Job Description

L3Harris is dedicated to recruiting and developing high-performing talent who are passionate about what they do. Our employees are unified in a shared dedication to our customers’ mission and quest for professional growth. L3Harris provides an inclusive, engaging environment designed to empower employees and promote work-life success. Fundamental to our culture is an unwavering focus on values, dedication to our communities, and commitment to excellence in everything we do.

L3Harris is the Trusted Disruptor in defense tech. With customers’ mission-critical needs always in mind, our employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security.

Job Title – Research Scientist

Job Location – Tewkesbury, UK

Job ID – 42496

About this opportunity and L3Harris UK

Operating at 11 sites in the United Kingdom, L3Harris supports Britain's mission to secure and strengthen the country by delivering sovereign innovation across the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains.

L3Harris in Tewkesbury is part of our Global Spectrum Superiority (GS2) division. In the land domain, our T7 and T4 multi-mission robots deliver next-generation remote capabilities and uncompromised performance. We design and manufacture world-leading land force protection systems, cyber and electromagnetic activities (CEMA), electronic warfare (EW) and encryption capabilities. Our cyber capabilities provide an information advantage in the fields of kinetic conflict, cyber warfare, force protection and counterterrorism.

We are seeking an initiative-taking Research Scientist to conduct advanced research and technology development in the field of Electromagnetic Warfare (EW). The successful candidate will investigate emerging challenges in the electromagnetic domain and develop innovative approaches to understanding, exploiting, protecting, and enhancing communication and sensing systems operating in contested environments.

Working within multidisciplinary teams, you will contribute to future capabilities across electronic support, electronic attack, electronic protection, spectrum operations, and cognitive electromagnetic warfare.

A few of our employee benefits are:

• Hybrid working where possible, three days onsite per week. Please note this is project dependent.
• Flexible or part-time working arrangements considered upon request
• Half day finish on a Friday
• 25 days holiday per year (plus bank holidays), increasing with long service and with the opportunity to buy/sell up to 5 days
• Private medical insurance with optional family cover
• Pension scheme of up to 8% employer contribution
• Life Assurance 4x salary (flexible up to 10x)
• Group income protection
• Flexible opt-in extras such as a health care cash plan, dental insurance, gym membership, critical illness cover, cycle to work scheme, travel insurance and electric car scheme
• Employee Family Assistance Program providing mental health and wellbeing support
• Professional membership reimbursement (discretionary)

What the role will involve

The responsibilities of your role will include the following:

Research and Innovation:

• Conduct original research into advanced electromagnetic warfare concepts and technologies.
• Investigate emerging RF communication systems, waveforms, and network architectures.
• Explore the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence to electromagnetic signal analysis and spectrum awareness.

Signal Processing:

• Design, develop, and evaluate algorithms for areas such as Signal detection, emitter identification and fingerprinting, direction finding and geolocation and modulation recognition.
• Process and analyse large-scale RF and IQ datasets from laboratory and operational environments.
• Develop simulation and analytical tools to model complex electromagnetic environments.

RF Communications and Protocol Analysis:

• Research modern wireless communication technologies, including software-defined radio, tactical communications, cellular networks, satellite systems and mesh networks.
• Assess the security, resilience and operational characteristics of communication protocols and evaluate opportunities to improve resilience and operational effectiveness.
• Identify vulnerabilities arising from protocol design, implementation, signalling mechanisms, and spectrum utilisation.

Experimental Activities:

• Design and conduct laboratory and field experiments to validate research outcomes using RF test equipment and software-defined radio platforms.
• Collect, analyse, and interpret experimental data.
• Develop prototypes and proof-of-concept demonstrations.

Technical Leadership:

• Publish technical findings through internal reports, patents, academic papers, and conference presentations.
• Provide expert technical input to project teams, customers, and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with engineers, data scientists, and systems architects to transition research into operational capability.

What you’ll bring

The role requires the following experience and skills:

• PhD, or equivalent industrial research experience, in: Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Telecommunications, Signal Processing, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a related STEM discipline.
• Strong understanding of digital signal processing theory and implementation.
• Knowledge of RF communication systems and wireless networking technologies.
• Experience developing algorithms using Python, MATLAB, C++, or similar languages.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, including the ability to derive insights from complex datasets and address ambiguous technical challenges.
• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams and engage with a range of stakeholders.
• Curiosity, innovation, and a passion for scientific discovery.

Important to know

Due to the nature of our work many our roles require a UK nationality and the ability to obtain a security clearance. Applicants who accept a conditional offer of employment must meet the requirement of right to work in the UK and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information and will be subject to government security checks.

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L3Harris Technologies is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to maintaining a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination and offers equal opportunities for all. Applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, and marriage and civil partnerships.