Headquartered in Bristol, Rowden employs around 160 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.
Areas of Interest
- Communication and Electronic Warfare (EW) System Design: Designing and developing RF systems for communication, sensing, and countermeasure applications. This includes understanding system-level architectures, link budgets, and the practical considerations that influence real-world deployment. Experience with modern and legacy RF communication systems, direction finding, or spectrum management is valuable.
- Digital Signal Processing (DSP): Developing and implementing algorithms for signal detection, classification, and identification. This could include modulation and demodulation techniques, adaptive filtering, spectral estimation, or feature extraction from complex RF environments. Experience translating theoretical DSP approaches into real-time embedded or SDR implementations is especially welcome.
- RF Hardware Design: Designing RF subsystems and PCBs from concept through to prototype and validation, covering HF through to SHF bands. This may include low-noise amplifiers, mixers, filters, ADC/DAC integration, and mixed-signal design considerations. Applicants who enjoy bridging the gap between hardware and software, particularly where system performance is driven by RF integrity, will thrive here.
- Software Defined Radio (SDR) Design and Implementation: Working across hardware and software layers to develop flexible and reconfigurable RF systems. This includes experience with SDR frameworks, custom waveform implementations, driver integration, and performance tuning for real-time operation. Familiarity with platforms such as USRP, BladeRF, or bespoke SDR architectures is advantageous.
- FPGA Development for High-Speed Processing: Implementing and optimising FPGA-based signal processing pipelines operating > 100 MSPS. This might include high-throughput filtering, FFTs, digital up/down conversion, or modulation/demodulation. Experience with VHDL, Verilog, or high-level synthesis tools for DSP acceleration will be valuable.
- RF System Simulation and Modelling: Building and validating models that capture waveform behaviour, physical-layer effects, and propagation characteristics under realistic operational conditions. This includes exploring channel models, interference and jamming effects, and time-varying propagation. Experience developing or using simulation tools to assess performance before hardware testing is highly valued.
- Automated Testing and Validation: Designing and developing automated frameworks to evaluate RF subsystems and systems. This could include test scripting, signal generation and capture automation, regression testing, or hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) setups. Applicants with experience in creating repeatable, data-driven test environments that accelerate validation and characterisation will be well suited.
- Wireless Communications and Waveform Development: Designing and implementing new or adapted waveforms and communication schemes for constrained, contested, or covert environments. This might include modulation design, protocol development, or adaptive control of transmission parameters to optimise performance in dynamic RF conditions.
Who We’re Looking For
- Are hands-on problem solvers with a solid grasp of RF engineering fundamentals.
- Have experience with tools and languages such as Python, C/C++, Rust or HDL (VHDL/Verilog).
- Thrive in technically challenging environments and enjoy learning new skills.
- Are outcome-focused and pragmatic, balancing precision with pace.
- Enjoy collaboration and can communicate technical ideas clearly.
Working at Rowden
About Rowden
- 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.
