Darwin Recruitment are currently hiring for a Radar Payload Leader on behalf of a business in Finland that are operating a constellation of synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) satellites and high-resolution radar imaging of the Earth’s surface available day or night and in all weather conditions since 2014. As a Staff Electronics Engineer, you’ll not only design and deliver the mixed-signal electronics that power their missions, but also set the technical agenda for how the companies engineers spacecraft hardware. You’ll own critical systems end-to-end, shape their long-term hardware strategy, and drive adoption of best practices across teams. Your influence will extend beyond individual boards or subsystems, helping architect solutions that meet today’s demands and smartly scale for the future. This role requires the successful candidate to take ownership of the full cycle with prior experience in working in start-up type environments compared to your typical enterprises.

What you’ll do

● Lead the design, development, and testing of advanced RF circuits and systems for the company’s radar payloads, focusing on X-band and higher frequencies.

● Provide technical leadership for RF-centric projects – driving architecture decisions, reviewing designs, and ensuring successful end-to-end execution.

● Manage and mentor engineers across RF, electronics, and system integration disciplines, fostering collaboration and technical excellence.

● Own the full radar signal chain – from transmission and reception to antenna interfaces and digital signal processing interconnects.

● Lead multidisciplinary projects that integrate RF, electronics, thermal, mechanical, and firmware elements into cohesive, mission-ready systems.

● Conduct and oversee comprehensive RF characterization, calibration, and testing of subsystems and components.

● Apply system-level vision to anticipate challenges, guide trade-offs, and drive innovation across payload architectures.

● Collaborate closely with systems engineers, mechanical teams, and digital designers to ensure performance, manufacturability, and long-term reliability.

● Establish and enforce best practices in documentation, verification, and validation throughout the product lifecycle.

What you’ll bring

● Proven experience as an RF Engineer or Technical Lead, ideally within radar, aerospace, or defense environments.

● Demonstrated expertise in X-band or higher-frequency RF system design, including transmit/receive modules, antennas, and RF front-end architectures.

● Deep understanding of the complete radar chain – Tx, Rx, RF front-end, antennas, and digital interfaces.

● Experience leading and mentoring teams, managing project timelines, and coordinating across technical domains.

● Strong background in high-speed digital and mixed-signal system integration involving FPGA-based and embedded architectures.

● Proven record of driving projects that blend RF, electronics, mechanical, thermal, and firmware design disciplines.

● Hands-on proficiency with RF simulation and analysis tools (e.g., ADS, CST, HFSS) and test instrumentation (e.g., VNAs, spectrum analyzers, signal generators).

● Highly desirable experience in spaceborne systems, aerospace, or defense applications, with a strong understanding of environmental and radiation constraints.

● Excellent communication, cross-functional collaboration, and decision-making skills

Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

James Godfrey

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