Communications & EW Resilience Engineer

Fareham, Hampshire, United Kingdom
2 weeks ago
Job Type
Permanent
Work Location
Hybrid
Posted
20 Apr 2026 (2 weeks ago)

Windracers develops and operates large autonomous fixed-wing UAVs designed for logistics, humanitarian, and defence applications. Our aircraft combine long-range capability with advanced autonomy to operate efficiently, reliably, and safely.

As we scale our programmes and operate in increasingly contested environments, we are seeking a Communications & Electronic Warfare (EW) Resilience Engineer to take ownership of end-to-end command, control, and navigation resilience across our platforms.

Role Overview

The Communications & EW Resilience Engineer is responsible for the design, integration, software implementation, testing, and operational validation of Windracers’ communications and navigation systems.

This role owns the full communications chain — spanning air vehicle and operator equipment — and ensures robust performance in environments affected by jamming, spoofing, interference, and spectrum denial.

The role is explicitly hands-on and delivery-focused, with accountability for implemented, flight-proven capability rather than advisory or consultancy output.

Key Responsibilities

Navigation Resilience

  • Research, specify and assist with integration of GNSS receivers, antennas, and supporting software
  • Assess and mitigate vulnerability to GNSS jamming and spoofing
  • Support complementary navigation approaches (e.g. inertial, vision-based, terrain-aided
  • Gracefully handle navigation integrity failure ensuring appropriate autonomous behaviour and operator-in-the-loop reporting/decision making

Communications Resilience (Air & Ground)

  • End-to-end ownership of the command-and-control chain from operator equipment to aircraft
  • Multiple, dissimilar communications paths (LOS RF, SATCOM, 4G etc.) with defined priorities
  • Frequency agility and configuration management to reduce susceptibility to jamming
  • Antenna diversity and placement optimised for resilience, not just nominal performance
  • Robust ground station and RC transmitter configuration to avoid operator-induced failure modes

Testing, Integration & Operations

  • Plan and execute laboratory, ground and flight testing covering the full communications chain
  • Lead EW-representative testing, including controlled jamming and interference
  • Support investigation of communications or navigation-related incidents

Threat Awareness

  • Maintain awareness of the electronic warfare threat picture affecting UAS operations in Ukraine and similar contested environments
  • Track observed tactics, techniques, and effects relating to jamming, spoofing and RF denial
  • Willingness to travel to contested regions to gather firsthand technical insight or provide engineering support (desirable not essential)

Candidate Profile

Experience & Education

  • 2:1 or higher in a STEM discipline
  • Experience delivering communications or EW-resilient systems end to end
  • Background in aerospace, UAVs, defence, telecoms, or high-reliability systems

Technical Skills

  • Strong grounding in RF communications and system integration
  • Hands-on experience with radios, antennas, GNSS and networking equipment
  • Experience integrating into flight control systems
  • Ability to work in C/C++, Python, or similar environments

Mindset & Attributes

  • Delivery-focused, with a bias toward implementation over analysis
  • Comfortable owning problems across air, ground, and software domains
  • Pragmatic understanding of EW realities
  • Strong communication and documentation skills
  • Willingness to work in the defence sector and undergo security checks as required

Employment Details

  • Contract Type: Full-time, permanent
  • Location: Primarily on-site in Fareham (PO15 5TX), with hybrid working supported
  • Department: Engineering

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