A set of programmable staged embankment construction device was developed in order to improve the simulation technology for embankment construction in geotechnical centrifuge modeling. It is functional during centrifuge operation, and consists of a box-like sand container, sand falling push-pull element, a stepper motor controller and a camera system. A combination of stepper motor, planetary gearbox, and ball screw achieves high torque and resolution of dynamic output, so that the sand falling layer, featuring low friction and small deformation, can move back and forth relative to the upper sand container. Then, the high-density zircon sand in the box-like sand container can pass through sand falling holes with different diameters and spacing, which are located on the basal bearing plate. The influence of Coriolis effect on the movement trajectory of the sand particles was significantly reduced by installing segmented deflectors on the edge of sand falling holes. The zircon sands fell along the deflectors to the surface of foundation, and then formed a regular-shaped embankment. The trial experiment showed that the developed apparatus can better simulate the staged construction process of embankment with minimum layer thickness of 20 mm at a centrifugal acceleration of 60g. The relative error of cross section between the simulated embankment and the target embankment was 0.50%~9.50%. This device achieved the similarity between the model embankment and the prototype in terms of geometry, density and strength. The device is characterized by high system reliability, compacted structure and full functionality.