Technical Specialist - Bioengineering/Neuroengineering (12-Month Maternity Cover)

ARIA; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

A new R&D funding agency in London seeks a Technical Specialist to lead research in precision neurotechnologies. You will be responsible for programme delivery and innovation alongside the Programme Director. Candidates should have significant experience in bioengineering and neuroengineering. This role offers a competitive salary and a hybrid work environment with opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

27 days annual leave

Hybrid working arrangements

Professional development opportunities

Enhanced family leave

24/7 employee assistance programme

Paid volunteer days

Defined contribution pension scheme

Cycle to Work scheme

Office location in Kings X, London

Qualifications

• Experience leading the development and testing of a novel neurotechnology device.
• Deep working knowledge of bioengineering and molecular biology.
• Ability to learn quickly and grasp new technical areas.

Responsibilities

• Act as technical lead for programme delivery in precision neurotechnologies.
• Review quarterly reports and assess progress of creator projects.
• Communicate scientific ideas to stakeholders clearly and effectively.

Skills

Bioengineering

Neuroengineering

Communication of complex concepts

Adaptability

Education

PhD or similar in bioengineering or neuroengineering

Job description

Technical Specialist - Bioengineering/Neuroengineering (12-Month Maternity Cover)

Application Deadline: 14 December 2025

Department: Programmes

Employment Type: Fixed Term - Full Time

Location: London

Reporting To: Jacques Carolan

Compensation: £70,000 - £105,000 / year

Description

Salary Levels: c.£70,000, c.£90,000, c.£105,000 (eventual offers will be based on benchmarked experience levels in combination with our selection criteria)

Location: Kings X, London; Tuesday - Thursday (3 days) at HQ, Monday + Friday, anywhere

Employment Type: Full time
Contract: 12‑month fixed‑term
Closing Date: 14.12.25

About ARIA

ARIA is a new kind of R&D funding agency. We fund scientists and engineers to pursue research at the edge of the possible. From climate change to AI, society faces enormous challenges and opportunities that can be uniquely addressed by science and technology. ARIA was created to activate the UK’s world‑class R&D in new ways, so we can meet these head on.

We are growing our team to develop bold new approaches that can scale – from programmes to systems, processes and everything in between. If that sounds fun, come and build ARIA with us.

Learn more about how we work here.

Role Summary

As an ARIA Technical Specialist, you will have the rare chance to catalyse breakthroughs that could change the world. You'll sit alongside Programme Director Jacques Carolan and their Programme Specialist on ARIA's Precision Neurotechnologies programme.

Over the course of this 12‑month maternity cover, you’ll be responsible for all aspects of programme delivery and creator experience, including technical reviews, a thought partner for strategic programmatic decisions, and community building.

The funded programme will aim to develop next‑generation neurotechnologies. We’re looking for an adaptable technical professional who’s strongly motivated by the opportunity to catalyse a technological step change. You’ll be working in a bold, talented & agile team, funding projects (“Creators”) across the entire R&D ecosystem, from startups to universities, in pursuit of groundbreaking advancements that will shape the future of science & technology.

Meet Jacques

Jacques is a member of ARIA’s second cohort of Programme Directors. He is an applied physicist and neuroscientist, he spent ten years developing photonic technologies for quantum and classical computing at MIT and the Niels Bohr Institute before pivoting to systems neuroscience at UCL, where he developed optical technologies to study neural circuits.

Jacques is currently leading ARIA's Precision Neurotechnologies programme.

Find out more about what they’re working on here.

“At ARIA, we’re building the conditions for speculative, breakthrough technologies—the kind that could change the world. Few areas exemplify that potential more powerfully than neurotechnology.”

You’ll join me and my team, for 12 months, to help manage and deliver the technical heart of this ambitious programme. We move fast, think boldly, and collaborate deeply. My leadership style is optimistic, decisive, and built on trust: everyone on the team is empowered to take ownership and push the frontier forward.

This role is hands‑on and high‑impact, from evaluating radical technical progress to guiding projects across startups, universities, and global partners.

There are very few jobs with the potential for outsized impact—if that excites you, please apply.

Jacques Carolan, Programme Director

What you’ll do

The scope of the role will evolve as ARIA continues to grow, but will broadly involve the following:

Technical Programme Advisory and Support

• Act as the technical lead, with the Programme Director and their Programme Specialist, to deliver a bold programme of research aimed at developing next‑generation precision neurotechnologies.
• Review quarterly reports from creators and assess their progress towards their technical milestones and visit creator teams to develop deep understanding of their progress and projects. Review Seed proposals and grant applications for further funding.
• Plan, lead, and contribute to technical discussions in project meetings, workshops, and formal reviews, bringing depth, challenge, and direction to every interaction.
• Provide evidence‑based technical insight to the Programme Director and the ARIA team to support high‑quality decisions and sharpen the programme’s strategic direction.
• Confidently communicate complex scientific ideas surrounding the programme to stakeholders, from government and funders to key players across the ecosystem.
• Identify emerging trends and surface the most promising technologies, people, and ideas across the programme and its surrounding opportunity space.
• Co‑author white papers, open calls, and technical reviews that articulate the ambition of the programme and maintain a clear, compelling vision for external communities.
• Work closely with the Programme Specialist and Creator teams to drive project delivery, tracking against ambitious technical milestones, benchmarking progress against the state of the art, and spotting opportunities for research cross‑pollination to sustain momentum.
• Be the technical bridge between the PD and functional teams, ensuring execution aligns with the needs of the ecosystem’s understanding of the programme.

Connecting the Programme to the Ecosystem

• Represent the programme, often on behalf of the Programme Director, at events, workshops and talks.
• Maintain trusted relationships with world‑class researchers, labs, and founders working at the forefront of the programme’s focus area.
• Work closely with ARIA’s Activation Partners to ensure Creator teams can access the right tools, platforms, and networks to accelerate translation and achieve impact beyond ARIA’s direct reach.

Define and Cultivate ARIA’s Technical Culture

• Contribute as a member of ARIA’s team of Technical Specialists (‘T‑Specs’), sharing best practices and learnings between programmes to strengthen ARIA’s portfolio of work.
• Help build and sustain ARIA’s scientific and operational culture.

Who you are

Essential Criteria

• You have first hand experience leading the conception, design and development, and testing of a novel neurotechnology device or biological therapy.
• Deep working knowledge of bioengineering, and molecular and cellular biology.
• A desire and ability to learn and quickly grasp new technical areas.
• You excel in grasping and navigating diverse technical projects.
• You excel at translating complex technical concepts and timelines to diverse stakeholders, effectively bridging gaps between diverse teams and perspectives.
• You are willing to ask questions and can rapidly learn and adapt to new scientific areas, comprehending key components of new technical disciplines.
• Highly adaptable, you are okay with uncertainty and a fast‑paced environment.
• You comprehend and articulate complex concepts clearly and with conviction, think and communicate with structure, and interrogate ideas effectively.

Desirable Criteria

• You have experience in, or knowledge of the neurotechnologies industry.
• Deep knowledge of the physical principles underlying neural recording and modulation technology.
• You have worked on interdisciplinary projects potentially involving a broad array of technologies.
• You have experience with, or knowledge about in‑vivo animal work.
• You have an interest in and working knowledge of translation such as safety and efficacy testing, medical device regulation.
• You have successfully performed technical assignments that require unconventional or novel approaches.
• You are skilled in identifying technical bottlenecks, risk analysis and resolution, tracking technical milestones, and reporting on complex technical projects.
• You can uncover non‑obvious opportunities and risks, connecting teams, ideas, and research threads in novel ways that drive adoption and translation.
• You have a strong working knowledge of the UK R&D ecosystem.

Qualifications

You have a Scientific qualification, with a preference for PhD or other deeper technical experience in one of the listed areas of interest, or similar; bioengineering, neuroengineering, neurotechnologies.

Benefits

• 27 days annual leave provision, with the option to buy/sell additional days
• Hybrid working arrangements; 60% in office / 40% at home
• Supportive environment for learning and development opportunities
• Enhanced family leave arrangements
• A free and confidential 24/7 employee assistance programme
• 2 days of paid volunteer days
• 5% defined contribution pension scheme with Smart Pension
• Cycle to Work scheme
• An excellent office location in Kings X, London

Not sure you meet 100% of our criteria? Don’t worry. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We want to attract the broadest array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you’re new to this, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or taking the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar.

Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interests and what you hope to bring to this role.

If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please notify us and we will make every effort to accommodate you. Disclosing any requests are intended to provide ARIA with the best opportunity to support candidates and will have no negative impact on your recruitment process.

Please note; You will be required, as and when necessary, to travel to different locations around the UK and internationally to support projects, depending on the programme you are designated to.

ARIA adopts a highly considered approach to ethical and social responsibility. You can read our policy here. Our research and development activity will abide by the 3Rs principle. You can read about those here.