Hardware and RF Test Engineer

Location: Cambridge / Hybrid

Our client is developing fixed wireless access equipment based on the 5G NR air interface, operating at mmWave frequencies. Its products combine gNB access points, customer premises equipment and network management systems for long-range wireless connectivity.

The Hardware & RF Test Engineer will primarily develop, build and maintain board-level and system-level test environments for this equipment. The role combines hands-on RF measurement, test method development, verification and validation, automated test definition and fault investigation across controlled laboratory and over-the-air environments.

This is a practical test engineering position with responsibility for establishing test infrastructure, executing tests against product requirements and investigating failures across RF, analogue, digital and power domains.

What you will be working on

The Hardware & RF Test Engineer will support product development through board-level and end-to-end system testing, including:

• Developing hardware and RF test infrastructure for controlled laboratory and over-the-air testing
• Creating test methods to validate baseband and RF hardware designs at board and complete-product level
• Performing conducted and radiated RF measurements on mmWave equipment, including measurements down to baseband
• Defining test cases for automated scripts supporting system and acceptance testing of 5G NR gNB, UE and associated product building blocks
• Executing verification and validation tests against product requirements, recording results and reporting defects
• Analysing test data and investigating root causes across power, digital, analogue, IQ, IF and RF signal domains
• Building demonstration environments that show product features and performance through conducted and radiated testing
• Selecting and procuring suitable test equipment, software and laboratory materials, while maintaining test systems for reliable and repeatable operation.

The test environment includes spectrum and signal analysis, receive sensitivity, output power, adjacent-channel measurements, range-versus-performance testing and beamforming or beam-management evaluation over simulated distances. Board-level measurements include power consumption, phase noise, EVM and digital and analogue signal quality.

What our client is looking for

For this Hardware & RF Test Engineer position, our client is looking for someone with experience in:

• Hardware and RF testing within modern wireless communications equipment
• Using spectrum analysers, signal generators, high-speed oscilloscopes, power meters and related laboratory instrumentation
• Conducted and radiated testing, including anechoic chambers, antennas and beamforming technologies
• Developing system test strategies and test methods for wireless products
• Digital modulation, IQ, IF and RF interfaces, and both high- and low-frequency measurements
• Analysing eye diagrams, constellation diagrams and RF measurement results to identify faults
• Debugging analogue, digital and power circuitry within wireless radio hardware

Knowledge of 3GPP 5G NR acceptance testing would be advantageous.

Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering, electrical engineering or a related discipline. The position requires a practical, hands-on approach to laboratory testing and close collaboration with internal engineers and external test vendors.

Why consider this role?

The Hardware & RF Test Engineer will work across the full test environment, from board-level signal measurements through to over-the-air system validation of mmWave 5G equipment. The position offers direct involvement in developing test infrastructure from the ground up, alongside a discretionary bonus, contributory pension, life insurance, income protection, private healthcare, Cycle to Work scheme and 25 days’ annual leave.

If you would like to discuss this Hardware & RF Test Engineer position further, please contact Teddy Jones at IC Resources.