Radio Frequency Engineer – Aerothermal
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 18, 2026. First seen by Alion on Oct 7, 2026.
Job Description
Radio Frequency Engineer - Aerothermal
Full time - Hybrid
Bristol
When you join as a Radio Frequency Engineer - Aerothermal at Rolls-Royce, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of advanced defence capability through the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). This highly specialised role is critical to the success of next-generation propulsion systems.
It focuses on computational analysis, aerothermal performance, and cross-disciplinary design. If you’re driven by innovation, problem-solving, and applying deep technical knowledge in aerodynamics, thermodynamics, and computational methods, this is an opportunity to influence one of the most advanced programmes in aerospace engineering.
Why Rolls-Royce?
Rolls-Royce is one of the most enduring and iconic brands in the world and has been at the forefront of innovation for over a century. We design, build and service systems that provide critical power to customers where safety and reliability are paramount.
We are proud to be a force for progress, powering, protecting and connecting people everywhere.
We want to ensure that the excellence and ingenuity that has shaped our history continues into our future and we need people like you to come and join us on this journey.
This role sits within our Defence business, where we deliver cutting-edge propulsion technology and systems integration for programmes of national importance. You’ll be part of the Global Mechanical Systems Capability, a team that brings together expertise in aerothermal science, computational methods, and cross-discipline engineering to deliver innovative solutions that underpin the performance and reliability of our future combat air systems.
We’ll provide an environment of caring and belonging where you can be yourself. An inclusive, innovative culture that invests in you, gives you access to an incredible breadth and depth of opportunities where you can grow your career and make a difference.
As a Radio Frequency Engineer, you’ll join a niche and highly collaborative team where you’ll work at the intersection of physics, mathematics, aerothermal performance and computational modelling. You’ll gain exposure to world-class tools and techniques, build deep domain expertise, and have the opportunity to develop your career across technical leadership, systems integration or advanced research pathways.
What we offer
We offer excellent development opportunities, a competitive salary, and exceptional benefits. These include bonus, employee support assistance and employee discounts.
Your needs are as unique as you are. Hybrid working is a way in which our people can balance their time between the office, home, or another remote location. It’s a locally managed and flexed informal discretionary arrangement. As a minimum we’re all expected to attend the workplace for collaboration and other specific reasons, on average three days per week.
What you will be doing
With this attractive opportunity you will get a chance to:
- Define and translate radio frequency (RF) requirements into practical design constraints, ensuring alignment with adjacent functional disciplines and rig test requirements.
- Develop and assess powerplant concepts that meet RF demands, applying advanced analytical methods to support robust, optimised solutions across platform and powerplant levels.
- Collaborate across engineering functions to reduce technical risk, perform electromagnetic analyses, and carry out verification and validation activities to ensure requirements are met.
- Lead the capture, management and communication of RF technical knowledge, including modelling, test data, reporting and evidence cataloguing to maintain technical integrity throughout the lifecycle.
Who we’re looking for:
At Rolls-Royce we put safety first, do the right thing, keep it simple and make a difference. These principles form the behaviours that guide us and are an essential component of our assessment process. They are the fundamental qualities that we seek for all roles.
To be successful in this role you will need to:
- Hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Physics or Engineering (or regional equivalent), or demonstrate equivalent experience.
- Bring strong technical knowledge in electromagnetic analysis and design methodologies, with awareness of cross-discipline concepts such as manufacturing engineering, aerodynamics, thermodynamics, mechanical/thermal analysis, cost engineering and product definition.
- Have experience using commercial Computational Electromagnetics (CEM) tools such as FEKO, CST or HFSS, with a good understanding of the strengths and limitations of different analysis fidelities.
- Apply logical, analytical and innovative thinking to solve complex technical problems and make balanced decisions across both technical and business considerations.
- Communicate effectively, with the ability to present complex information clearly and confidently to stakeholders at all levels.
We are an equal opportunities employer. We’re committed to developing a diverse workforce and an inclusive working environment. We believe that people from different backgrounds and cultures give us different perspectives which are crucial to innovation and problem solving. We believe the more diverse perspectives we have, the more successful we’ll be. By building a culture of caring and belonging, we give everyone who works here the opportunity to realise their full potential.
You can learn more about our global Inclusion strategy at Our people | Rolls-Royce
To work for the Rolls-Royce Defence business an individual has to hold a Security Check clearance. Rolls-Royce will support the application for Security Clearance if you do not currently already have this in place. Due to the nature of work the business conducts and the protection of certain assets we can only progress applications from individuals who are a UK national or, in MoD approved cases, a dual national.
As part of our selection process, candidates in certain locations may be asked to complete an online assessment, which can include cognitive and behavioural aptitude testing relevant to the role. If required, full instructions for the next steps will be provided.