Senior RF Engineer (Tunnels)

Overview

Senior RF Engineer role supporting the design, deployment and optimisation of wireless mobile solutions across the HS2 project.

Lead the cellular RF design of trackside macro cell sites serving millions of passengers each year and work within a multi-discipline design team to meet customer needs.

• What You’ll Be Doing
• Carry out RF and design surveys for tunnel radiating infrastructure.
• Perform RF modelling, link budgets and design using industry-standard methods and tools.
• Collaborate with station RF design engineers to create 3D design models of tunnel evacuation shafts and portal buildings.
• Coordinate handovers between tunnel and open route environments with outdoor RF design engineers to ensure seamless connectivity.
• Participate in engineering discussions as RF design expert addressing challenges unique to high-speed rail and tunnel environments.
• Ensure installation suitability to tunnel conditions (space, heat, vibration, dust, etc.).
• Ensure compliance with RF safety best practices and guidelines such as ICNIRP.
• Lead product and component selection to minimise losses and maintain system quality, minimising factors such as PIM.
• Review results, drawings and reports produced by others; lead optimisation activities to manage interference and maximise system performance.
• Develop design criteria/requirements, system dimensioning, link budget and traffic analysis.
• Create low-level designs including Bills of Materials, cable schedules and detailed system configuration diagrams, ensuring cost control throughout the design process.
• Understand the wider design context and ensure external interfaces are considered, working with team members to implement an integrated design.
• Ensure designs are dimensioned for current demand and scalable for future growth and changes in MNO requirements.
• Participate in equipment coordination with HS2 stakeholders and partners to represent RF design needs in decision-making and minimise design change.
• Participate in MNO review sessions, presenting and justifying the design and technical decisions.
• Complete RAMS and adhere to company H&S policy.
• Collaborate with project managers to deliver projects on time and on budget; liaise with customers and stakeholders; prepare Handover Packs, Post Integration Reports and Design Reports on agreed timescales and templates.
• Provide estimates on resources required for tasks and update internal reporting systems as required.
• Familiarise with company documentation, particularly ISO procedures.
• This role requires 2 days per week located in Birmingham.
• What You’ll Bring
• Experience in RF planning, designing and optimising tunnel coverage solutions within the rail industry.
• Knowledge of UK or IE mobile network architecture models and standards.
• Experience with testing methodologies and tools (e. g., scanners and test phones such as TEMS, NEMO).
• Experience designing DAS equipment rooms, including MNO equipment requirements, DAS head end dimensioning, and electrical and cooling load definitions.
• Experience working with architects and BIM modelling teams to plan spatial coordination of equipment.
• Advanced knowledge in optimisation and performance optimisation; advanced knowledge of 3GPP standards related to high-speed rail scenarios and their impact on RAN performance.
• Advanced knowledge of radio propagation models, fade margins and other environmental factors affecting RF coverage.
• Good knowledge of Radio Link Budgets.
• Why Work With Us
• Flexible working opportunities.
• Parental leave with up to 20 weeks paid at full salary.
• Holiday allowance starting at 25 days, rising with length of service.
• Volunteer days.
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