RF Engineering - Speculative Talent Pipeline in Bristol

RF Engineering - Speculative Talent Pipeline

Department: Engineering

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Bristol, UK

Description

We’re building the UK's next generation engineering powerhouse, providing critical technology that strengthens national security and resilience.

We specialise in turning advances in sensing, AI, and communications into operational capability for the edge, where connectivity may be degraded or denied. Our work focuses on accelerating the deployment of technology, improving decision‑making for frontline teams, and protecting people and critical assets in demanding environments.

Headquartered in Bristol, Rowden employs around 160 people and operates over 20,000 square feet of engineering and manufacturing facilities. We have a growing international footprint and are one of Europe’s fastest‑growing engineering businesses.

About the opportunity

Due to increased demand, we’re building a pipeline for talented and inquisitive engineers with experience across the RF domain – from communications and sensing to digital signal processing and hardware design.

If you have experience in one or more of the areas below and are motivated by solving challenging technical problems that directly support UK and allied missions, we’d love to hear from you. You can register your interest by applying to this advert, and when a suitable vacancy opens, we’ll get in contact with you.

You’ll work alongside a multidisciplinary team of engineers, covering RF, electronics, software, systems, DevOps, and networks, contributing to a hands‑on, fast‑paced engineering culture that values impact, curiosity, and collaboration.

Areas of Interest

We’re particularly interested in applicants with experience or strong interest in one or more of the following areas:

• Communication and Electronic Warfare (EW) System Design: Designing and developing RF systems for communication, sensing, and countermeasure applications. This includes understanding system‑level architectures, link budgets, and the practical considerations that influence real‑world deployment. Experience with modern and legacy RF communication systems, direction finding, or spectrum management is valuable.
• Digital Signal Processing (DSP): Developing and implementing algorithms for signal detection, classification, and identification. This could include modulation and demodulation techniques, adaptive filtering, spectral estimation, or feature extraction from complex RF environments. Experience translating theoretical DSP approaches into real‑time embedded or SDR implementations is especially welcome.
• RF Hardware Design: Designing RF subsystems and PCBs from concept through to prototype and validation, covering HF through to SHF bands. This may include low‑noise amplifiers, mixers, filters, ADC/DAC integration, and mixed‑signal design considerations. Applicants who enjoy bridging the gap between hardware and software, particularly where system performance is driven by RF integrity, will thrive here.
• Software Defined Radio (SDR) Design and Implementation: Working across hardware and software layers to develop flexible and reconfigurable RF systems. This includes experience with SDR frameworks, custom waveform implementations, driver integration, and performance tuning for real‑time operation. Familiarity with platforms such as USRP, BladeRF, or bespoke SDR architectures is advantageous.
• FPGA Development for High-Speed Processing: Implementing and optimising FPGA‑based signal processing pipelines operating > 100 MSPS. This might include high‑throughput filtering, FFTs, digital up/down conversion, or modulation/demodulation. Experience with VHDL, Verilog, or high‑level synthesis tools for DSP acceleration will be valuable.
• RF System Simulation and Modelling: Building and validating models that capture waveform behaviour, physical‑layer effects, and propagation characteristics under realistic operational conditions. This includes exploring channel models, interference and jamming effects, and time‑varying propagation. Experience developing or using simulation tools to assess performance before hardware testing is highly valued.
• Automated Testing and Validation: Designing and developing automated frameworks to evaluate RF subsystems and systems. This could include test scripting, signal generation and capture automation, regression testing, or hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) setups. Applicants with experience in creating repeatable, data‑driven test environments that accelerate validation and characterisation will be well suited.
• Wireless Communications and Waveform Development: Designing and implementing new or adapted waveforms and communication schemes for constrained, contested, or covert environments. This might include modulation design, protocol development, or adaptive control of transmission parameters to optimise performance in dynamic RF conditions.

Who We’re Looking For

We’re keen to hear from people who:

• Are hands‑on problem solvers with a solid grasp of RF engineering fundamentals.
• Have experience with tools and languages such as Python, C/C++, Rust or HDL (VHDL/Verilog).
• Thrive in technically challenging environments and enjoy learning new skills.
• Are outcome‑focused and pragmatic, balancing precision with pace.
• Enjoy collaboration and can communicate technical ideas clearly.

Experience in defence, aerospace, or secure communications sectors is valuable but not required. Curiosity, motivation, and willingness to engage in complex RF problem‑solving are what matter most.

Working at Rowden

We are committed to building a flexible, inclusive, and enabling company. Our aim is to create a diverse team of talented people with unique skills, experience, and backgrounds, so please apply and come as you are!

We also recognise the importance of flexible working and support this wherever we can. We typically operate a flexible, hybrid‑working model, with an average 3 days in the office each week (dependent on the role). We welcome the opportunity to discuss flexibility, part‑time working requirements and/or workplace adjustments with all our applicants.

Rowden is a Disability Confident Committed company, and we actively encourage people with disabilities and health conditions to apply for our roles. Please let us know your requirements early on so that we can make sure you have everything you need up front to help make the recruitment process and experience as easy as possible.

Finally, if you feel that you don’t meet all the criteria included above but have transferable skills and relevant experience, we’d still love to hear from you!