Product Design Authority

As Design Authority, you will be accountable for the technical integrity of assigned products or projects.

Sepura is a global leader in critical communications solutions. We design, develop and manufacture robust TETRA and broadband communication products used by customers who rely on dependable technology in demanding operational environments. We are recruiting for a Design Authority to join our R&D team in Cambridge. This is a senior technical ownership role for an experienced multidisciplinary engineer who is motivated by solving complex engineering problems and delivering practical, high-quality product solutions.

As Design Authority, you will be accountable for the technical integrity of assigned products or projects. You will ensure that engineering solutions are technically sound, manufacturable, supportable, compliant and aligned with customer, product, production and business needs. This role is ideal for a senior engineer who enjoys taking ownership, bringing together multiple engineering disciplines and turning technical uncertainty into clear decisions and deliverable outcomes.

The Design Authority is the senior technical owner for assigned products or projects. You will provide technical leadership from concept through development, verification, production introduction and lifecycle support, making balanced engineering decisions that consider performance, quality, cost, schedule, compliance, manufacturability and supportability. You will work across systems, software, electronics, RF, mechanical, test, production, product management, project management, suppliers and support teams to shape robust engineering solutions.

You will bring clarity where requirements, constraints or technical options are uncertain, and you will help teams make evidence-based decisions that keep products and projects moving forward. This is not only an advisory role. You will be expected to take ownership of technical outcomes, challenge constructively, resolve issues, manage technical risk and maintain confidence that the product design remains fit for purpose throughout its lifecycle.

The role offers the opportunity to influence product architecture, improve engineering practice and contribute directly to critical communications products that must perform reliably in real-world operational environments.

Our customers operate in sectors where resilient, secure and dependable communications are essential. Our TETRA and LTE solutions are developed for users who face demanding critical communications challenges around the world. You will be supported by your manager and the wider Design Authority team, while working closely with colleagues across R&D, Product Management, Project Management, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality and Support.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Acting as the Design Authority for assigned products or development projects, owning the technical direction and integrity of the solution.
• Transforming marketing requirements in product requirements and architecting the solution.
• Working with subject matter experts to define robust, future-ready product architectures and technical solutions.
• Making clear, evidence-based technical decisions and documenting the rationale, assumptions, risks and trade-offs.
• Ensuring product designs meet functional, non-functional, compliance, quality, manufacturability and supportability requirements.
• Providing technical leadership across multidisciplinary engineering teams, including systems, software, electronics, RF, mechanical, test and verification activities.
• Identifying technical risks early and driving practical mitigation plans to protect product performance, delivery, cost and quality.
• Supporting project managers by clarifying technical scope, dependencies, decisions, risks and engineering priorities.
• Working with Product Management to translate customer, market and regulatory needs into deliverable engineering solutions.
• Partnering with Operations, Quality and Supply Chain to ensure designs are suitable for production, test, service, repair and long-term lifecycle support.
• Assessing product performance against requirements, verification evidence and compliance obligations.
• Supporting obsolescence, supply chain and engineering change activities by assessing impacts and identifying technically sound alternatives.
• Acting as a go-to technical contact for engineering teams, helping resolve issues and maintaining alignment across stakeholders.
• Mentoring…