Communications Systems Engineer in Chelmsford, Essex

Operating at the forefront of defence, aerospace, and national security engineering, delivering advanced sensing and effects capabilities into highly demanding environments. Engineering teams work across concept development, applied R&D, and advanced demonstrators, translating complex RF technologies into deployable systems used by government and defence customers.

The culture is highly collaborative and technically rigorous, bringing together specialists across RF, signal processing, electronics, firmware, and software to develop integrated system‑level solutions. Engineers are trusted to lead technical direction, influence innovation, and engage directly with customers and stakeholders.

As a Lead RF Systems Engineer, you will provide technical leadership across the development of RF systems, operating at system level from early‑stage research through to advanced demonstrators and prototype capability. This role is well suited to a senior engineer who enjoys shaping architectures, making trade‑offs, and leading multidisciplinary teams to deliver complex RF‑based solutions.

You’ll lead the development of RF system architectures, balancing performance, cost, schedule, and risk, while guiding teams working across antennas, RF front‑ends, signal processing, electronics, firmware, and software. The role sits at the centre of technical decision‑making, requiring strong systems thinking and the ability to translate abstract concepts into testable, demonstrable capability.

You will represent technical solutions to customers and internal stakeholders, providing briefings, justifications, and system roadmaps. Alongside delivery, you’ll support early‑stage innovation, feasibility studies, and proof‑of‑principle work, while mentoring engineers and driving continuous improvement across the team.

Hybrid working is supported, balanced with time on‑site to enable effective collaboration and system integration.

Your background:

• Strong experience in RF systems engineering, ideally within radar, electronic warfare, or related sensing domains
• Proven capability developing RF system architectures, including trade‑off studies and performance modelling
• Deep understanding of RF subsystems, including antennas, front‑end electronics, signal processing chains, and integration
• Experience taking early‑stage concepts through to demonstrators, prototypes, or operationally relevant systems
• Comfortable leading multi‑disciplinary technical teams or acting as a technical authority
• Strong communication skills, with experience presenting complex technical solutions to customers and stakeholders
• Ability to work effectively across engineering, programme, and management interfaces

Desired:

• Knowledge of electromagnetics, RF, and digital signal processing (DSP)
• Experience with radar and/or electronic warfare techniques and threat‑driven environments
• Exposure to system‑level testing and validation of RF systems
• Familiarity with defence or systems engineering frameworks and tools (e.g. DOORS, SysML, enterprise architectures)
• Background working within R&D or advanced demonstrator programmes

All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.