R&D Engineer

Basildon

The Opportunity

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced engineer to join a forward-thinking product development team working at the intersection of RF technology and secure payment solutions.

This position plays a critical role in the innovation and delivery of next-generation contactless products, with a particular focus on near-field communication and smartcard-based systems used within the payments ecosystem.

You will work closely with senior leadership in engineering, contributing to the full product lifecycle — from concept through to validation — in a highly technical, hands-on environment.

Role Responsibilities

* Lead the development of contactless hardware solutions for use in secure transaction environments

* Design, build, and refine RF-based components, including antenna structures and supporting circuitry

* Take ownership of prototyping activities, driving continuous improvements through iterative development

* Conduct detailed testing and analysis to ensure product performance meets industry and regulatory requirements

* Evaluate and interpret technical standards relevant to contactless technologies and payment schemes

* Support integration and compatibility with terminal infrastructure and external systems

* Perform a wide range of lab-based testing, including RF characterisation and physical product validation

Experience & Background

Core Requirements

* Degree-qualified in a relevant discipline such as Electronic Engineering, Applied Physics, or similar

* Strong grounding in analogue and RF electronics

* Practical experience working with contactless or wireless technologies

* Confident using specialist RF measurement tools (e.g. network analysers or similar equipment)

* Experience working with engineering design tools for schematics and mechanical layouts

* Strong analytical mindset with the ability to troubleshoot complex technical challenges

* High level of accuracy and attention to detail in both design and testing environments

Nice to Have

* Experience developing or optimising antenna solutions for high-frequency applications

* Exposure to NFC or contactless payment technologies

* Familiarity with photonics or laser-based processes

* Previous involvement in regulated or standards-driven product environments