About the role

We are seeking a highly skilled Lead Communications Systems Engineer to join our team at our Gloucester site. This is an exciting opportunity to work on the design and development of Software-Defined Radio (SDR) systems, focusing on system architectures, interfaces, protocols, and network topography. You will play a pivotal role in delivering innovative solutions for Defence, Cyber, and Intelligence programmes.

At Lockheed Martin, we provide meaningful work and continuous learning opportunities that will help develop your skills and progress your career. We believe in supporting a healthy work-life balance, offering flexible work schedules, hybrid work where possible, and a comprehensive benefits package to ensure you can enjoy both your professional and personal life.

As a Communications Systems Engineer, you’ll be responsible for designing, integrating, and optimizing SDR systems, ensuring they meet the requirements of complex mission environments. You’ll be involved in working with advanced communication architectures, industry protocols, and network topologies, making this role ideal for someone passionate about next-generation communication systems.

You’ll be the technical expert building the next wave of National Security and defence‑grade RF cyber capabilities.

Key Responsibilities:

• SDR System Architecture – Consult upon the choice of, or design and optimization of Software-Defined Radio (SDR) system architectures for advanced communications applications, ensuring scalability, performance, and reliability.
• Interfaces & Protocols – Develop and implement interfaces and communication protocols to support robust, high-performance SDR systems.
• System Integration – Collaborate with hardware and software teams to integrate SDR solutions into larger mission systems and ensure full system functionality.
• Standards Compliance – Ensure adherence to relevant industry standards and protocols to maintain interoperability and compliance with operational requirements.
• Testing & Validation – Conduct testing and validation of communication systems, verifying the correct operation of interfaces, protocols, and network structures.
• Technical Leadership – Mentor junior engineers, lead design reviews, act in the capacity of subject matter expert, and take ownership of the evolution of our technical standards.
• Cross Function Collaboration – Work alongside system engineers, cyber security specialists, technologists and innovators to ensure our customers achieve their mission aims.
• Consultation – You’ll interact directly with other teams and stakeholders on a daily basis in order to ensure the wider success of our clients and partners.

If you’re passionate about designing cutting-edge communication systems and want to contribute to innovative solutions for critical Defence, Cyber, and Intelligence applications, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now to help us shape the future of RF Cyber at Lockheed Martin.

Required skills, qualifications and experience

It is expected that you can evidence significant experience in one of the following:

• RF algorithm development, signal analysis and digital signal processing
• Communication interfaces, protocols, encoding schemes, and standards (e.g., TCP/IP, IEEE 802 standards, cellular mobile network standards, forward error correction schemes etc.).
• Designing and modelling network topographies and link budgets for complex communication systems.
• Radio characterisation, front end device design, antenna selection, and link budget optimisation

Desired Skills

It would be great if you had additional experience in:

• Experience with real-time communication systems and network management tools.
• OpenCPI, GnuRadio, Python, C/C++, VHDL and other SDR development technologies
• FPGA/RFSOC development experience and proficiency in VHDL (or Verilog)
• Embedded Linux, real-time OS, and platform development including BSP/OSPs
• Background in working with Defence or Cyber communications systems.
• Leading technical projects, budgets and teams