Job Advert
Looking for your next career move in a company that’s shaping the future of satellite communications?
At ETL Systems, we’ve been leading the way in RF design and manufacturing for over 35 years. Our technology powers critical satellite communications infrastructure used by the top 20 satellite operators and teleports worldwide, and 75% of NATO governments rely on our equipment to help protect their citizens.
We’re not just growing, we’re thriving. With three Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in International Trade, and recent acquisitions of Atlantic Microwave, SpacePath Communications, and IRT Technologies, we’ve expanded our capabilities across the full RF chain. This includes everything from antenna to modem, as well as high-power amplifiers and RF test equipment.
What truly sets us apart is our culture.
We are proudly recognised as a Great Place to Work (2024, 2025 & 2026) and named Best Workplace in Manufacturing, Production and Transportation (2025). Our success is built on strong values that shape how we work and grow together:
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Collaboration: We work as one team, united in purpose and committed to shared success.
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Innovation: We embrace curiosity and forward-thinking to drive meaningful progress.
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Excellence: We set ambitious standards and consistently deliver high-quality outcomes.
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Integrity: We act ethically, honestly and with professionalism in everything we do.
If you’re looking to join a company where your ideas are valued, your growth is supported, and your work makes a global impact, ETL Systems is the place for you.
ETL People benefits
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33 days’ holiday per year (including UK bank holidays), rising to 38 days over your first five years’ service.
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Company‑funded Health Cash Plan (helping with everyday healthcare costs).
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Annual Bonus & Salary Review.
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Company Pension.
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Career development and training for all roles.
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ETL Employee Wellbeing Support:, free eye tests, free Employee Assistance Programme, GP anytime.
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ETL People Perks: discounts on shopping, holidays, gym membership, days out, cinema and dining.
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Buy and Sell Holiday Scheme.
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Free on‑site Employee Gym (Hfd HQ) and subsidised Gym memberships via People Perks
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Subsidised on‑site employee Café (Hfd HQ), with free refreshments for all employees
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Free onsite parking, car share scheme and EV charging.
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Casual Business Dress.
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Flexible Hours available with core hours Monday-Friday 8am-4pm (no weekends/evening)
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Annual company events.
Role Overview
In the role of RF & Optics Team Leader, you will lead and develop a mixed team of experienced and junior engineers to ensure work is effectively planned, resourced, and delivered on time, on specification, and within budget. You will own and govern the RF design and test processes, ensuring adherence to best practices and continuous improvements across the team. Working closely with cross-functional stakeholders, you will support the design and development of new and existing products across ETL’s full product portfolio.
Key Accountabilities
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Provide day-to-day leadership of the RF and Optics Team, including mentoring, developing, and motivating team members to ensure high performance, strong technical capability, and consistent on-time delivery
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Ownership of RF design and test processes, ensuring the team follows best practices, maintains compliance, and driving continually improves methods, tools, and ways of working.
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Lead planning and successful execution of RF design activities, ensuring delivery to agreed time, cost, and quality targets, and providing accurate estimates for new work.
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Foster strong cross-functional collaboration, working closely with Mechanical, PCB, Electronics, Software, Test, and other teams to ensure coherent integrated product development.
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Engage proactively with stakeholders across the business, including Production, Operations, Sales, and project teams, to ensure alignment and timely delivery of customer commitments.
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Oversee creation and quality of design documentation, ensuring the team consistently produces clear, complete, and professional materials such as requirements, design documents, technical briefs, datasheets, and test reports.
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Identify, and manage technical risks, ensuring mitigation plans are in place and communicated effectively to keep programmes on track.
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Provide regular and effective progress updates to engineering management on project progress, risks, resource needs, and opportunities for improvement.
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Enable the development of RF/Microwave capability within the organisation, championing knowledge sharing, training, tool improvements, and adoption of modern technologies and techniques.
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Represent the business externally by supporting conferences, exhibitions, and networking activities when required.
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Apply hands-on RF design expertise as needed, contributing to the development of RF products across IF to V-band, particularly in complex areas where leadership level guidance is required.
Our ideal candidate
The ideal candidate will be degree qualified with a background in RF hardware design, brining both technical experience and strong leadership credibility. They will have proven experience leading and mentoring a team of engineers working across multiple concurrent RF design projects, ensuring effective resource allocation and consistent delivery to performance, budget, and schedule requirements.
They will demonstrate strong ownership of RF design and test processes, with a track record of enforcing best practices while driving continuous improvement to enhance team efficiency, capability, and design quality.
With a solid understanding of RF circuit design and measurement techniques from IF through to V‑band, they will use their technical insight to guide and support the team in achieving internal and external customer requirements.
The ideal candidate will be practical, pragmatic, and collaborative, displaying strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills. They will build productive working relationships across engineering disciplines and the wider business to ensure coordinated, successful project delivery.
Location: This role requires you to work on-site at our modern manufacturing facility in Hook, 3 minutes off junction 5 of the M3. Before applying, please make sure you can commute to Unit 4, Bartley Point, Osborn Way, Hook RG27 9GX
Closing date: At ETL, we always prioritise efficiency in everything we do. With this in mind, we are looking to commence our interview process without delay and reserve the right to close the opening early should we receive suitable applications.
BPSS Compliant: Due to the nature of our work, all roles require candidates to be BPSS compliant.
VISA Sponsorship: Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.
Agency notice: We are looking to source suitable candidates for this role through our internal referral programme, direct marketing, and talent team.
Please note that we do not accept speculative CVs from external suppliers.
