RF & Comms Engineer in Stevenage, Hertfordshire

RF & Comms Engineer
Hertfordshire
6 Month Contract
£39ph Inside IR35

*** Due to the nature of the work and the industry you will be working in, the role requires you to be able to go through & UK SC Clearance ***

We are looking for an RF and communications Engineer to take over the Preparation of electrical integration procedures, functional test procedures and test sequences for spacecraft and test bench testing during ambient and environmental test campaigns. Preparing, debugging and executing RF measurements and system tests on flight hardware and engineering test benches. Writing test reports and supporting test readiness and non-conformance reviews.

Day to Day you will -
*Designing and performing RF test measurements on the comms subsystem on test benches and spacecraft.
*Writing and executing electrical integration procedures to electrically verify and connect the equipment during the build of the spacecraft.
*Interpretation of RF, electrical and functional test requirements from test specifications
*Provide test solutions to meet the test specification requirements, from planning and kick-off meeting, through test sequence coding, procedure preparation and debug to execution.
*Close out tests with Post Test Review and Test Report
*To provide technical inputs to project test reviews (Test Readiness Reviews, Post Test Reviews, Test Review Boards and Non Conformance Review Boards)
*Development and debug of Automatic Test procedures (ATP)
*Preparing and executing spacecraft system investigations in line with actions from Non Conformance Review Boards (NRBs).
*Support Spacecraft systems functional and performance tests during environmental test (Reference test, TVAC, Magnetic, EMC, functional and performance tests).
*Work to company and departmental procedures and maintain adherence to EN 9001

Key Skills we are looking for -
*Current hands-on experience of writing test sequences/scripts for execution of spacecraft tests from the Central Checkout System (CCS). Knowledge of Elisa and/or Open Center would be an advantage.
*Test sequence writing and debugging in a bespoke language (C, Java and LabView knowledge would be an advantage)
*RF calibration and measurement at system level (Up and Downlink characterisation, power measurements, bandwidth, modulation index, spurious, SNR, ranging etc.).
*Competent in the use of RF test equipment to perform the afore mentioned measurements (e.g. Spectrum Analyser, Network Analyser, Power Meters, Signal Synthesisers, Calibration methods etc.).
*Knowledge of configuring the comms system (transponder, antenna switching, modem, data rates, modulation schemes etc.)
*Knowledge and experience of spacecraft systems and subsystem testing is essential, e.g. Data Handling, Packet Utilisation Standard, Data Bus Communications - 1553, SpaceWire, CAN bus, Power systems, FDIR.
*Working knowledge of Satellite TMTC Databases.
*Programming and scripting languages, particularly writing and debugging Linux/Unix bash scripts is an advantage. Knowledge of a programming language such as C, Java, python, TCL, VBA would be useful but not essential.
*Competent in the use of various test equipment used for electrical measurements, e.g. DMM, oscilloscope, current probes, Data acquisition unit, data bus monitors (i.e. CAN bus or SpaceWire probes/analysers) would be an advantage.
*Spacecraft electrical and harness knowledge would be an advantage but not essential.
*Familiar with the Windows and Linux operating systems.
*Awareness of 'cleanroom' disciplines.
*Willing to support shifts and travel on test campaigns essential.

Disclaimer:

This vacancy is being advertised by either Advanced Resource Managers Limited, Advanced Resource Managers IT Limited or Advanced Resource Managers Engineering Limited ("ARM"). ARM is a specialist talent acquisition and management consultancy. We provide technical contingency recruitment and a portfolio of more complex resource solutions. Our specialist recruitment divisions cover the entire technical arena, including some of the most economically and strategically important industries in the UK and the world today. We will never send your CV without your permission. Where the role is marked as Outside IR35 in the advertisement this is subject to receipt of a final Status Determination Statement from the end Client and may be subject to change.