Support engineers by helping to test and improve products that solve real-world problems.
As a Research and Development Technician, you help test and refine ideas so they can become real working products.
You make sure designs work properly, help test and improve prototypes, and share your findings with engineers and other team members. Your work helps businesses build better, safer and more useful products, from cars and aircraft to everyday machines, and makes sure things work as they should before they reach customers.
Starting as a Research and Development Technician can lead to roles such as product development technician, design technician or specialist technical roles. With experience and further training, you could move into higher technical jobs or work towards becoming an engineer.
There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.
But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:
Options available after GCSEs:
Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.
This role combines hands-on practical work with creative thinking. You might help build and test new ideas, work with prototypes or use digital tools to check how things fit and function. You will work alongside engineers in industries such as manufacturing, automotive or aerospace, helping test and improve products people use every day. There is always something new to learn and improve, making the job varied and interesting.
You might also see this role listed under different job titles, including:
Engineering Technician
Product Design and Development Technician
Prototype Technician
Laboratory Technician
Technical Support Technician
