Principal Hardware Engineer in Fife, Glenrothes

Principal Hardware Engineer in Fife, Glenrothes

Glenrothes +1 Full-Time 60000 - 80000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Raytheon

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the design and development of innovative power electronic systems.
  • Company: Join RTX, a global leader in aerospace and defence with a collaborative culture.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive salaries, flexible working, and generous holiday allowances.
  • Other info: Flexible working options and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on cutting-edge technology and mentor future engineers.
  • Qualifications: Experience in power electronics design and strong problem-solving skills required.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.

hackajob is collaborating with Raytheon to connect them with exceptional professionals for this role.

Date Posted: 2026-07-08

Country: United Kingdom

Location: Glenrothes, Fife

Position Role Type: Hybrid

At RTX, the world largest aerospace and defense company, 185,000 great minds are united by purpose and inspired to make a difference solving the world’s most complex problems. With our three market leading businesses, world-class operations and investments in research and development, we offer capabilities and opportunity no one else can. Together, we push the boundaries of known science and find new ways to connect and protect our world.

Raytheon brings the strength of more than 100 years of experience and renowned engineering expertise to meet the needs of today’s mission and stay ahead of tomorrow’s threat. We deliver solutions that help our nation and allies defend freedoms and deter aggression, creating a safer, more secure world. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense.

We’re interested in people who are passionate about electronics—an experienced engineer looking for a new challenge. If you can demonstrate a solid understanding of hardware systems and a practical, problem-solving mindset, we want to hear from you.

The Principal Hardware Engineer will be able to make their mark on a broad and varied range of product designs and will be expected to assist in the integration of these designs into products, being the focal point for the complete system.

Main Duties:

  • Provide technical leadership within a multi-disciplinary design team
  • Lead the design and development of power electronic systems, from concept through qualification
  • Lead by example with respect to Safety and Quality, embracing internal and external processes.
  • Solve complex technical problems on both new developments and existing products
  • Capture, interpret, and derive customer requirements into clearly bounded design specifications
  • Produce high-quality schematics, simulations, PCB designs, and support component selection, evaluation, and verification
  • Direct design reviews, commissioning, debug, fault diagnosis, and lifecycle support
  • Design to cost and schedule, working effectively within approved budgets
  • Ensure designs meet relevant industry, customer, and regulatory standards
  • Support configuration control and managed design change
  • Produce clear, concise technical documentation and reports
  • Act as a technical authority in customer discussions within your area of expertise
  • Maintain a strong hands-on laboratory presence, assembling, testing, and troubleshooting hardware when required

Candidate Requirements:

We welcome applications from engineers who can demonstrate strength in most of the following areas — not necessarily every item:

  • Applying a systems engineering approach across the full product lifecycle
  • Significant experience in power electronics design, including a range of topologies
  • Proven ability to take designs from prototype through to production
  • Experience designing custom or semi-custom magnetic components
  • Strong understanding of embedded digital electronics, including microprocessors
  • Practical experience with schematic capture, PCB design, and verification
  • Ability to analyse problems using SPICE-based and Simulink simulation tools, make sound engineering decisions, and communicate outcomes clearly
  • Confidence working independently, while also mentoring and supporting others
  • Comfortable operating in a changing environment with competing priorities
  • Eligible for, or able to obtain, SC security clearance

Desirable Experience:

The following experience would be advantageous but is not essential:

  • Experience with ADC/DAC, memory devices (SRAM, Flash), and mixed-signal design.
  • Compliance of products to defence engineering standards (DEF-STAN, MIL-STD etc).
  • Design for, and compliance to, European Directives [Low Voltage Directive, Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive etc.]
  • Product design for Manufacture, Assembly and Test.
  • Product design for environmental requirements (shock, vibration, EMC, etc.)
  • Familiarity with Mentor Xpedition
  • Experience developing DO-254 compliant electronic systems
  • Experience with FPGAs, SoCs, and high-speed digital interfaces

What we offer:

  • Competitive salaries.
  • 25 days holiday + statutory public holidays, plus opportunity to buy and sell up to 5 days (37hr)
  • Contributory Pension Scheme (up to 10.5% company contribution)
  • Company bonus scheme (discretionary).
  • 6 times salary ‘Life Assurance’ with pension.
  • Flexible Benefits scheme with extensive salary sacrifice schemes, including Health Cashplan, Dental, and Cycle to Work amongst others.
  • Enhanced sick pay.
  • Enhanced family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, paternity & shared parental leave.

Work Culture:

37hr working week, although hours may vary depending on role, job requirement or site-specific arrangements. Remote, hybrid and site based working opportunities, dependant on your needs and the requirements of the role. A grownup flexible working culture that is output, not time spent at desk, focussed. More formal flexible working arrangements can also be requested and assessed subject to the role. Please enquire or highlight any request to our Talent Acquisition team to explore the flexible working possibilities. Up to 5 paid days volunteering each year.

RTX Raytheon UK is a landed company and part of the wider RTX organisation. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, USA, but with over 180,000 employees globally across every continent, RTX provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide and comprises three industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace Systems, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon.

Supporting over 35,000 jobs across 13 UK sites, RTX is helping to drive prosperity. Each year our work contributes over £2.7bn to the UK economy and offers a wealth of opportunities to 4,000 suppliers across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We’re investing in all corners of the country, supporting 29,040 jobs in England, 3,040 in Northern Ireland, 1,900 in Scotland and 1,600 in Wales.

RTX adheres to the principles of equal employment. All qualified applications will be given careful consideration without regard to ethnicity, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Locations

GlenrothesFife

Principal Hardware Engineer in Fife, Glenrothes employer: Raytheon

Raytheon is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Glenrothes or Livingston, Scotland, where innovation meets purpose in the aerospace and defense sector. With competitive salaries, generous holiday allowances, and a strong focus on employee development through mentoring and leadership opportunities, we foster a culture of collaboration and excellence. Our commitment to work-life balance, flexible working arrangements, and enhanced family-friendly policies makes Raytheon a rewarding place to build a meaningful career.

Raytheon

Contact Details:

Raytheon Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Principal Hardware Engineer in Fife, Glenrothes

Join Aerospace Forums and Groups

Get involved in aerospace engineering forums and online communities, like the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics). It's a great way to meet industry peers and stay updated on job openings and trends in the field.

Attend Industry Conferences

Keep an eye on upcoming aerospace conferences and events where you can network with professionals and showcase your interest. Events like the Farnborough International Airshow are not just about flying machines; they're a goldmine for connections and potential job leads.

Spotlight Your Projects

Make sure to highlight any hands-on experience or projects on your portfolio that showcase your skills in aerospace engineering. Employers love seeing practical applications of theoretical knowledge. Show us what you've got!

Apply Directly on Company Websites

When you find companies you want to work for, head straight to their careers page to apply for full-time roles, like the one with Raytheon for a Principal Hardware Engineer. This often puts your application in front of the right people faster than just waiting for job boards!

We think you need these skills to ace Principal Hardware Engineer in Fife, Glenrothes

Power Electronics Design
Hardware Systems Understanding
Problem-Solving Mindset
Technical Leadership
Multi-Disciplinary Team Collaboration
Schematic Capture
PCB Design

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for the aerospace engineering role at Raytheon, make sure to highlight your technical expertise. Include specific software skills, like CAD tools or simulation software, and any relevant engineering projects you’ve worked on. This is your chance to really shine and showcase your engineering toolkit!

Don't Skip Your Projects!:Include a section in your CV dedicated to projects that demonstrate your problem-solving abilities in aerospace engineering. Whether it's a university project, an internship, or personal work, we love seeing how you’ve applied your skills in real-world scenarios. Make it clear what your role was and the impact of the project.

Show Your Passion in Your Cover Letter:At Raytheon, we're not just looking for skills – we want to know why you’re passionate about aerospace engineering. Use your cover letter to express what excites you about aviation technology and your career goals. Share any relevant experiences or inspirations that have led you to apply for this full-time position.

Tailor Your CV for Aerospace:Make sure your CV is specifically tailored to aerospace engineering. Focus on your education, any certifications, and your work experience, ensuring you highlight aspects that relate directly to the role. Don’t forget to mention any internships or apprenticeships that have given you hands-on experience.

How to prepare for a job interview at Raytheon

Brush Up on Your Technical Knowledge

Aerospace engineering is all about technical precision, so make sure you’re comfortable with key concepts like aerodynamics, propulsion, and materials science. We recommend going through any relevant coursework or projects you’ve worked on – these real-world examples can illustrate your understanding during the interview with Raytheon.

Showcase Your Projects with Confidence

Make sure to have a portfolio ready that details any significant projects you've worked on, whether it’s a group assignment or a personal endeavour. Be prepared to discuss the challenges you faced, the tools you used, like CAD software, and what you learned from the experience, as this will show your problem-solving skills in action.

Prepare for Technical Interviews

Expect some technical questions or even problem-solving exercises during your interview with Raytheon. Get familiar with design challenges or theoretical problems related to aerospace; this can range from calculating lift and drag forces to materials selection under stress. Practising these can help you feel more at ease when faced with tricky questions.

Emphasise Your Passion and Teamwork Skills

As a full-time candidate, it’s crucial to convey your passion for aerospace engineering and your ability to work in teams. Highlight any group projects or internships you've done, focusing on how you collaborated with others to achieve a goal. Companies like Raytheon love seeing candidates who not only have technical skills but also fit well within their team culture.