At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and deliver innovative software for advanced RF measurement and optimisation.
- Company: Join Forefront RF, a leading fabless semiconductor company in Cambridge.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible hours, remote work, and generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Work with breakthrough technologies and make a real impact in global connectivity.
- Qualifications: Proficiency in Python and experience in software development; RF knowledge is a plus.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
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.
Location: Cambridge, UK
Team: Engineering
Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time
Our Values
- 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 and motivated Software Engineer to join our team in the UK. The successful candidate will design and deliver production-quality software that brings advanced RF measurement and optimisation algorithms to life on complex RF hardware. The role focuses on turning RF system and optimisation concepts into robust, deployable software. Working closely with RF and systems engineers, you will implement, validate, and package algorithms in Python, ensuring they perform reliably in real-world, hardware-adjacent environments.
Key Responsibilities
- Software: Tackle complex, open-ended technical problems at the intersection of software, algorithms, and RF hardware, delivering solutions suitable for production use.
- Design, develop, and maintain Python-based software used for algorithm development and deployment.
- Work closely with RF hardware and systems engineers to ensure strong alignment between software behaviour and real-world hardware.
- Integrate, test, and validate software and algorithms on hardware prototypes and production systems.
- Apply sound software engineering practices, including modular design, version control, testing, and documentation.
- Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve software and algorithm performance issues during development and deployment.
- Algorithms: Translate algorithm specifications, mathematical models, and experimental insights into efficient, maintainable software implementations.
- Own the software realisation of algorithms, from early prototypes through to production-ready modules.
- Develop unit tests, validation tools, and reference datasets to verify correctness and support regression testing.
- Balance rapid experimentation with the evolution of code into robust, long-lived software.
- Supporting: Support integration with measurement systems, test equipment, and internal tooling as needed for algorithm validation.
- Contribute to documentation and technical knowledge-sharing within the engineering team.
Requirements
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: Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
- Ability to translate algorithms, mathematical descriptions, or system requirements into robust, maintainable software.
- Demonstrable experience in software development, with strong proficiency in Python for implementing and structuring algorithms.
- Experience implementing and adapting algorithms, optimisation methods, or data-driven analysis within real world hardware systems.
- Understanding of RF measurements and related test procedures is a strong plus.
- Familiarity with test equipment interfacing and communication protocols.
- Experience with real time processing is desirable.
- Prior experience working with RF modules, wireless systems, or telecommunications is a strong plus.
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
- People 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 software.
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.
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.
Software Engineer in Cambridge employer: Forefront RF
Forefront RF in Cambridge is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration among multidisciplinary teams. With competitive salaries, flexible working hours, and comprehensive benefits like private medical insurance, employees are empowered to thrive both personally and professionally, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in RF engineering.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Software Engineer in Cambridge
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Forefront RF or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Forefront RF.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Forefront RF.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Forefront RF that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Software Engineer in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Forefront RF.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Forefront RF and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Forefront RF
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Forefront RF uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
