RF Lead

Permanent
Engineering
Senior
Engineering, RF
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
£65000 - £85000 per annum

RF Lead

Location: Cambridge
Salary: Up to £85,000

Are you an experienced RF Communications specialist ready to take ownership, shape strategy, and influence mission-critical programmes within Defence & National Security?

This is an opportunity to step into a true leadership role where your expertise, ideas and client relationships directly shape the direction of complex radio systems from early concept through to deployed capability.

Why this role?

You will:

  • Lead the architecture and development of advanced RF communication systems
  • Work at the forefront of secure and resilient communications technology
  • Engage directly with Defence and National Security clients across the UK
  • Influence technical strategy and commercial direction
  • Take projects from early-stage concept and modelling through to real-world deployment
  • Build long-term trusted relationships with senior technical stakeholders

This is a role for someone who enjoys being client-facing, thrives in ambiguity, and wants their voice to be heard when defining solutions, not just delivering against a predefined spec.

The Opportunity

Radio communications sits at the core of what this team delivers. You will work on a diverse portfolio of programmes, including:

  • Low power, long range communication systems
  • High performance software defined radio systems
  • Secure bespoke communication platforms
  • Force protection and counter-threat radio systems

Projects often begin with complex, evolving requirements. You will bring lateral thinking, system modelling expertise, and a practical experimental mindset to shape the right solution quickly and efficiently.

You will collaborate with commercial and account teams to define programmes of work, support bids, and help secure future engagements. Your technical credibility will be central to winning and delivering projects.

What You Will Bring

  • Strong expertise in RF communication systems
  • Deep understanding of:
    • Radio propagation
    • Radio system design
    • Protocol design
    • Radio system implementation
  • Experience delivering R&D or advanced design programmes
  • Confidence working directly with UK Defence & National Security clients
  • Commercial awareness and experience contributing to bids or client proposals
  • A proactive, "can do" mindset

Experience in consultancy, government agencies or other fee-for-service environments would be advantageous.

What You Gain

  • A senior, visible role with real influence
  • Exposure to cutting-edge, secure communication technologies
  • Cross-disciplinary collaboration across AI, signal processing, embedded systems, electronics and physics
  • Varied, technically challenging projects across the full lifecycle
  • The opportunity to build trusted, long-term client partnerships
  • A competitive salary up to £85,000
  • UK travel as part of high-value client engagement

If you are an RF Communications expert who wants more ownership, more impact, and more strategic influence within Defence & National Security, this role offers exactly that.

Cambridge-based with significant UK engagement.

Apply to discuss in confidence

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