049i - Project Officer Materials and Structures

Job notes

Employer: European Defence Agency
Reference: EDA/2026/049i
Contract type: Seconded National Expert
Grade: AD 9/AD 10
Directorate: Research, Technology & Innovation Directorate (RTI)
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Security clearance: SECRET UE/EU SECRET
Indicative starting date: 01/04/2027

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).

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.

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.

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.

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 - 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:

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. EssentialOnly applications meeting all essential selection criteria will be assessed.(1) ProfessionalThe 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) PersonalAll staff must be able to fit into the Agency's way of working (see para. 2). Other attributes important for this post include:ability to work in a team and independently in their area of responsibility;ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary and multinational teams and coordinate stakeholders from different organisations;reliability and capacity to work under pressure with minimal supervision;good communication and organisational skills;strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to assess technical information across technology domains and identify interfaces and opportunities for cooperation;excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills;results orientation and strong motivation;flexibility and innovativeness;genuine commitment to the Agency's objectives.B. DesirableThe following will be considered an advantage:experience in systems engineering and the integration of complex defence systems;experience in additional technology areas relevant to the broader cluster, including Components, Guidance, Navigation and Control, CBRN, Human Factors, or Energy and Environment;experience in materials and structural modelling, computational materials methods or experimental validation;practical experience in qualification, industrialisation or the transition of research results into defence applications;experience of cooperation with Ministries of Defence, armed forces, European institutions, industry or research organisations in multinational R&T activities.

INDEPENDENCE AND DECLARATION OF INTEREST:
The selected candidate will be required to make a declaration of commitment to act independently in the Agency’s interest and to make a declaration in relation to interests that might be considered prejudicial to their independence.

APPOINTMENT AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR SECONDED NATIONAL EXPERTS (SNE) AT EDA:
The Project Officer Materials and Structures will be appointed by the Chief Executive.Secondment will be as a member of the Seconded National Expert staff of the Agency for a three-year period. Renewal is possible within the limits set out in the EDA SNE Rules. The successful candidate will be seconded as AD9/AD10 equivalent.Applications are invited with a view to establish a reserve list for the post of Project Officer Materials and Structures at EDA. This list will be valid until 31/12/2028, and may be extended by decision of the Chief Executive. During the validity of the reserve list, successful candidates may be offered a secondment in EDA according to their competences in relation to the specific requirements of the vacant post. Inclusion on the reserve list does not imply any entitlement of secondment to the Agency.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES:
EDA is an equal opportunities employer and accepts applications without distinction on the grounds of age, race, political, philosophical or religious conviction, sex or sexual orientation and regardless of disabilities, marital status or family situation.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE FOR SECONDED NATIONAL EXPERTS (SNE):
Candidates must submit their application electronically solely via the EDA website. Applications by any other means (hard copy or ordinary e-mail) will not be accepted. Applications must be submitted no later than midnight. Candidates are reminded that the on-line application system will not accept applications after midnight (Brussels time, GMT+1) on the date of the deadline.In order 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.A selection panel will be appointed. Please note that the selection panel's internal proceedings are strictly confidential and that any contact with its members is forbidden. Each application will be screened based on the requirements of the job profile stated in the vacancy notice. The most suitable applicants will be called for an interview and a written test. If recruited, you will be requested to supply documentary evidence in support of the statements that you make for this application. Do not send any supporting or supplementary information until you have been asked to do so by the Agency.Please note that once you have created your EDA profile, any correspondence regarding your application must be sent or received via your EDA profile. For any prior enquiry, please refer to the FAQ (Frequently asked questions) section, or send an e-mail to [email protected]. EDA will not accept any phase of the selection & recruitment process prepared or assisted, in whole or in part, by means of generative artificial-intelligence (AI) tools, including and without limitation to chatbots, such as Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (Chat GPT), or other language generating tools.EDA reserves the right to screen applications to identify the use of such tools. All applications prepared, in whole or in part, by means of such generative or creative AI tools may be rejected without further consideration at EDA’s sole discretion, and EDA reserves the right to take further steps in such cases as appropriate.

DATA PROTECTION:
Please note that EDA will not return applications to candidates. The personal information EDA requests from candidates will be processed in line with Regulation (EU) N° 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Regulation (EC) 45/2001 and Decision No. 1247/2002/EC.The purpose of processing personal data which candidates submit is to manage applications in view of possible pre-selection and recruitment at EDA. More information on personal data protection in relation to selection and recruitment can be found on the EDA website: