Chief RF Engineer

A UK specialist antenna design and manufacturing business is looking for a technically credible engineering leader to take ownership of its RF and antenna team and guide it through its next stage of growth.

This is a genuine opportunity to lead, shape and grow an established but developing function, with a seat on the business unit's Senior Leadership Team.

The role

• Lead a team of six: two experienced Senior Antenna Engineers, three developing engineers and a test and measurement engineer who runs the anechoic chamber.
• Provide technical direction and challenge antenna design, simulation and measurement work. This is a leadership role, not a hands-on design seat.
• Mentor and develop engineers at different career stages, with regular one-to-ones and clear development plans.
• Review and improve engineering processes, governance and ways of working as the function scales.
• Help move the business from bespoke, customer-driven projects towards a product-led approach, with more R&D and innovation.
• Work closely with other departments and support the business through ongoing ERP and CRM change.

About you

Essential:

• Genuine antenna engineering expertise, with a strong theoretical and practical understanding of antenna design and development.
• Experience with electromagnetic simulation tools such as CST, HFSS or FEKO, and the ability to interpret and challenge simulation outputs.
• Knowledge of antenna measurement (radiation patterns, S-parameters) and of lab, anechoic chamber or external test-range environments.
• Proven experience leading, managing or mentoring engineers. Formal line management is preferred, but strong evidence of supervising and developing others will be considered.
• A collaborative, inclusive leadership style, with the confidence to challenge constructively.
• Eligibility for UK Security Check (SC) clearance.
• Willingness to work predominantly on site.

Highly desirable:

• Experience improving engineering processes and governance, or helping to build, scale or transform an engineering team.
• Product development, R&D and innovation experience.
• Defence sector experience (the customer base spans defence and commercial markets).

What's on offer

• Lead and shape an engineering function at an exciting point in its development.
• Senior Leadership Team membership and real influence over structure, process and product direction.
• Exposure to a varied range of antenna products, technologies and customers.
• Clear scope for career progression in a growing engineering organisation.
• Relocation support, and a rural Herefordshire location with excellent quality of life.

Location: Herefordshire (predominantly on-site)

Salary: up to £85,000

Relocation support available

To apply , send your CV to [email protected] or message Tom Wray directly. All conversations are confidential.