Director of Engineering Permanent

Director of Engineering

Location: Cambridge, UK

Department: Management

Reports To: CEO/COO

Job Type: Full-Time

About Us:

Forefront RF is an innovative fabless semiconductor company developing cutting-edge RF technology for mobile device manufacturers. Our mission is to revolutionize RF front-end technology by enabling seamless global connectivity – and ultimately, to unlock the long-standing vision of true software-defined radio. As a fast-growing start-up, we are looking for a driven and experienced Director of Engineering to lead our technical organization, shape engineering processes, and support the team in delivering high-performance, high-quality products.

Our Values:

We place a strong emphasis on fostering a culture rooted in collaboration, teamwork, and accountability. We believe that when we work together, drawing on each team member’s unique strengths, we can achieve remarkable results.

Our commitment to integrity, respect, honesty, and openness forms the foundation of our interactions, both within the company and with our valued partners and clients. We encourage ambition, initiative, and visionary thinking, as we understand that these qualities drive innovation and propel us towards success.

In addition, we value adaptability, proactivity, and resilience. We are looking for individuals who are comfortable with ambiguity and can navigate through it, demonstrating a proactive approach to problem-solving.

These values collectively define who we are and want to be as a team and guide us as we navigate the exciting journey ahead. If you align with our mission and values, and are ready to grow with us, we would love to hear from you.

Job Overview:

As Director of Engineering, you will be responsible for leading and scaling a high-performing multidisciplinary engineering team. This includes analog/RF IC design, system integration, module design, embedded software, measurement & validation. You will play a pivotal role in ensuring the engineering team is structured, resourced, and empowered to deliver on Forefront RF’s ambitious roadmap.

Your key mandate will be to build and maintain the right processes, procedures, and methodologies to support excellent engineering execution. This includes defining how we design, document, review, test, and share knowledge across teams. You will also act as the day-to-day leader for the engineering organization, resolving blockers and fostering a collaborative, high-trust culture.

The engineering team operates in a matrix project structure, where execution is driven by project managers outside of the engineering team. You will ensure that engineers are aligned with project goals and deliverables while maintaining functional excellence within their disciplines.

Reporting Line: This role will initially report to the CEO. However, as Forefront RF grows and evolves its senior leadership, a Chief Operating Officer (COO) will be added to the team. At that point, the Director of Engineering will transition to report into the COO.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & People Management

• Line management for the full engineering team across RFIC, system, module, and embedded software disciplines.
• Set clear expectations, drive performance management, and support team members in their growth and development.
• Recruit, retain, and onboard top technical talent in close collaboration with senior leadership.
• Foster a high-trust, collaborative, and outcome-oriented engineering culture.

Process & Methodology Ownership

• Define, document, and continuously improve engineering processes including design reviews, version control, documentation standards, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Champion design and development methodologies that support scalable development in ICs, RF modules, software, and system integration.
• Ensure robust procedures for simulation, validation, measurement, and compliance.

Operational Execution

• Oversee day-to-day engineering execution in support of projects led by dedicated project managers.
• Ensure engineering resourcing is balanced and aligned with project milestones.
• Act as a problem solver and escalation point for engineering bottlenecks and cross-functional friction.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Project Management, Senior Management, Business Development, and the CEO/COO to translate business needs into engineering plans.
• Support the development and delivery of customer samples, application support, and technical content.

Qualifications:

• Proven experience in engineering leadership roles, ideally in a fabless semiconductor or complex hardware environment.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams (IC design, module design, software, validation).
• Strong understanding of engineering lifecycle processes and technical documentation in a high-reliability product environment.
• Experience in a matrix-style organization, with a clear ability to manage resource allocation, prioritization, and accountability.
• A passion for people development and building scalable, modern engineering cultures.
• Technical background in RFIC, analog/mixed-signal design, or RF module development

• Competitive salary and pension contributions
• Company share option scheme
• 25 days holiday + national holidays
• Weekly company lunches
• Flexible work hours and remote work options

We believe in equal opportunities

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.