Location

Dstl Porton Down, Salisbury - Sp4 0JQ

About the job

Job summary

Do you have experience within Electronic Warfare, Electronic Communications or have an interest in using your engineering background (Electronic or Software) for the good of the nation? If so then we have a role for you.

The Electronic Warfare & Communications Group is the lead for specialist Communications and Electronic Warfare aspects of Dstl’s Counter Terrorism and Security capability.

We provide science and engineering support for military and security operations and conduct research and development in areas including Electronic countermeasures (historically focused on countering improvised explosive devices); cellular and mobile protocols; wireless communications and electronic surveillance; electromagnetic compatibility; and radio-frequency directed energy weapons for the purpose of Homeland Security and Counter-Terrorism Systems of the UK.
The Group’s purpose is to provide Users with state of the art technological developments that confers operational advantage and freedom of action. The Group is one of the largest and most technically diverse groups within Dstl, and we have opportunities for a number of experienced Engineers & Scientists to join our growing capability.



Dstl salary levels are as follows:

Each level requires a different skillset/ requirements: Level 4: Be a team member, Level 5/6: Influential technical member or even a level 7: Senior technical leader for the team delivering Science and Technology (S&T)

Level 4: £25,052 - £ 29,228
Level 5: £32,626 - £38,066
Level 6: £40,514 - £47,007
Level 7: £50,644 - £57,480

Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution.

We particularly welcome female and ethnic minority applicants and those from the LGBTQI community, as they are under-represented within Dstl at these levels.

Job description

Here in the group we are looking for multiple hires across all the teams. We are looking for those people who match one of the roles below:

Electronics Systems Engineer L4,L5 x 4  

Would you like to work on state-of-the-art Defence projects protecting the UK and overseas against Electronic Warfare as an Electronic Systems Engineer with a good understanding of electronics, RF communications, network and software engineering that may include; embedded hardware and software research and product design, software defined radio and systems engineering.

Electronics Engineer L3,L4 x 2

 The ET&S team provides the first level interpretation of a new ECM threat. The teams analysis helps direct UK equipment enhancements to support UK forces.

Software Engineer L4,L5,L6 x 2

 We are looking for an individual with software development knowledge and experience to produce new / develop existing / maintain existing code and applications in the following areas:

• Control and automation of RF test and measurement instrumentation.
• Data analysis and automated production of information products (e.g. reports, visualisations etc.)
• Organisation, storage and publishing of data and subsequent information products.

RF Test & Measurement Engineer L4,L5,L6 x 2

We are looking for an RF Engineer with niche specialises in Test & Measurement

• Test & Measurement of Military RF Systems (Electronic Counter Measures) through Laboratory & field trial activities.
• Data analysis and production of test reports, visualisations etc.
• Engagement with Industry capability suppliers and military stakeholders.

Research Scientist/Engineer L4,L5,L6 x 2

We are looking for a Scientist/Engineer who can apply their skills and problem solving abilities to a wide range of Electronic Countermeasure research technical challenges.

The breadth of research is quite broad and includes the following areas (but is not limited to):

• Signal and protocol vulnerability analysis;
• Mathematics;
• Machine & Deep Learning for wireless signal classification;
• System implementation on SDR (using VHDL, Verilog);
• Antennas & Electromagnetics design & Development
• CST Modelling & Simulation
• RF Test & Measurement;
• Computer Science/Software Development in AR/VR.

Senior RF Engineer L5 x 1

The EWC Operational Support Team provides a counter-IED capability directly to deployed personnel nationally and overseas. Working alongside the other teams within the Group, as well as across the Division, we deliver and support the final delivery of equipment’s and solutions to the customer.          

Electronics Engineer – Wireless Networks L4 x 2

Be part of the team delivering Science and Technology (S&T) for rapidly evolving cellular/mobile protocols, Wi-Fi and IoT in support of Dstl’s Counter Terrorism and Security capability. Provide cutting edge wireless network technology advice across the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and Other Government Departments (OGDs).    

Senior Electronics Engineer – Wireless Networks              L5 x 2

Be an influential technical member of the team delivering Science and Technology (S&T) for rapidly evolving cellular/mobile protocols, Wi-Fi and IoT in support of Dstl’s Counter Terrorism and Security capability. Provide cutting edge wireless network technology advice across the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and Other Government Departments (OGDs).             

Principal Electronics Engineer – Wireless Networks L6, L7 x 1

Be a senior technical leader for the team delivering Science and Technology (S&T) for rapidly evolving cellular/mobile protocols, Wi-Fi and IoT in support of Dstl’s Counter Terrorism and Security capability. Provide innovative wireless network technology advice across the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and Other Government Departments (OGDs).              

EMC Systems Engineer – RF and Microwave L4, L5, L6 x 3            

We are looking for an individual with experience in RF & Microwave engineering, military electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and/or electromagnetic pulse effects to join a team supporting customer research and capability delivery programmes, providing influence across multinational boundaries. You will conduct your work across a variety of UK and overseas environments.   

Principal RF Engineer – High Power RF Directed Energy Weapons L6 x 1

The role is required to lead and deliver research, development and assessment of novel high power radio frequency technologies, with focus as a technical partner leading and directing extra mural research and experimentation within industry and academia. The primary focus of the team is to provide expertise, innovation, research, development and advice to MOD customers on the topic of systems employing high power Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapons (RFDEW).        

GFE Stores person L3,L4 x 2

A highly organised person is required to run the GFE stores. This requires auditing, issuing and receipt and working at pace. More info to come.              

RF Communications Engineer Lvl 4/5/6/7 x 5:
RF Network Engineer Lvl5/6 x 2:
RF SDR (Hardware & Software) Engineer Lvl 5/6 x 2:
RF/C4IS Systems Engineer Lvl6 x 1:
RF SatCom Engineer Lvl 6 x 1:
RF Engineer to specialise (or niche already) in Military Comms, Wired Communications, Software Defined Radio (SDR) Hardware and Software, C4IS Systems and Satellite Comms. - You will provide direct operational support through a specialist range of technical projects within the Communications and Electronic Warfare domains as well as carrying out test, evaluation and exploitation activities through high profile and leading edge research and system development. Team Members work independently with some supervision or within a small team, directly contributing to various projects of varying size, duration and urgency, whose output directly supports UK Defence Operations.

Person specification

We are looking for someone who has:

• Experience in any of the roles / fields highlighted in the description section.
• An aptitude to undertake scientific analysis from experimental results, formulate conclusions and propose viable recommendations
• Ability to conduct a variety of activities to ensure system hardware and software are robust and resilient and suitable for operational use.
• A flexible approach to work and an eagerness to respond to urgent customer requirements at short notice
• Ability to rapidly adapt to changes in the work that is carried out day-to-day and efficiently gain skills in new and unfamiliar technologies
• A demonstrable interest in science and technology

Important Information

Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be British Citizens who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to understand the work you will undertake to protect us from any security threats. For this reason, we regret that only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. If you are an international or dual-national candidate, and you think you have the skills we need, please consider applying to any of our government, security or defence partners.

This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. For some roles Developed Vetting will also be required, in this case you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.

If you are a current Dstl employee, you are encouraged to inform your line manager of your application as they can support you through the process and should you be successful it will help in negotiating a release date.