Principal RF Design Engineer

Who we are

DTC, a Codan Company, is a leading provider of advanced communications technology supporting defence, security, broadcast, public safety, and mission-critical operations worldwide.

As part of Codan Limited, an international technology company with a long-standing reputation for delivering trusted communications solutions, DTC combines specialist engineering expertise with global resources to develop products that perform in some of the world’s most demanding operational environments.

Our technology enables the secure and reliable transmission of video, voice, and data. We work closely with customers and industry partners to address evolving operational challenges while meeting rigorous performance, quality, security, and regulatory standards.

Joining DTC offers the opportunity to work alongside experienced professionals on advanced wireless communication technologies with a meaningful real-world impact. Employees benefit from the strength of a global organisation while contributing within a focused, agile, and collaborative engineering environment.

Role Summary

We are looking for a Principal RF Design Engineer to join our Hardware Engineering team in Hampshire.

This is a hands-on engineering and technical leadership role for someone who enjoys component-level RF design and wants to contribute across the complete product lifecycle, from initial concept and detailed design through to integration, production, and in-service support.

You will take ownership of RF designs at both board and system level, developing high-performance solutions for advanced wireless communication products. You will work closely with engineers across hardware, software, mechanical, systems, test, and manufacturing disciplines to turn complex requirements into reliable, production-ready products.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop RF systems and board-level hardware for advanced wireless communication products.
• Create component-level RF designs across transmitters, receivers, power amplifiers, low-noise amplifiers, mixers, filters, and software-defined radio systems.
• Translate product and system requirements into practical RF architectures and detailed hardware designs.
• Produce schematics, support PCB layout, and complete RF simulations and design analysis.
• Select and evaluate RF components based on performance, availability, cost, and suitability for production.
• Develop test plans and carry out hands-on verification using RF laboratory equipment.
• Support prototype bring-up, system integration, troubleshooting, validation, and qualification.
• Analyse RF performance, identify design issues, and implement effective technical solutions.
• Work closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams to ensure RF designs integrate successfully with the wider product.
• Support manufacturing, including design transfer, production testing, fault investigation, and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to design reviews, technical documentation, risk management, and engineering best practices.
• Provide technical support for products throughout their operational lifecycle.

Required Skills and Experience

• A degree in Electronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Strong commercial experience in discrete, component-level RF design.
• Strong RF design and analysis capability at both board and system level.
• A solid understanding of RF principles, including impedance matching, noise, linearity, gain, stability, filtering, and signal integrity.
• Experience developing RF hardware from initial concept through to test, validation, and production.
• Experience designing RF circuits such as transmitters, receivers, amplifiers, mixers, oscillators, and filters.
• Proficiency with RF simulation and electronic design automation tools such as AWR, PADS, or comparable packages.
• Hands-on experience using RF laboratory equipment, including network analysers, spectrum analysers, signal generators, power meters, and oscilloscopes.
• The ability to interpret requirements, make sound engineering decisions, and resolve complex technical problems.
• Clear communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with engineers from different technical disciplines.
• Eligibility to obtain UK Security Check clearance.

Desirable Skills

• Experience developing software-defined radio products or other advanced wireless communication systems.
• Knowledge of RF propagation, modulation techniques, communication system architectures, and link budgets.
• Experience designing transceivers, low-noise amplifiers, power amplifiers, mixers, and RF filter networks.
• Familiarity with electromagnetic compatibility requirements, testing, and compliance.
• Experience supporting PCB layout for RF and mixed-signal designs.
• Exposure to digital signal processing or embedded communication systems.
• Experience working with manufacturing teams and supporting products through production and in-service operation.
• Experience within defence, public safety, broadcast, or another highly regulated or mission-critical environment.

Why join DTC

• Work on advanced RF technology used in demanding environments around the world.
• Take ownership of designs throughout the complete engineering lifecycle.
• Collaborate with experienced specialists across a range of engineering disciplines.
• Contribute to products that support defence, public safety, broadcast, and mission-critical operations.
• Benefit from flexible working, a strong benefits package, and ongoing professional development.
• Join a focused and agile engineering business backed by the resources and international reach of the Codan Group.

Apply

If you are passionate about hands-on RF design and want to develop technology that performs when reliable communication matters most, we would be pleased to hear from you.