Senior AIT RF Communications Engineer | MRL Consulting

We are recruiting on behalf of our client for an experienced Senior AIT RF Comms Payload Engineer to lead integration and test activities for advanced satellite communication payloads.

• Lead a team of multidisciplinary AIT engineers to deliver full integration and test campaigns on time, to quality and cost requirements.
• Perform payload integration and RF verification and testing, including functional, performance and end-to-end testing.
• Conduct RF chain characterisation, link budget validation, redundancy testing and interface verification.
• Support environmental qualification and acceptance campaigns, including thermal vacuum, vibration, acoustics, EMC/EMI and shock.
• Specify, commission and maintain EGSE, including test procedures, scripts and monitoring tools.
• Create and maintain AIT documentation, including integration procedures, test reports and verification documentation.
• Manage non-conformances and contribute to Test Readiness Reviews, Post-Test Reviews and project review boards.
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring to junior engineers.

• 5+ years' experience in RF payloads, satellite communications, aerospace, defence or telecommunications, including leading integration and test campaigns.
• Degree or diploma in Electrical/Electronic, Mechanical, Aerospace, Industrial Engineering or a related discipline.
• Strong understanding of RF communication systems and satellite communication architectures.
• Hands-on experience with RF test equipment including VNAs, spectrum analysers, signal generators, noise figure analysers and RF switching systems.
• Experience using Linux, Windows and Python for automated testing and data analysis.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present technical information to senior stakeholders and customers.
• Strong collaboration and influencing skills, with the ability to work across multidisciplinary teams.
• A proactive approach to supporting and developing junior engineers.

Experience with GEO, MEO or LEO satellite programmes;
Ka/Ku/X-band payloads; digital transparent or regenerative processors; active phased array antennas; software-defined payload architectures; and spacecraft-level AIT campaigns.