Spectrum Engineering Officer in Baldock

About Ofcom

As the UK’s communications regulator, we’re delivering vital work that helps keep the UK connected and shapes how we’ll stay connected with each other in the future. Our work covers everything from phones and broadband, through to TV, radio, the postal service, and wireless devices. We’re also taking on the challenge of making the online world a safer place. And we need people of all backgrounds, skill sets, and experiences to help us achieve our goal of making communications work for everyone.

Looking for a job where you can utilise your radio engineering skills in contributing to one of Ofcom’s key statutory duties managing the UK civil radio spectrum?

About the team

Radio spectrum is a vital resource used by almost everyone, consumers as well as businesses and it touches everyone's life every day. The radio spectrum connects our mobiles, wireless headphones, tablets, and computers. It enables our key fobs to unlock our cars, the Met Office to forecast the weather, satellites to measure global warming, concerts and shows to be seen and heard. Without access to spectrum police, fire, ambulance, coastguard, and air traffic control would not be able to communicate - it is that important.

Your role will be working in the Spectrum Assurance team within the wider Ofcom Spectrum Group. Spectrum Assurance is a large team consisting of two core elements: UK dispersed SEO’s working in geographical area and a Spectrum Management Centre; Ofcom’s technical operations hub in Baldock. This unique opportunity also will play a crucial role, inspiring the team to meet Ofcom’s ambition to make communications work for everyone. You will work with fellow Spectrum Engineering Officers (SEO’s) and Compliance Officers to assist the management team to help steer appropriate spectrum operational management policy. Spectrum Engineering Officers (SEO’s) not only provide advice and assistance, where necessary, they undertake compliance action to resolve interference issues. You are not required to have a legal/regulatory background as full training will be provided. SEO’s will additionally monitor and proactively investigate improper use of the spectrum, to keep the UK businesses and consumers “on the air.”

Purpose of the role

The key purpose of the role is to deliver high quality spectrum assurance to services and spectrum users within a geographical area. This requires first class radio engineering, interpersonal communications, and we will teach you the investigation and compliance skills to carry out the role. In this unique Engineering / Regulatory role, you will collaborate with a wide range of Ofcom’s radio and telecoms external stakeholders to resolve harmful radio interference cases which can disrupt critical safety to life systems such as aircraft radio communications and navigation systems including radio services essential to everyday life such as mobile network operators. Radio interference casework will be triaged and passed to you from the Spectrum Management Centre; it will be your responsibility to locate manage the interference case to resolution. In addition, you will manage the radio spectrum within your geographical area monitoring and investigating unlicensed spectrum use. You will be supported by a highly specialised and experienced Ofcom Team using state of the art mobile and fixed radio measurement equipment such as real time radio spectrum analysis supported by the relevant regulatory legislation.

Your key responsibilities

• Responsible for maintaining high radio/spectrum engineering standards and ensuring all harmful interference issues raised are resolved within KPIs.
• Responsible for investigating all unlicensed radio spectrum use within geographical area are resolved within KPIs.
• To mitigate the effects of harmful radio interference you will be responsible for planning targeted proactive radio monitoring to ensure radio licence compliance.
• Proactive inspection of a wide range of radio equipment to ensure licence compliance and adherence to associated technical specification.
• Support large sporting events which rely on radio services, such as The Open Golf Championship and G26 Commonwealth Games.
• Provide support and collaboration to fellow colleagues and assisting when required.
• Responsible for own equipment plant and vehicle are at professional standard, finances, and H&S. (Full equipment and vehicle will be provided).

Essential skills, knowledge, and experience

• Appreciation of and desire to promote Ofcom’s values of excellent, agility, respect, empowerment, and collaboration.
• Owning Accountabilities - ownership and delivery of performance, KPI’s and service levels.
• Experience of radio engineering and knowledge of radio spectrum.
• Experience of working in a geographically dispersed team.
• Harmonising Work - excellent people skills, delivering difficult conversations, tracing interference and interacting with people for all associated casework.
• Forming Relationships - excellent stakeholder relationship skills and customer focus skills.
• Full driver’s license.

Qualifications

• Technical qualification – HNC/D in a technical discipline, or able to demonstrate equivalent experience and knowledge.

Inclusive hiring at Ofcom

At Ofcom, our mission is clear: to make communications work for everyone. To achieve that, our people must reflect the diversity of the UK, in background, identity and experience. We believe innovation thrives when difference is valued and everyone feels empowered to contribute their ideas and perspectives. That’s why we welcome colleagues of all ethnicities and races, sexes, genders and gender identities, sexual orientations, ages, faiths and beliefs, and those with apparent and non‑apparent disabilities. We value socio‑economic diversity, life experience and neurodiversity too. Whether you’re a carer, a parent, a veteran, or re‑entering work after time away, your voice and perspective matter here. Flexibility is at the heart of how we work because we want you to thrive in a way that suits you best. Most roles can therefore be adapted for part‑time hours, job shares, or other flexible arrangements.

As a proud Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee interviews for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for a role.

Whoever you are, whatever your story, you belong at Ofcom. We make communications work for everyone.