Radio System Architect

Job Description

Thales people architect solutions that enable two-thirds of planes to take off and land safely. We create in-flight entertainment systems that engross 50 million fliers every year and we develop the avionics that control the world’s largest commercial aircrafts. Our simulators train the next generation of pilots for fighter jets, transporters and search and rescue helicopters. And, together, each and every member of our aerospace team makes a difference.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across five major industries; Aerospace, Defence, Ground Transportation, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Primary Purpose of the Role:

The Radio System Architect is a new position within the flight avionics (FLX) technical team. He/she will report directly to the Head of Technical Solutions and work closely with the civil avionics bid and development teams.

The FLX technical team coordinates an increasing number of exciting opportunities for civil avionics radio communication systems and studies for both existing FLX products and entirely new system concepts. These range from our existing Inmarsat L-band Satcom products to new, pioneering systems covering all potential communications from aircraft with an increased emphasis on security requirements. These radio systems cover critical cockpit radio communications through to very high capacity cabin communications via Ka Satcom or the latest 4G/5G radio technologies. The radio system architect will work with the research and development teams that provide the technologies and products for our future systems and also support our bid teams producing technical proposals that include these systems.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks:

The Radio System Architect role encompasses to following responsibilities and tasks:

-Support the definition, clarification and communication of the technical requirements of new products and bids, including use cases

-Lead the definition of radio system architectures and potential solutions for these products and bids, and liaising with appropriate subject matter experts

-Lead communicating the radio system architectures and solutions with our research and development teams, and with other stakeholders, including project managers and senior management

-Support Product Line Architects and Product Line Managers on architectural aspects for consistency with our product line strategy

-Support the generation of engineering estimates, both recurring and non-recurring cost, internal to Thales and within the supply chain

-Support the production of the technical proposals in conjunction with appropriate subject matter experts

-Support communication with potential customers, internal and external, to understand their requirements and present our technical proposals

Skills, experience and qualifications:

The ideal candidate should have proven radio systems architecture and modelling expertise.

He/she should have knowledge of, and be able to understand, specify, architect, review and document communication systems architectures that include the following technologies:

• RF system components, including antennas, filters, amplifiers, frequency translation
• Wide bandwidth and wide dynamic range ADC & DAC devices
• Modern digital modem techniques, including decoders and equalisers
• Modern communication standards (WiFi, WiMax and LTE are desirable)
• Satellite communications, including Inmarsat, Iridium and VHTS
• Modern Internet Protocols routing & standards (desirable)
• Modern GPP and DSP processors, including multi-core devices (desirable)
• FPGAs and VHDL (desirable)
• Operating systems, BSPs, hypervisors, etc (desirable)
• experience of system engineering and architecture design, within the radio communications domain
• Specification, architecting and modelling of radio communications products and systems
• Involvement in all life cycle phases from requirements to integration, test and qualification
• Interaction with communication system customers
• Good degree level (or similar) in electrical, electronic or communications engineering

An appreciation of civil avionics engineering and standards is desirable, though not essential, including:

• RTCA DO-160, DO-254 & D0-178B Design Assurance Levels
• Avionics Qualification and Certification
• Security assessment

In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 65,000 employees in 56 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working. Great journeys start here, apply now!