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