Senior Smartphone Antenna Design Contractor

Title: Senior Smartphone Antenna Design Contractor

Contract Type: 6-month contract, outside IR35

Day Rate: Circa £400 per day

Company: BeamGrid Technologies LTD

Location: Hybrid, UK preferred

Project: In collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA)

About the role

BeamGrid Technologies is seeking an experienced smartphone antenna design contractor to support an advanced programme focused on direct-to-device satellite connectivity for smartphones. This is a specialist role for someone with strong prior experience in handset antenna design, ideally gained in leading mobile device or wireless technology organisations. The successful contractor will help develop and assess advanced antenna concepts for future mobile devices operating in highly constrained real-world environments, including challenging integration, efficiency, user-effect, and validation requirements.

The role

You will work closely with BeamGrid’s technical team on antenna concept development, simulation, design trade-offs, and practical device integration. The work will include a mix of:

• smartphone antenna architecture input,
• EM modelling and simulation,
• compact antenna design under strict device constraints,
• chassis and platform interaction assessment,
• user-effect and orientation-impact evaluation,
• prototype-oriented design support,
• contribution to test and validation planning.

Key responsibilities

• Support the development of advanced smartphone antenna concepts for next-generation connectivity applications.
• Carry out or guide electromagnetic simulation and design studies using tools such as CST Studio Suite and/or Ansys HFSS.
• Contribute to antenna integration strategies suitable for commercial mobile device environments.
• Assess design trade-offs involving size, efficiency, bandwidth, gain, thermal limits, SAR, manufacturability, and platform interaction.
• Evaluate antenna behaviour under realistic user conditions, including hand effects, detuning, and orientation changes.
• Support the progression from concept study to prototype-ready design direction.
• Contribute technical input to measurement planning, OTA assessment, and validation activities.
• Work collaboratively with BeamGrid to help de-risk the antenna approach and accelerate development progress.

Essential experience

Strong industry experience in smartphone / handset antenna design

Proven experience designing antennas for space-constrained consumer devices

Good understanding of antenna integration into mobile platforms

Experience with chassis interaction, frame coupling, user effects, and real-device performance challenges Strong EM simulation experience using CST and/or HFSS

Experience balancing antenna performance with practical constraints such as:

• industrial design limits,
• mechanical packaging,
• SAR,
• thermal considerations,
• RF front-end integration,
• manufacturability
• Ability to work independently and make useful technical contributions quickly

Preferred experience

• Previous experience at a major mobile device or wireless company such as: Apple, Samsung, Nokia or a similarly strong handset/RF organisation.
• Experience with advanced or reconfigurable antenna systems
• Familiarity with multi-antenna systems, beam steering, or adaptive antenna approaches
• Experience supporting prototype development and OTA validation
• Background in satellite communications, NTN, or related advanced wireless systems would be beneficial.

Ideal profile

We are looking for someone who is:

• hands-on and practical antenna design experience in major mobile device companies,
• technically strong in handset antenna design,
• comfortable operating in an R&D environment,
• able to work with partial information and evolving concepts,
• collaborative, responsive, and able to contribute from the outset.

Start: 1st June 2026

How to apply: Please send your CV, a brief summary of relevant smartphone antenna design experience, examples of products or programmes you have supported, your software/tool experience, your availability and day rate confirmation to: ***email_hidden***.

Note: Please do not apply if you do not have substantial experience/ background in handset antenna design.