Principal Electronics Engineer
Southampton or Bristol
6-month contract
Paying up to £65ph inside IR35
Our client, a leader in the Defence & Security sector, is currently seeking a Principal Electronics Engineer to join their team on a contract basis. This role offers an exciting opportunity to develop and grow your skills within a thriving organisation engaged in cutting-edge technologies and projects.
The Opportunity:
This position is based in either Southampton or Bristol, with a primary focus on the design and development of digital processing electronics and support to RF and analogue power circuitry for complex laboratory and aircraft sensor systems. The role encompasses working across various stages of the product lifecycle, from initial concept development through to early life production and field support.
You will be part of the Airborne Communications product development group within the Integrated Sensing & Protection division, interacting with partner organisations, sub-contractors, and potential customers.
Key Responsibilities:
Design and develop mixed-technology electronic designs, including Microcontrollers, CPLD and FPGA devices interfacing with RF and analogue circuits
Implement digital interfaces such as Ethernet, CAN, I2C, SPI, and RS422, alongside high-speed optical fibre and Ethernet interfaces
Design and develop power and control boards with high safety ratings designed for DO-160 qualification
Act as the technical focal point for supporting active and future airborne communication designs
Mentor, coach, and develop junior members of the Integrated Project Team
Job Requirements:
Experience in product development lifecycles within a technology or defence-related business
Practical experience in high-speed digital hardware circuit design, including schematic entry, component selection, and the generation of supporting design documentation
Experience in PCB prototyping, commissioning, and fault-finding using electronic test and measurement equipment
Advisory experience in working with PCB layout personnel
Knowledge of signal and power integrity, and best practices in EMC and grounding at PCB and system levels
Experience in digital circuit design using FPGA's, Microcontrollers, and DDR/Flash memories
Proficiency in circuit design modelling and simulation tools
Ability to generate concise technical reports detailing design solutions, implementation rationale, and test reports
Experience in following a design lifecycle process, including design reviews
A degree in Electronics Engineering or a relevant engineering or scientific discipline
Willingness to work closely with a mechanical team as part of an electromechanical project
Preferred Skills:
Analogue circuit design experience, including knowledge of op-amps, ADC's, and DAC driven reference supplies
RF circuit design experience, including knowledge of RF amplifiers, multiplexors and signal conditioning
Experience in providing support to embedded software and firmware teams
Experience in peer reviewing designs and supporting system architects/system integration activities
Working knowledge of requirements management and design within DO-254
This role will primarily be office-based with intermittent work in a development lab and production areas. Occasional travel within the UK and abroad for support activities will be required. It is essential that you are capable of achieving full UK SC security clearance and able to access caveated information such as UK Eyes Only and ITAR.
If you are ready to take on this challenging and rewarding role, we would love to hear from you. Apply now to join our client's innovative and dynamic team