Senior RF Engineer

Senior RF Engineer

Department: Engineering

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Oxford

We are looking for a Senior RF Engineer to own the high-speed electronic interfaces in our optical interconnect development — the analogue signal path between our drive electronics and the optical source, and the receive chain from photodetector to TIA.

This is a central role in the programme. Achieving high data rates depends on the quality of the RF path to and from the optical path.

We would ideally like this role to reach beyond the RF signal path. As we build the team, there is real value in an engineer who can also contribute to broader electronic design — schematic capture, PCB layout management, power and voltage‑regulator design, and FPGA integration. These broader skills are desirable rather than essential, and the balance of the role can flex to suit the right candidate.

It is a hands‑on, benchtop role for an engineer who is as comfortable at the vector network analyser and the probe station as at the schematic and layout management.

• Design the analogue high-speed signal path from the drive electronics to the optical source, including driver circuitry, biasing, high-speed serial interfacing, and impedance matching.
• Evaluate, select, and qualify high-speed driver components against the relevant interface, bandwidth, and drive requirements.
• Design controlled-impedance, differential RF/microwave PCBs, managing trace geometry, return paths, via structures, and launch design.
• Own signal integrity across the full electrical path, minimising packaging and interconnect parasitics that limit achievable data rate.
• Design and characterise the optical receive chain, including photodetector and TIA, with layout optimised for low noise and sensitivity.
• Apply and tune transmit and receive equalisation to extend usable bandwidth.
• Carry out S-parameter measurement, eye-diagram and jitter analysis, and high-speed probing to separate intrinsic device performance from packaging effects.
• Build and maintain RF link budgets, and translate findings into structured feedback for the device and photonics teams.
• Where experience allows, contribute to the wider electronic design — schematic capture, PCB layout, power and voltage‑regulator design, and FPGA integration and bring‑up while the team grows.
• Document results and contribute to the characterisation data that drives design iteration.

• Degree (BEng/MEng) or PhD in Electronic Engineering, RF/Microwave Engineering, Physics, or a related field, with substantial relevant experience at senior level (typically 6+ years).
• Proven RF/microwave PCB design: controlled impedance, differential pairs, via management, and launch design at high frequencies.
• High-speed serial interfaces, including AC coupling and biasing for high‑speed signal paths.
• Evaluating and qualifying high-speed driver and amplifier components.
• S-parameter (VNA) measurement, calibration, and high-speed probing.
• Signal‑integrity simulation (for example Hyper Lynx, Ansys SI, ADS, or similar).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and the discipline to work to a measured link budget.

• Broader schematic capture and board design using eCAD tools such as Altium, across digital and mixed‑signal designs beyond the RF path.
• Power electronics and voltage‑regulator design (linear and switching), and power‑integrity analysis.
• FPGA circuit‑level integration and bring‑up.
• Board‑level architecture and full‑lifecycle electronic design — architect, design, implement, and verify.
• Digital video interfacing (for example HDMI) or comparable high‑bandwidth digital protocols.
• Photodetector / TIA receive‑chain design and an understanding of high-speed eye-margin trade-offs.
• Hardware bring‑up, verification, and characterisation across mixed‑signal designs.
• A proven track record of delivering high-speed electronics into production.

• Pension scheme
• Private medical & dental insurance
• 28 days’ holiday + bank holidays
• Relocation support
• Visa support available