Research Engineer & Support: [Project Administrator] [Cybersecurity, Network Data Science and Distributed Systems and Networks research groups] [2026]

IMDEA Networks Institute; Comunidad de Madrid; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dynamic international environment

English-speaking workplace

Professional development in project mg

Job summary

Fundación IMDEA Networks in Leganés, Madrid region, Spain, is seeking a Project Administrator to support the Cybersecurity, Network Data Science and Distributed Systems and Networks groups. You will manage administrative, financial, and technical aspects of research projects, ensuring compliance with funders and aiding research teams.

The role offers a 3-year full-time contract, an international, English-speaking environment, and opportunities to participate in European and national projects,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Economics, Finance, Public Management, Law, or equivalent.
• Experience in project management and budget oversight is valuable.
• Strong English and Spanish writing and speaking.
• Excellent organizational and planning skills.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and archive project documentation with activity timesheets and version control.
• Monitor and optimize project budgets across funding sources.
• Manage purchase orders, supplier payments, and fund requests.
• Organize and assist in the management of meetings and project-related events.
• Coordinate hiring processes and HR-related renewals with HR.
• Arrange business trips and file reimbursement claims for employees.
• Coordinate groups' portfolios and monitor relevant financial and operational KPIs.

Skills

Budget management

Administrative skills

Communication

Multitasking

HR coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Economics, Finance, Public Management, Law

Job description

Research Engineer & Support: [Project Administrator] [Cybersecurity, Network Data Science and Distributed Systems and Networks research groups] [2026]

Cybersecurity Group

Distributed Systems and Networks Group

Networks Data Science Group

Deadline for receipt of applications: November 17th, 2026 23:59 AoE (18 November 2026, 13:59h Europe/Madrid)

IMDEA Networks Institute is a public research centre located in Leganés, within the region of Madrid, Spain, and ranking among the top academic organisations in Europe for innovation in the broad domain of computer networks. The institute carries out cutting-edge research in areas that span 6G networks, IoT systems, applied machine learning to networks, big network data analytics, and network and web cybersecurity.

The institute has an opening for one Project Administrator to give support to the Cybersecurity, Network Data Science and Distributed Systems and Networks research groups. The successful candidate will play a key role in managing administrative, financial, and technical aspects of research projects, ensuring compliance with funding agency requirements, and supporting the research teams.

Key Responsibilities:

• Prepare and archive project documentation such as activity timesheets for the research group members, while maintaining version control of all documents, uploading and organizing documents on collaborative platforms, ensuring that all documentation is up to date and meets regulatory requirements.
• Monitor, analyze and optimize project budgets, ensuring the efficient allocation and utilization of financial resources across projects in compliance with the different requirements of each funding source.
• Manage purchase orders, supplier payments, and fund requests, coordinating the purchase of materials or required services, as well as tracking deliveries, inventory, and equipment.
• Organize and assist in the management of meetings and project-related events.
• Act as a liaison between different teams, departments, or collaborative project partners, including European consortium projects.
• Coordinate hiring processes and contract renewals with HR. Support research group leaders in financial forecasting and resource planning, including personnel costs, recruitment needs and contract renewals.
• Arrange business trips and file reimbursement claims for employees, ensuring full compliance with internal procedures and external requirements.
• Coordinate groups' portfolios, support technical effort planning and allocation across projects (particularly within European projects), and monitor relevant financial and operational KPIs.

The position offers:

• 3-year full-time contract with a competitive salary
• A dynamic, collaborative, international, and English-speaking environment.
• Interaction with top-tier researchers and international partners.
• Active participation in the day-to-day management of projects funded through European, national and regional programmes, as well as industrial and private funding schemes.
• Professional development opportunities in project management.
• The possibility to work in cutting-edge research areas at a recognized institute.

The position requires:

• Proven previous experience in a similar role.
• A bachelor/undergraduate degree in Economics, Finance, Public Management, Law, or equivalent field. Specific training (e.g., targeted courses) on project management would be valuable.
• Initiative and professional independence.
• Excellent writing/speaking communication skills in both English and Spanish.
• Strong attention to detail and excellent organisational and planning skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Collaborative mindset with the flexibility to adapt to changing priorities.
• Ability and will to work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural team.

IMDEA Networks Institute aims to increase the proportion of women and therefore qualified female applicants are explicitly encouraged to apply. Until a balanced ratio of men and women has been achieved at the institute, preference will be given to women if applicants have similar qualifications. IMDEA Networks Institute actively promotes diversity and equal opportunities. Applicants are not to be discriminated against in personnel selection procedures on the grounds of gender, ethnicity, religion or ideology, age, sexual orientation (anti-discrimination). People with disabilities who have the relevant qualifications are expressly invited to apply.