EU R&D Project Engineer (Horizon Europe & EIC)

Location: Madrid, Spain | Up to 100% remote | Permanent, full-time contract

About us

Sustainable Innovations Europe is a Madrid-based innovation consultancy specialising in European research and innovation programmes, particularly Horizon Europe and the European Innovation Council (EIC). Since 2018, we have participated in more than 35 European R&D projects spanning energy, energy storage, advanced materials, circular economy, Industry 5.0 and bioeconomy. We work with universities, research centres, start-ups and companies across Europe, supporting them from funding opportunity identification and proposal development to project implementation, exploitation strategies, technology analysis and communication of research results. Our multidisciplinary team combines engineering and scientific expertise with a strong understanding of the European innovation ecosystem. Our mission is to help turn promising technologies into sustainable, market-ready innovations.

The role

We are looking for an engineer, scientist or AI specialist with a strong technical background in areas such as energy, advanced materials, industrial technologies or artificial intelligence. You should be curious about emerging technologies, comfortable working with complex technical information and motivated to learn how to transform innovative ideas into ambitious, competitive and fundable European R&D projects. You will primarily work on Horizon Europe proposals, particularly within Cluster 4 (Digital, Industry and Space) and Cluster 5 (Climate, Energy and Mobility), as well as relevant EIC funding opportunities.

You will initially work alongside senior consultants, progressively taking ownership of proposal development, consortium coordination and strategic interactions with clients and partners as you gain experience.

Key responsibilities

• Analyse the state of the art, emerging technologies and industry trends to identify R&D opportunities and strengthen project ambition and impact.
• Contribute to the full proposal development process, from initial concept and project structuring to technical writing and submission.
• Draft technical sections in English, including objectives, methodology, Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), expected results and project impact.
• Design project work plans, including work packages, tasks, deliverables and milestones.
• Engage with researchers, engineers and industrial partners to understand their technologies and integrate their contributions into coherent, competitive proposals.
• Support the coordination of international consortia, partner meetings and proposal development timelines.
• Participate in meetings, events and initiatives within the European research and innovation ecosystem.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Engineering, Science, Materials Science, Industrial Engineering, Artificial Intelligence or a related technical field.
• 1–3 years of technical experience in industry, engineering, R&D, technical consulting or research.
• Excellent command of English (C1 or higher), both written and spoken.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to understand, structure and communicate complex technical information.
• Good organisational skills, attention to detail and ability to work collaboratively with international teams.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Nice to have

• Experience in technical writing, including scientific reports, research papers or project documentation.
• Previous exposure to European R&D programmes, particularly Horizon Europe or EIC.
• Experience in AI development, data analysis or digital technologies applied to energy, materials or industrial challenges.
• International academic or professional experience.

What we offer

• A permanent, full-time contract
• A flexible working arrangement, with the possibility of working up to 100% remotely or from our Madrid office (Juan Bravo).
• Hands-on training in European R&D funding programmes and proposal development.
• The opportunity to collaborate with leading universities, research centres, technology companies and innovative start-ups across Europe.
• Exposure to cutting-edge technologies and multidisciplinary R&D projects.
• A defined career development path, with increasing responsibilities in proposal development, client relationships and innovation strategy.
• The opportunity to grow professionally within an international, technology-driven environment