We're building the UK's next generation engineering powerhouse, providing critical technology that strengthens national security and resilience.
We specialise in turning advances in sensing, AI, and communications into operational capability for the edge, where connectivity may be degraded or denied. Our work focuses on accelerating the deployment of technology, improving decision-making for frontline teams, and protecting people and critical assets in demanding environments.
Headquartered in Bristol, Rowden employs around 200 people and operates over 20,000 square feet of engineering and manufacturing facilities. We have a growing international footprint and are one of Europe's fastest-growing engineering businesses.
About the role
We're looking for an Engineering Technician to take ownership of our engineering laboratory facilities, equipment, and technical assets. As Rowden grows its physical footprint and engineering capabilities, this role will evolve to support new sites, facilities, and technical environments across the business.
The lab is a critical capability that supports the design, build, testing, and evaluation of advanced sensing, communications, and AI systems. It contains specialist RF equipment, electronics workstations, test and measurement assets, anechoic chamber facilities, and customer-owned equipment used across multiple programmes.
You will be responsible for ensuring the lab remains safe, organised, operational, and ready for engineering teams to use. You will maintain asset records, manage equipment calibration, prepare test setups, support data collection activities, and help engineers conduct experiments efficiently.
This role is ideal for someone who enjoys practical engineering work, has strong organisational skills, and takes pride in maintaining high technical standards.
This role is based primarily in Bristol.
Candidates must be eligible for SC clearance.
More information about security clearance is available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels
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Own the day-to-day operation, organisation, and upkeep of the engineering laboratory.
- Maintain accurate records of laboratory and field equipment, tools, consumables, and technical assets.
- Manage the storage, tracking, and handling of company, customer, and government-owned equipment.
- Coordinate equipment loans, returns, and inventory audits.
- Maintain calibration schedules and arrange calibration, servicing, and repairs of test equipment.
- Prepare and configure laboratory environments and technical environments for engineering activities, trials, and demonstrations.
- Support RF data collection activities, including operation of anechoic chamber facilities and associated equipment.
- Assemble, configure, and test electronic and RF systems under the direction of engineering teams.
- Undertake soldering, cable assembly, equipment preparation, and basic fault-finding activities.
- Support the receipt, inspection, and commissioning of new laboratory and engineering equipment.
- Manage consumables and coordinate procurement of replacement items where required across engineering facilities.
- Ensure laboratory activities are conducted safely and in accordance with company processes and relevant regulations.
- Develop and maintain documentation, operating procedures, equipment guides, and asset registers for laboratory and engineering facilities.
- Identify opportunities to improve the efficiency, utilisation, and organisation of laboratory and wider engineering environments and workflows.
We are looking for a practical and organised individual who enjoys enabling others to do great engineering work. You will be comfortable working with a wide range of technical equipment and taking ownership of a shared engineering environment.
Essential skills and experience
- Experience working in an engineering, electronics, telecommunications, RF, manufacturing, or laboratory environment.
- Experience handling, configuring, or maintaining technical equipment and instrumentation.
- Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
- Experience maintaining records, inventories, or asset management systems.
- Practical electronics skills, including soldering, cable assembly, and equipment setup.
- Ability to follow technical procedures and maintain accurate documentation.
- Confidence working independently and managing competing priorities.
- Good communication skills and ability to work with engineers, project teams, and external suppliers.
Desirable (not essential)
- Experience working with RF test equipment such as oscilloscopes, spectrum analysers, signal generators, software-defined radios, or communications systems.
- Experience operating test ranges, screened environments, or anechoic chambers.
- Familiarity with equipment calibration processes and quality management systems.
- Experience supporting engineering experiments, trials, or data collection activities.
- Understanding of health and safety requirements within laboratory environments.
- Experience working with government or defence customers.
- Experience using asset management, inventory management, or calibration tracking systems.
About you
- You enjoy creating order from complexity and ensuring things are where they should be.
- You take pride in maintaining well-organised technical environments.
- You are hands-on and comfortable working with equipment, tools, and test systems.
- You are proactive and can identify issues before they become problems.
- You enjoy helping engineers work more efficiently by ensuring equipment and facilities are ready when needed.
- You are trusted to look after valuable equipment and maintain high standards of accountability.
We are committed to building a flexible, inclusive, and enabling company. Our aim is to create a diverse team of talented people with unique skills, experience, and backgrounds, so please apply and come as you are!
We also recognise the importance of flexible working and support this wherever we can. We typically operate a flexible, hybrid-working model, with an average 3 days in the office each week (dependent on the role). We welcome the opportunity to discuss flexibility, part-time working requirements and/or workplace adjustments with all our applicants.
Rowden is a Disability Confident Committed company, and we actively encourage people with disabilities and health conditions to apply for our roles. Please let us know your requirements early on so that we can make sure you have everything you need up front to help make the recruitment process and experience as easy as possible.
Finally, if you feel that you don’t meet all the criteria included above but have transferable skills and relevant experience, we’d still love to hear from you!
What matters to us?
- Our focus is on the end user. We exist to deliver the best possible outcomes for the users of our systems.
- Pace matters. The problems we solve are urgent.
- Our diverse skills and backgrounds make us better. Our team prides itself on being inclusive and multidisciplinary.
- We are radically honest. Saying what we mean, even when it isn’t easy.
- We are pragmatists. We provide realistic, focused solutions that get to the point.
- We improve continuously. We are relentless in our drive to make things better.
