas
- Producing detailed RF system and circuit designs supported by analytical and electromagnetic simulation
- Specifying bespoke procured hardware and verifying designs through simulation, analysis, testing and EMC support
- Leading integration activities within complex equipment environments and generating or reviewing technical documentation
- Collaborating with systems, mechanical/thermal, safety, ILS and manufacturing teams; supporting lifecycle reviews, bids and proposals
Essential skills:
- Degree‑qualified in Electronic Engineering (or closely related discipline) with substantial experience in RF technologies, system architectures and circuit design
- Skilled in simulating RF systems using tools such as ADS, HFSS or equivalent modelling environments
- Experienced in producing component‑level designs suitable for volume production, including detailed verification and proving
- Considerable background in integration, defect resolution and gathering evidence to demonstrate acceptance, compliance, safety and fitness for purpose
- Ability to apply rigorous engineering discipline across RF design, simulation, analysis and system‑level validation activities
- Experience in high‑integrity environments and complex radar or sensing systems is advantageous
The Radar Systems Engineering team: You will be working as a Principal RF Engineer within our close‑knit multi‑function radar team of inter‑disciplinary engineers, evolving our radar portfolio of existing and brand‑new radar products to address emerging and future threats.
Join us and help shape the future of radar technology!
Why BAE Systems?
Here you’ll build a career with purpose and limitless possibilities. With lifelong learning and meaningful work, this is a place where you can grow your career with confidence and be empowered to be your best. You’ll be recognised for your contribution and enjoy rewards tailored to what’s most important to you and your family, support for your financial and personal wellbeing, as well as a balanced lifestyle. In an environment embracing sustainable ways of working and with a strong sense of shared purpose, our supportive culture is a place you can feel you belong and proud of the difference you make.
A place where everyone can thrive:
We’re committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We know that a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences strengthens our teams and is vital to the work we do.
Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must, as a minimum, achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.
Closing Date:
17th April 2026
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
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