Associate, Engineering Officer

Closing Date:

28/08/2026

Group:

Spectrum Group

Management Level:

Associate

Job Type:

Permanent

Job Description:

Please note that this role will close at 00:01 on Friday 28 August, and therefore we advise getting your application in by no later than midnight on Thursday 27 August.

This role will cover the Bristol area and the South West.

About Ofcom
 

As the UK’s communications regulator, we’re delivering vital work that helps keep the UK connected and shapes the future of how we’ll stay connected with each other.

 

Our work covers everything from phones and broadband, through to TV, radio, the postal service, and wireless devices. We’re also taking on the challenge of making the online world a safer place. And we need people of all backgrounds, skill sets, and experiences to help us achieve our goal of making communications work for everyone.
 

Looking for a job where you can utilise your radio engineering skills and help manage the UK’s radio spectrum?

 

About the team
 

Radio spectrum is a vital resource, and it touches everyone's life every day. The radio spectrum connects our mobiles, wireless headphones, tablets, and computers. It enables our key fobs to unlock our cars, the Met Office to forecast the weather, satellites to measure global warming, and concerts and shows to be seen and heard. Without access to radio spectrum, the police, fire, ambulance, coastguard, and air traffic control would not be able to communicate – it’s that important.

It’s Ofcom’s job to manage and protect the use of all this spectrum. Your role will be working in the Spectrum Assurance team within the wider Ofcom Spectrum Group. Spectrum Assurance is a large team consisting of two core elements: a team of Spectrum Engineering Officers (SEO’s) who cover specific geographical areas across the UK; and the Spectrum Management Centre – Ofcom’s central technical operations hub in Hertfordshire.

SEOs provide advice and assistance to licensed spectrum users and, whenever necessary, they undertake compliance action to resolve interference issues. SEOs will also monitor and proactively investigate improper use of the spectrum, to keep the UK businesses and consumers “on the air”. You are not required to have a legal/regulatory background as full training will be provided.

 

Purpose of the role

The key purpose of the role is to deliver high quality spectrum assurance to services and spectrum users within a geographical area. This requires first class radio engineering and interpersonal communications, and we will teach you the investigation and compliance skills necessary to carry out the role.

 

In this unique Engineering / Regulatory role, you will collaborate with a wide range of Ofcom’s radio and telecoms external stakeholders to resolve harmful radio interference cases which can disrupt critical safety to life systems. This includes aircraft radio communications and navigation systems as well as radio services essential to everyday life such as mobile network operators.

Radio interference casework will be triaged and passed to you from the Spectrum Management Centre; it will be your responsibility to locate and manage the interference case to resolution. In addition, you will manage the radio spectrum within your geographical area monitoring and investigating unlicensed spectrum use.

 

And you will be supported by a highly specialised and experienced Ofcom team using state of the art mobile and fixed radio measurement equipment such as real time radio spectrum analysis supported by the relevant regulatory legislation.

  

Your key responsibilities

• Responsible for maintaining high radio/spectrum engineering standards and ensuring all harmful interference issues raised are resolved within KPIs.

• Responsible for investigating all unlicensed radio spectrum use within geographical area are resolved within KPIs.

• To mitigate the effects of harmful radio interference you will be responsible for planning targeted proactive radio monitoring to ensure radio licence compliance

• Proactive inspection of a wide range of radio equipment to ensure licence compliance and adherence to associated technical specification 

• Support large sporting events which rely on radio services, such as The Open Golf Championship and G26 Commonwealth Games.

• Provide support and collaboration to fellow colleagues and assisting when required.

• Responsible for own equipment plant and vehicle are at professional standard, finances, and H&S. (Full equipment and vehicle will be provided)

   

Essential skills, knowledge, and experience
 

• Appreciation of and desire to promote Ofcom’s values of excellent, agility, respect, empowerment, and collaboration.

• Owning Accountabilities - ownership and delivery of performance, KPI’s and service levels

• Experience of radio engineering and knowledge of radio spectrum

• Experience of working in a geographically dispersed team

• Harmonising Work - excellent people skills, delivering difficult conversations, tracing interference and interacting with people for all associated casework

• Forming Relationships - excellent stakeholder relationship skills and customer focus skills

• Full driver’s license

  

Qualifications
 

• Technical qualification – HNC/D in a technical discipline, or able to demonstrate equivalent experience and knowledge.

Inclusive hiring at Ofcom

At Ofcom, our mission is clear: to make communications work for everyone. To achieve that, our people must reflect the diversity of the UK, in background, identity and experience. 

We believe innovation thrives when difference is valued and everyone feels empowered to contribute their ideas and perspectives. That’s why we welcome colleagues of all ethnicities and races, sexes, genders and gender identities, sexual orientations, ages, faiths and beliefs, and those with apparent and non‑apparent disabilities. We value socio‑economic diversity, life experience and neurodiversity too. Whether you’re a carer, a parent, a veteran, or re‑entering work after time away, your voice and perspective matter here. 

Flexibility is at the heart of how we work because we want you to thrive in a way that suits you best. Most roles can therefore be adapted for part‑time hours, job shares, or other flexible arrangements. Learn more about our Rewards, Benefits and Wellbeing on our careers page. 

Our recruitment process is intentionally designed to be open and accessible. If you need adjustments, information in a different format or an alternative way to apply, contact us at resourcing@ofcom.org.uk or 0330 912 1378. 

As a proud Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee interviews for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for a role. You can read more about this commitment here. 

Whoever you are, whatever your story, you belong at Ofcom.