Senior RF Test Engineer in Cambridge

About Us: Forefront RF is a fabless semiconductor company developing breakthrough RF technology that radically simplifies RF front-end architectures for mobile and connected devices. Our long-term vision is to empower anyone to treat global connectivity as a commodity, effortlessly adding it to any device. We lead through innovation, solving our customers’ toughest challenges, enabling them to stay ahead by pushing the boundaries of RF design.

Our Values: Our values are the quiet nudge that help us to be our best in every interaction.

• One team: We listen, share, and build solutions together. Collaboration is at the heart of how we work. We support one another, embrace challenges and fun, and celebrate collective success.
• Innovation with intent: We operate at the forefront of technology, building innovative pathways to the future that meets real customer needs.
• Solutions driven: We develop world leading manufacturable products that deliver effortless connectivity.
• Customer focused: We act with integrity, hold ourselves accountable, and are guided by a deep commitment to deliver customer focused solutions.
• Sustainable: We design for longevity and reuse - leveraging globally connected RF technology to extend product lifecycles and reduce waste.

Role Overview: We are seeking a skilled Senior RF Test Engineer to join our growing development team in Cambridge, UK. You will lead RF measurement, characterization, and validation of cutting-edge RF products, providing critical insight to design and systems teams to ensure strong correlation between simulation and hardware performance. You will be responsible for defining and improving RF test methodologies, developing robust measurement infrastructure, and driving best practices across RF characterisation activities. You will be comfortable independently solving complex measurement challenges, guiding test strategy, and contributing directly to delivering high-performance RF modules.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead RF characterisation and validation activities, conducting detailed measurements to evaluate and optimize product performance.
• Design, develop, and maintain robust and repeatable RF test setups for the characterization of RF modules and systems.
• Perform and analyse 3GPP-aligned RF measurements (LTE and/or NR) to assess transmitter and receiver performance.
• Provide measurement-driven feedback to RF design and systems teams to ensure strong correlation between simulation, design expectations, and hardware performance.
• Develop and maintain automated test frameworks and scripts to improve measurement efficiency, repeatability, and data integrity.
• Define and uphold RF measurement methodologies, lab best practices, and documentation standards.
• Troubleshoot complex RF measurement setups and hardware issues, supporting development and design reviews with measurement insights.
• Maintain the RF laboratory environment, including test infrastructure, equipment calibration, and measurement best practices.

About you: You’re excited by the opportunity to work with breakthrough technologies. You may thrive in this role if you have some or all of the following:

Education & experience:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related field.
• Strong hands-on experience in RF testing, characterization, and validation of RF systems or modules.
• Practical experience with 3GPP-based measurements for cellular systems (LTE and/or NR).
• Solid understanding of RF fundamentals including S-parameters, impedance matching, gain, noise figure, and linearity.
• Proficiency with RF lab equipment (e.g., VNAs, spectrum analysers, signal generators) and developing repeatable automated test setups (Python/MATLAB or similar).
• Ability to interpret RF schematics, debug hardware, and analyse RF system trade-offs, with practical lab experience.
• Experience maintaining RF lab environments, including equipment calibration, test infrastructure, and measurement best practices.
• Experience leading measurement activities or mentoring engineers is desirable.

People Skills:

• Proactive approach to problem-solving with a resilient attitude towards ambiguity.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration abilities.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Attention to detail and commitment to producing high-quality output.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and pension contributions.
• Company Share Option Scheme.
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays.
• Weekly company lunches.
• Flexible work hours and remote work options.
• Private medical insurance.
• Life assurance x 4.
• Income protection.
• Healthshield Cash plan.
• Heka flexible benefits platform.

We believe in equal opportunities. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.