Programme Officer, Engineering X (Maternity cover)

Are you interested in how complex systems can be made safer, more resilient and better able to serve the people who rely on them?

Engineering X is seeking a Programme Officer to help deliver the Safer Complex Systems portfolio. From energy to transport, water and digital infrastructures, the programme explores and acts on the most effective ways to apply systems thinking and complexity-informed approaches to tackle some of the world's most pressing challenges.

This is a varied and collaborative role working international partners, researchers, engineers, policymakers and practitioners from across the world. You will contribute to programme delivery, stakeholder engagement, events, communications and knowledge sharing, helping to build and strengthen a growing global community focused on safer complex systems.

We are looking for someone who brings practical experience of systems thinking, systems approaches or complexity-informed methodologies and can confidently apply these in a programme environment. You will be comfortable working across disciplines and cultures, building relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders and contributing to work that aims to create meaningful and lasting impact.

The successful candidate will have strong organisational and communication skills, experience of coordinating projects or programmes, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment. As much of the programme's work takes place in Latin America, proficiency in Spanish is essential.

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the intersection of engineering, international development and systems change, and to contribute to a programme that is helping shape innovative approaches on how complex infrastructure challenges are understood and addressed globally.

Please note this is a fixed term role, up to 14 months.

Application closing date: 27/10/2026

Interview date: w/c 09/11/2026

Interview location: London

Our location

Our light, spacious head office is based in a fantastic location in central London with views over St James’s Park and close to the West End. We operate hybrid, flexible working practices with a baseline for office based working of a mandatory weekly team day plus further days each week as required for the role and the Academy.

Who are we?

Engineering matters. It shapes our everyday lives, from our ability to turn the lights on, have a hot shower and commute into work, to the mobile phones we rely on to keep connected. It also plays a vital role in addressing some of the biggest challenges facing society today, from climate change, to global health pandemics and cyber threats.

The Royal Academy of Engineering is a charity that harnesses the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy that works for everyone. In collaboration with our Fellows and partners, we’re growing talent and developing skills for the future, driving innovation, and building global partnerships, and influencing policy and engaging the public. Together we’re working to tackle the greatest challenges of our age.

With a diverse workforce and an inclusive and supportive culture, we look to attract candidates from wide and different backgrounds who have a passion for the role engineering plays in society. Our aim is to make the Academy the best place to work for the staff we have and those we seek to attract.

Why work for us?

We’re looking for people who are driven to make the world a better place. If you’re passionate about what you do and want to work collaboratively with talented colleagues to make change happen now and for future generations, we want you to get in touch.

This is the perfect time to join us. We have a dynamic, visionary CEO, a strong leadership team and an ambitious and exciting strategy. The value we bring as experts in our field and change agents is highly recognised and makes the Academy a motivating place to be. Our work today builds on a long, proud history with a focused and ambitious future which we’d love you to be part of.

We are looking for talented people who want to make a difference, to join our team – is this you?

The Academy is committed to making reasonable adjustments to remove barriers that hinder applicants from applying or staff from working effectively and comfortably.