Job Description

Job Advert

ETL Systems Ltd

ETL Systems has been at the forefront of RF design and manufacturing for over 35 years. It designs and builds essential elements of critical satellite communications infrastructure. Its culture of innovation and solution-oriented approach has established it as a market leader in the field, with revenue growing 30x since 2003. In 2020, ETL Systems received significant investment from CBPE Capital, enabling the management team to drive its ambitious growth plan forward.


ETL's rapid growth and success have been recognised at the UK's highest level, winning three Queen's Awards for Enterprise in International Trade. As a testament to that success, the top 20 satellite operators and teleports utilise ETL's products. Around the world, 75% of NATO governments use ETL Systems equipment to protect their citizens.


Today, the company offers a full suite of solutions between the antenna and the modem for both the uplink and downlink chains. ETL recently acquired Spacepath Communications to integrate SpacePath's HPA product line into its portfolio. This position positions ETL to meet the evolving needs of our customers better and expand ETL's reach within the SATCOM market.

ETL People benefits

25 days' holidays plus UK bank holidays Buy and sell holiday scheme Long service holiday accrual Our ideal candidate will be a hands-on professional who invests most of their time in the lab to develop new technologies and support the next generation of emerging RF professionals.Enhanced pension plan Life assurance Annual salary review Career development and training for all roles Free employee refreshments Casual business dress Annual company events Employee kudos awards ETL employee wellbeing support (free annual flu vaccination, free eye tests, free employee assistance programme, Free GP Access) Employee referral bonus Free onsite parking EV charging is available on-site Cycle to work scheme Green travel scheme

Role Overview

The Principal RF Engineer will be pivotal in designing, developing, and implementing complex RF and mmWave RF systems. This position is crucial to the success of ETL Systems' projects, ensuring the delivery of high-performance RF sub-systems from concept to production. The successful candidate will join a dynamic RF team and report to the RF Team Lead.

Key Accountabilities

System Design: Lead the design, simulation, schematic, and layout of RF systems. Testing and Tuning: Conduct lab-based testing and tuning to ensure optimal performance. Team Support: Mentor and support junior engineers, fostering a collaborative and innovative team environment. Project Execution: To execute larger projects, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including PCB design, mechanical, analog, DSP, firmware, and software. Prototype Development: Quickly build and test radio system prototypes using custom and COTS parts. Verification and Validation: Define and execute test and design verification plans to meet product specifications.

Our ideal candidate:

Our ideal candidate will be a hands-on professional who will spend most of their time in the lab developing new technologies and supporting the next generation of up-and-coming RF professionals.

Desirables:

Education: BEng/MEng or MSc in RF/Electronics/Opto-Electronics or similar discipline. Experience: Proven track record in RF system design and analysis, including link budget analysis, frequency planning, and transceiver architectures. Skills: Proficiency in EM modelling techniques and tools, understanding of RF components, and experience with test instrumentation and calibration techniques. Travel: Occasional travel to ETL offices for team meetings.

Why Join ETL Systems?

At ETL Systems, we value innovation, excellence, and teamwork. We offer a supportive environment where your expertise is recognised and your professional growth is encouraged. You can work on cutting-edge RF technology projects, collaborate with talented professionals, and contribute to developing industry-leading solutions. Join us and be part of a team dedicated to making a difference in RF technology.

Location:

This role will be site-based and located at our offices in Rickmansworth.

Closing date:

06/06/2025


At ETL, we always prioritise efficiency in everything we do. With this in mind, we are looking to commence our interview process without delay and reserve the right to close the opening early should we receive suitable applications.

BPSS Compliant:

Due to the nature of our work, many of our roles require all candidates to be BPSS compliant.

VISA Sponsorship:

ETL Systems is proud to be a Grade A VISA sponsor for skills in short supply within the UK. Unfortunately, we cannot offer sponsorship for this role at this time.

Agency notice:

We have engaged with our PSL to support this campaign exclusively until the end of May 2025.