049i - Project Officer Materials and Structures - European Defence Agency (Brussels)

About this position

The summary below is published by European Defence Agency on the official vacancy notice. Our own analysis — salary realism, comparable openings, career trajectory, language profile — follows further down the page.

Key responsibilities

According to the vacancy notice, the role centres on the following duties:

• Support moderation of Materials and Structures Capability Technology Group (CapTech) and contribute to activities across broader cluster
• Support and manage R&T programmes, projects and studies throughout their lifecycle including definition, contracting, execution, monitoring, evaluation, dissemination and exploitation
• Prepare briefing and maintain up-to-date information on assigned R&T projects
• Contribute to R&T initiatives defining technology-driven and capability-led priorities, technology roadmaps, Technology Building Blocks and Strategic Research and Innovation Agendas
• Organise RTI experts meetings and workshops, support preparation and follow-up of outcomes
• Participate in and represent the Agency at relevant meetings and events
• Contribute to technology-watch and foresight exercises
• Collaborate with representatives and experts from participating Member States

Are you eligible?

Check these requirements from the notice before investing time in an application:

• Education: University degree or equivalent academic qualification in mechanical engineering, electrical or electronic engineering, aerospace engineering, materials science or engineering, or another closely related engineering field
• Experience: At least seven (7) years of relevant professional experience in defence-related research and technology, technology development or engineering, including experience in materials, structures and/or manufacturing technologies and related resilience or through-life support aspects; proven experience in managing R&T projects or studies throughout their lifecycle; experience in dissemination and explo…
• Languages: one official language of a participatin… (C1), another official language of a particip… (B2)
• Key skills: Managing R&T projects and studies throughout lifecycle, Dissemination and exploitation of defence research results, Understanding of EDA's main tasks and functions, Very good command of written and spoken English, Commitment, flexibility, innovation, and team-working
• Eligibility: Nationals of a participating Member State or falling within provisions of second paragraph of Article 1 of Council Decision (EU) 2016/1352; must be sponsored by national authorities; must have worked for employer on permanent or contract basis for at least 12 months before secondment; must have at least three years' full-time experience in defence, administrative, scientific, technical, operation…

Contract and working arrangements

Hiring unit: Technology Programmes Unit (TPU), Research, Technology & Innovation Directorate (RTI).

Position details

Reference

1151

Last Verified

11 November 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for 049i - Project Officer Materials and Structures at EDA based in Brussels (Seconded National Expert). The vacancy reference is 1151.

1. BACKGROUND

The European Defence Agency (EDA) was established on 12 July 2004, and is governed by Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/1835 defining the statute, seat and operational rules of the European Defence Agency. The Agency has its headquarters in Brussels.

The main task of EDA is to support the Council and the Member States in their effort to improve the Union's defence capabilities in the field of crisis management and to sustain the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) as it currently stands and as it develops in the future.

The Agency is structured into four directorates. The Corporate Services Directorate (CSD) and three operational directorates:Capability, Armament & Planning (CAP);Procurement, Support, Industry & Interoperability (PSII);Research, Technology & Innovation (RTI).

2. THE AGENCY'S WAY OF WORKING

The Agency is an “outward-facing” organisation, constantly interacting with its shareholders, the Member States, as well as with a wide range of stakeholders. It works in an integrated way, with multi-disciplinary teams representing all of the Agency’s functional areas, to realise its objectives. Its business processes are flexible and oriented towards achieving results. Staff at all levels need to demonstrate the corresponding qualities of commitment, flexibility, innovation, and team-working; to work effectively with shareholders and stakeholder groups, formal and informal; and to operate without the need for detailed direction.

3. THE RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION DIRECTORATE (RTI)

The Research, Technology & Innovation Directorate (RTI) supports Member States in translating defence priorities and operational needs into technological solutions and future capabilities. On the basis of the Overarching Strategic Research Agenda, it provides an integrated, end-to-end service covering technology identification and prioritisation, collaborative research and technology development, innovation, experimentation, and support for the transition of promising solutions towards operational use.

Through its Capability Technology Working Groups, technology programmes and experimentation activities, RTI promotes collaborative defence research and innovation in areas of common interest. The Directorate also coordinates EDA’s contribution to EU-funded defence research and innovation programmes, supports the implementation of activities entrusted by the European Commission, and facilitates the management, exploitation and uptake of results in line with Member States' priorities.

The RTI Directorate comprises:

- Technology Programmes Unit (TPU) supports Member States in identifying and developing priority defence technologies through the Capability Technology Groups, the Overarching Strategic Research Agenda and collaborative R&T activities. It brings together capability pull and technology push across the air and space, maritime and land domains, as well as information superiority, cyber and resilience, power and control technologies, while promoting greater cross-domain cooperation and coherence; - EU Programmes and RTI Coordination Unit (EPC) ensures the coherent planning, coordination and monitoring of the RTI Directorate's portfolio. It coordinates the Directorate's engagement in EU-funded defence research and innovation programmes, supports the implementation of entrusted activities, and promotes synergies between collaborative R&T, innovation, experimentation and capability development activities; - Centre for European Defence Innovation (CEDI) provides a coherent and scalable innovation and experimentation function supporting Member States along the full innovation pathway. CEDI connects promising technologies and innovative solutions with end users, testing and experimentation facilities and potential follow-on pathways, helping Member States assess military utility, reduce adoption risks and accelerate the transition towards operationally relevant and deployment-ready solutions.

4. DUTIES

Under the supervision of the Head of the Technology Programme Unit, the jobholder will be responsible for / contribute to the following activities:

- support the moderation of the Materials and Structures Capability Technology Group (CapTech) and contribute to its activities across the broader cluster, including Components, Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC), Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN), Human Factors, and Energy and Environment, particularly in Research and Technology (R&T) project preparation, management and execution and related community activities; - support and manage R&T programmes, projects and studies throughout their lifecycle, including definition, contracting, execution, monitoring, evaluation, dissemination and exploitation of results and follow-on activities, addressing technical, financial, security and legal aspects in cooperation with the relevant supporting functions; - prepare briefing and maintain up-to-date information on assigned R&T projects; - contribute to R&T initiatives aimed at defining technology-driven and capability-led priorities, technology roadmaps, Technology Building Blocks (TBBs) and Strategic Research and Innovation Agendas (SRIAs), particularly activities involving several CapTechs; - organise RTI experts meetings and workshops, support the preparation and follow-up of their outcomes, and participate in and represent the Agency at relevant meetings and events, as required; - contribute to technology-watch and foresight exercises in the area of responsibility; - collaborate actively with representatives and experts from participating Member States, supporting the identification and development of collaborative R&T activities; - liaise with companies, industry associations, research and technology organisations and academia involved in military or dual-use R&T within the area of responsibility; - take on additional tasks as required in the interest of the service.

Duties may evolve according to the development of EDA’s structure and activities, and the decisions of EDA management.

5. CONDITIONS FOR SECONDMENT

In accordance with the Rules applicable to national experts and military staff on secondment to the European Defence Agency (Council Decision (EU) 2016/1352), Seconded National Experts are seconded to the Agency while remaining in the service of their national employer and continue being paid their national salary by that employer.

Therefore, to be considered in the selection process, candidates for SNE posts must be sponsored by their national authorities. Confirmation is required in the form of a letter of sponsorship addressed to the Agency as far as possible by the closing date for the receipt of applications and in any case before a decision is taken by EDA on the candidate to be selected for a secondment.

The Rules are available on the EDA website http://www.eda.europa.eu - vacancies.

To qualify for secondment to the Agency, experts shall:

- have worked for their employer on a permanent or contract basis for at least 12 months before their secondment; - remain in the service of their employer throughout the period of secondment and continue to be paid by that employer; - have at least three years' full-time experience in defence, administrative, scientific, technical, operational, advisory or supervisory functions relevant to the performance of the duties assigned to them. Before the secondment, the employer shall supply the Agency with a statement of the expert's employment covering the previous 12 months; - be nationals of a participating Member State or falling within the provisions of the second paragraph of Article 1 of Council Decision (EU) 2016/1352 of 4 August 2016; - have a thorough knowledge (minimum level C1 oral and written) of one official language of one of the participating Member States and a satisfactory knowledge (minimum level B2 oral and written) of another of these languages for the performance of their duties.

For native English speakers, your ability to communicate in another EU language will be tested during the selection process. To assess your foreign language levels, see: https://europa.eu/europass/en/common-european-framework-reference-language-skills

6. SELECTION CRITERIA

IMPORTANT:Confirmation of sponsorship is required at the latest by the deadline for applications and in any case before a decision on a candidate selected for secondment is taken by EDA.

A. Essential

Only applications meeting all essential selection criteria will be assessed.

(1) Professional

The candidate will be required to demonstrate that they have:

- a university degree, or equivalent academic qualification, in mechanical engineering, electrical or electronic engineering, aerospace engineering, materials science or engineering, or another closely related engineering field; - at least seven (7) years of relevant professional experience in defence-related research and technology, technology development or engineering, including experience in materials, structures and/or manufacturing technologies and related resilience or through-life support aspects; - proven experience in managing R&T projects or studies throughout their lifecycle, including definition, execution, monitoring, assessment of results and follow-on activities; - experience in the dissemination and exploitation of defence research project results; - familiarity with European Research and Technology programmes and funding frameworks; - a good understanding of EDA’s main tasks and functions relevant to the area of responsibility; - a very good command of written and spoken English.

(2) Personal

All staff must be able to fit into the Agency's way of working (see para. 2).

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 11 November 2026, today.

The application deadline is 11 February 2027, 91 days from today. Late applications are not accepted, so submit through the official EU Careers portal well in advance.

Last verified against the EU Careers feed on 11 November 2026.

Where to learn more

For headcount, mission, and other open vacancies at EDA see the EDA institution page; for the cost of living, correction coefficient, and other postings in Brussels see our Brussels location page.

New to EU careers? Our beginner's guide walks through entry routes, EPSO competitions, and what to prepare. For application logistics see application tips and EPSO competitions.