Darwin Recruitment is currently hiring for a Radar Payload Leader on behalf of a business in Finland that is operating a constellation of synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) satellites and high-resolution radar imaging of the Earth’s surface available day or night and in all weather conditions since 2014. As the Radar Payload Leader, you’ll be responsible not only for the architecture and performance of their RF payload electronics, but also for steering the technical direction of the radar chain from transmitters and receivers to antennas and high-speed data interfaces. Your leadership will ensure that the company’s payloads continue to deliver unmatched imaging capability and mission reliability. You’ll work across multidisciplinary teams, connecting RF design with electronics, firmware, mechanical, and thermal domains. This is a rare opportunity to lead at the intersection of innovation, systems engineering, and mission-critical technology, shaping the radar payloads that define the company’s global impact.

What you’ll do

● Lead the design, development, and testing of advanced RF circuits and systems for the company’s radar payloads, focusing on X-band and higher frequencies.

● Provide technical leadership for RF-centric projects – driving architecture decisions, reviewing designs, and ensuring successful end-to-end execution.

● Manage and mentor engineers across RF, electronics, and system integration disciplines, fostering collaboration and technical excellence.

● Own the full radar signal chain – from transmission and reception to antenna interfaces and digital signal processing interconnects.

● Lead multidisciplinary projects that integrate RF, electronics, thermal, mechanical, and firmware elements into cohesive, mission-ready systems.

● Conduct and oversee comprehensive RF characterization, calibration, and testing of subsystems and components.

● Apply system-level vision to anticipate challenges, guide trade-offs, and drive innovation across payload architectures.

● Collaborate closely with systems engineers, mechanical teams, and digital designers to ensure performance, manufacturability, and long-term reliability.

● Establish and enforce best practices in documentation, verification, and validation throughout the product lifecycle.

What you’ll bring

● Proven experience as an RF Engineer or Technical Lead, ideally within radar, aerospace, or defense environments.

● Demonstrated expertise in X-band or higher-frequency RF system design, including transmit/receive modules, antennas, and RF front-end architectures.

● Deep understanding of the complete radar chain – Tx, Rx, RF front-end, antennas, and digital interfaces.

● Experience leading and mentoring teams, managing project timelines, and coordinating across technical domains.

● Strong background in high-speed digital and mixed-signal system integration involving FPGA-based and embedded architectures.

● Proven record of driving projects that blend RF, electronics, mechanical, thermal, and firmware design disciplines.

● Hands-on proficiency with RF simulation and analysis tools (e.g., ADS, CST, HFSS) and test instrumentation (e.g., VNAs, spectrum analyzers, signal generators).

● Highly desirable experience in spaceborne systems, aerospace, or defense applications, with a strong understanding of environmental and radiation constraints.

● Excellent communication, cross-functional collaboration, and decision-making skills

Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

Sebastian Prins