Principal Antenna Design Engineer

Principal Antenna Design Engineer 12 month contract Inside IR35 - Buckinghamshire (4 days p/week on site) – SC Clearance required Overview We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Principal Antenna Design Engineer to provide innovative solutions to challenging antenna designs. This role covers the full development lifecycle, from requirements capture, system-level design and concept development through to antenna PCB design, simulation, prototyping, optimisation and measurement in anechoic facilities. Key Responsibilities Design, develop and test innovative solutions for antenna and RF products, considering emerging technologies in product design. Conduct electromagnetic simulations and analysis to optimise antenna performance. Perform requirements analysis, review and substantiation with customers. Lead testing, characterisation and verification of prototype and product designs, ensuring qualification and compliance with requirements. Represent the team in customer-facing and internal stakeholder engagements, driving progress across the Antennas Business Unit. Drive new business opportunities through bid management, concept design development, project-level estimation and technical proposal generation. Support the development of Automated Test Equipment (ATE) and analysis software, drawing on design experience. Create and maintain project plans alongside Project Managers, providing project status updates to stakeholders through design reviews. Qualifications and Experience Required Strong theoretical and practical RF antenna design experience. Strong understanding of RF principles, transmission line theory and antenna theory, including material selection and antenna impedance matching. High-level expertise in one or more electromagnetic simulation software packages, such as CST Microwave Studio (CST MWS), FEKO or HFSS, including relevant experience with Radar Cross Section (RCS) modelling. Significant experience with RF test and measurement equipment, such as Vector Network Analysers and Spectrum Analysers. Significant antenna design experience and knowledge of active/passive RF and microwave circuit design. Experience using antenna test ranges and anechoic chambers. Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFMA) experience desirable.