R&D Technical Analyst​/Researcher

We'rebuilding out a dedicated R&D capability to systematically explore emerging technologies,validate new approaches, and feed innovation into our product and engineering teams. This role is central to making that work.

As our R&D Technical Analyst, you drive evidence generation through our stage gates:
Problem Pack support, vendor/option evaluation, Evidence Pack drafting, decision logging, and handover pack creation. Your activities include scanning the market for emerging tools and vendors, conducting technical research and ensuring that ideas move through our process with the right evidence and documentation behind them. Contribute code to timeboxed PoCs under the Senior R&D Engineer’s technical direction; focus is validation and evidence, not production-grade implementation.

You'llwork closely with our architecture team, freeing them to focus on high-value design decisions while you handle the groundwork: gathering technical specs, evaluating options, and preparing the analysis that supports good decision-making.

You'llalso support our Senior R&D Engineer during prototyping phases, contributing hands‑on work while ensuring findings are captured and communicated clearly.

AI and process automation are core focus areas for our R&D efforts.

You'llneed a solid grasp of the current AI landscape;what's hype,what'sproduction-ready, and where the genuine opportunities lie;alongside an interest in how organisations orchestrate and automate complex business processes.

Functionally reporting to Head of R&D your day to day tasking and coaching is from the Senior R&D Engineer.

This is a role with real growth potential. For the right person,it'sa launchpad into more senior R&D engineering or specialist AI/data roles as our capability matures.

• Scan the market for emerging technologies, tools, platforms, and vendors relevant to our strategic priorities
• Conduct structured evaluations: gathering documentation, assessing technical fit, comparing options, and summarising findings for decision-makers
• Assess vendor and platform security posture, including availability of SAST, DAST, IAST, RASP capabilities, secure SDLC alignment, and compliance certifications.
• Stay current with developments in AI/ML, understanding the practical applications and limitations of new models, frameworks, and services
• Prepare evidence packs and recommendations to support architecture and strategy fit assessments
• Research and evaluate process automation and orchestration technologies, including workflow engines, BPMN platforms, RPA tools, and the emerging BOAT (Business Orchestration and Automation Technologies) landscape
• Apply a consistent evaluation rubric (fit, integration complexity, security/compliance, operating cost, adoption maturity, vendor viability) for vendor selection.

• Build small proofs of concept to test APIs, integration approaches, and technical hypotheses
• Support the Senior R&D Engineer during prototyping, contributing code and technical investigation under their guidance
• Work with C# and Python to create lightweight demonstrations and validate technical assumptions
• Explore all capabilities practically: testing APIs, evaluating model performance, building simple AI-integrated applications

• Own the documentation of R&D activities: hypotheses, findings, decisions, and outcomes
• Produce decision-ready 1– 2 page summaries: options, evaluation criteria, risks, costs, recommendation, and confidence level.
• Maintain our knowledge base of evaluated technologies, lessons learned, and archived initiatives
• Communicate progress and findings to architecture, product, and development teams

• Maintain the R&D backlog; enforce stage gate completion; track decisions (pass/revise/stop) and rationale; maintain archive of stopped initiatives.
• Keep our process running smoothly, flagging blockers and ensuring nothing falls through the cracks
• Maintain the archive of completed and rejected initiatives for future reference
• Owning roadmaps
• Shipping BAU features
• Acting as a sprint delivery resource
• BAU support

• At least two years’ demonstrable experience…