200a - Project Officer Air

European Defence Agency; Brussel Hoofdstad; On-site; EUR 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The European Defence Agency (EDA) in Brussels is seeking a Project Officer Air on a Seconded National Expert basis. The role focuses on coordinating RTI CapTech activities, managing R&T programmes, and supporting cross‑national collaboration in defence technologies.

You will contribute to the SRIA and roadmap development, liaise with Member States and industry, organize expert meetings, and ensure contractual and financial oversight across projects.

Qualifications

• University degree in Aerospace/Mechanical/Mechatronics or closely related field.
• 7+ years of direct and substantial experience in aircraft platforms and systems.
• Strong experience in R&T project management across the lifecycle.
• Familiarity with European Research and Technology programmes and funding frameworks.
• Very good command of written and spoken English.

Responsibilities

• Support moderation of the Captech Air and related expert groups in RTI.
• Manage RTI programmes and projects, including contracting, monitoring and evaluation.
• Prepare briefing notes and update information on RTI projects.
• Contribute to SRIA, TBBS and cross‑CapTech roadmaps.
• Organize RTI expert meetings and represent the Agency as needed.
• Contribute to Technology Watch and Foresight in CapTech Air.
• Collaborate with Member States and liaise with industry.
• Take on additional tasks as required.

Skills

Project management

Cross‑country collaboration

English proficiency

Teamwork

Education

Aerospace/Mechanical/Mechatronics degree

Job description

200a - Project Officer Air at the European Defence Agency (EDA), Brussels, Belgium. Contract type: Agency’s Seconded National Expert. Grade: AD9/AD10. Directorate: Research, Technology and Innovation Directorate (RTI). Reference: EDA/2026/200a. Security clearance: SECRET UE/EU SECRET. Application deadline: 2027-01-07.

BACKGROUND

The European Defence Agency (EDA) was established on 12 July 2004, and isgoverned by CouncilDecision (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 andDefence 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 AND 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 Technology Programmes Unit, the jobholder will be responsible for / contribute to the following activities:

• support the moderation of the Capability Technology Group (Captech) Air and related expert groups, particularly regarding the operational aspects in R&T project management and execution, and related R&T community activities;
• support and manage R&T programmes and projects, including contracting, monitoring and evaluation activities covering technical, financial, security and legal aspects;
• prepare briefing notes and assist in updating information concerning the activities of the assigned R&T projects;
• contribute to R&T initiatives aimed at defining technology-push or capability-led priorities and roadmaps, Technology Building Blocks (TBBS) and the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA); specially ones involving several CapTechs (cross-CapTech);
• organize RTI expert meetings and workshops and represent the Agency in those meetings as required;
• contribute to Technology Watch and Foresight exercises in the areas of responsibility of CapTech Air;
• collaborate actively with representatives and experts from the Member States;
• liaise with companies and industry associations involved in military or dual use R&T in the jobholder’s 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 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

SELECTION CRITERIA

IMPORTANT:

A. Essential

Only applications meeting all essential selection criteria will be assessed.

(1) Professional

The candidate will be required to demonstrate that he/she has:

• a university degree (or equivalent academic degree) in a field relevant to the post: Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, System Engineering or in a closely related engineering discipline;
• at least seven (7) years of direct and substantial professional experience in aircraft platforms and systems, including in-depth experience in one or more of the following areas:
• aircraft architectures and systems,
• flight dynamics & control, avionics & cockpit,
• aircraft weapon system integration up to user interfaces,
• aircraft propulsion,
• unmanned aerial systems,
• air operations and their integration into multi-domain operations for defence;
• extensive experience in R&T project management, covering all the phases: promotion, definition, competition and evaluation of proposals, running, assessment of the results, fostering of follow-up 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). Other attributes important for this post include:

• ability to work in a team and independently in his/her area of responsibility;
• ability to work effectively in a multinational environment;
• reliability and capacity to work under pressure with little supervision;
• good communication and organisational skills;
• strong analytical and problem-solving skills;
• excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills;
• results-orientation and strong motivation;
• flexibility and innovativeness;
• genuine commitment to the Agency's objectives.

B. Desirable

The following will be considered an advantage:

• experience in autonomous systems research/development/testing/operation;
• experience in space systems and their interaction with air systems;
• experience in systems engineering and the integration of complex defence systems;
• hold a (recognised) project / programme management qualification (e.g. Project Management Professional certificate (PMP).

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 Air 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 200a – Project Officer Air 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.

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: http://www.eda.europa.eu/jobs/dataprotection