Leonardo
RF Engineers - All levels
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Job Description:
Salary:
Senior: £45,200 to £61,950
Principal: £53,300 to £71,400
Lead: £59,000 to £85,000
Leonardo UK operates a grade-based salary framework with broad bands. The salary range shown reflects the approved grade band for this role, or a narrower hiring range published within that band, and is benchmarked against the external market. Exceptions above the standard range are managed through governance controls to protect internal equity.
Your Impact
At Leonardo, you’ll step into a place where breakthrough ideas become real-world capability. Here, engineering isn’t just a job—it’s the craft of shaping the future of phased array radar technology.
We have vacancies for experienced RF Engineers, at all grades, to join our world-class radar division. Based either at our Edinburgh or Newcastle site, you’ll become part of a team whose work defines the leading edge of radar innovation.
You’ll play a vital role in developing and delivering cutting-edge radio-frequency systems that sit at the heart of our advanced Radar products. Your expertise will help ensure these systems perform with precision, reliability, and excellence in some of the most demanding environments in the world.
Hybrid working - in this role it is possible to work from home some of the time, but the nature of the work and security requirements mean that you should expect to be mostly working on site.
What you’ll do
This is an exciting opportunity for you, as an engineer, to bring your skillset and knowledge into our working environment. You will be involved in developing a range of multifunctional RF, PCB, and Module designs, using the latest technologies available and contribute to the definition and execution of testing and integration phases of a range of radar products.
- Creating high quality and robust designs
- Conducting design reviews for your design
- Fully documenting and recording your work products, keeping them under configuration management and providing plans and progress reports
- Produce high quality, UK manufactured RF and Microwave designs on multilayer substrates, using a mix of active and passive components, also encompassing power, control, and digital functions
- Help design and test very high performance (low phase noise) Synthesisers, wideband up- and down-converters. We use PLLs, high-speed ADCs and DACs, custom-designed parts, and conventional COTS components
- Full life-cycle design: Derive module requirements from the system design, use of simulation tools and rapid prototyping to verify the design, and support final production and testing
- As part of the team, you’ll help support and develop placement students, graduates, and junior engineers
- We document and review our designs thoroughly—depending on the grade, you will be involved in preparing documents for review, acting as an independent design reviewer, or chairing reviews and ensuring correct process is followed
- Working closely with Systems, Test, and Electronics engineers you will be solving real integration problems on advanced systems
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What you’ll bring
To excel in this role, you’ll bring a strong command of RF / Microwave circuit design, paired with the problem-solving mindset and attention to detail needed to tackle complex technical challenges. You will need to take ownership of tasks and have personal responsibility to deliver solutions, drawing on collaboration with other teams as required.
Qualifications: first or second degree (BSc, BEng, MEng, MSc, PhD, EngD) in Electrical & Electronic Engineering (preferable) or related science (e.g. Physics)
Experience: Proven experience (3 years +) in RF circuit design and analysis and a strong understanding of microwave techniques and electromagnetic theory.
Skills: Proficiency in using commercial software tools for RF analysis /simulation such as Keysight ADS, AWR Microwave Office & CST Microwave Studio. Hands-on experience in RF & Microwave measurement techniques such as Vector Network Analysis, Spectrum Analysis, etc. Awareness of requirements management, ideally using tools such as IBM Doors.
Ideal experience: RF microwave sub-system design, RF system test and integration, Lab measurements such as signal generation, spectrum analysis, and vector network analysis, Microwave design tools, GaAs/GaN MMIC design and application, Design of passive microwave structures, Low phase noise design and measurement, Microwave component selection, Technical report writing, Design reviews, and lifecycle management.
Personal attributes and values are just as important to us as technical ability so we are looking for engineers with a willingness to learn, progress, and develop through our devoted technical career path. If you are passionate in what you do and can deliver a pragmatic approach to problem-solving, we would like to hear from you.
Security Clearance
This role is subject to pre-employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance, please visit: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting
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Why join us
At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work–life balance. Whether you're looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.
- Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.
- Secure your Future: Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
- Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing, and Ethnicity).
- Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
- Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
- Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
- Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships, and more.
- Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part-time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.
For a full list of our company benefits, please visit our website.
Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team—they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.
At Leonardo, we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.
Be part of something bigger - apply now!
Primary Location: GB - Edinburgh
Additional Locations: GB - Newcastle
Contract Type: Permanent
Hybrid Working: Hybrid
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