This selection exercise may be used to generate a roster of pre-approved candidates to address future staffing needs for similar functions in any of the Departments and Offices of the Organization.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING APPLICATION DEADLINE: Please note that the closing date for submission of applications is indicated in local time as per the time zone of the applicant's location.

Organizational Setting

The Department of Safeguards carries out the IAEA’s duties and responsibilities as the world’s nuclear inspectorate, supporting global efforts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. The primary role of the Department is to develop and implement IAEA safeguards to ensure that there is no diversion of declared nuclear material from peaceful activities and no indications of undeclared nuclear material or activities in a State as a whole. 

The Department comprises nuclear safeguards inspectors, responsible for carrying out inspections and verifications of all-safeguards relevant information for nuclear facilities in over 180 States; and technical staff responsible for a wide range of activities including: developing concepts and approaches for implementing safeguards; developing and maintaining safeguards equipment; providing analytical and laboratory services for sample analysis; collecting, evaluating and analysing safeguards-relevant information; providing information and communication technology infrastructure and services; and providing programme coordination support. The Division of Technical and Scientific Services ensures the provision of state-of-the-art equipment and related expertise for the accomplishment of the Department of Safeguards activities. Within this mandate, the Division is responsible for procurement, testing, provision, inventory control, performance monitoring and maintenance of safeguards equipment and supplies required by SGO Divisions; management of equipment development and engineering activities to meet quality and safeguards requirements; development and provision of documentation, procedures, instrumentation methods and techniques; provision of specialized technical and scientific support to inspectors and inspection activities in the field and at headquarters; and, radiation contamination monitoring of returned equipment and timely write-off of obsolete or contaminated equipment. The Division also coordinates departmental health and safety activities.

Main Purpose

Reporting to the Team Leader, the Systems Security Engineer provides technical and policy-level support on issues related to the security of safeguards instrumentation systems and information, including by assessing and aligning divisional policies with the broader departmental security policy framework. Playing a key role in both the design and implementation of safeguards equipment, the Systems Security Engineer assesses potential attacks, determines how best to mitigate risks, contributes to the development of secure safeguards equipment systems, and provides regular assistance to ensure that evolving threats or scenarios do not compromise the security of safeguards systems and the integrity of their data.

Role

The Systems Security Engineer is: (1) a technical expert, defining requirements for new safeguards systems, preparing and reviewing specifications, and developing application procedures to ensure the highest level of security and tamper indication; (2) an organizer, planning and managing vulnerability reviews of unattended systems, including surveillance cameras, sealing systems and enclosures, and radiation monitors; (3) a policy contributor, supporting the SGTS information security programme, ensuring alignment with departmental policies and international regulations; and (4) an innovator, championing new technologies and methods to ensure that safeguards systems continuously meet IAEA security requirements.

Functions / Key Results Expected

Review ongoing technical developments, evaluate technical solutions such as instrument designs for possible vulnerabilities, and elaborate mitigation proposals, including for non-standard arrangements. 

Conduct periodic vulnerability reviews of IAEA safeguards equipment, elaborate solutions for mitigation of discovered vulnerabilities, and contribute to the operation and upkeep of the Division’s Vulnerability Review Laboratory in collaboration with the Divisional Information Security Officer. 

Coordinate and/or participate in vulnerability assessments and reviews with external experts and equipment manufacturers.

Contribute substantively to reviews and upgrades of procedures for system applications, evaluation and testing of new equipment. 

Provide expert advice to the other technical units of the Division, including engineering guidance to technicians and training to staff in techniques for vulnerabilities mitigation. 

Draft and implement information security policies for the Division aligned to the information security framework of the Department.

Perform policy gap analyses related to information security, review audit and service evaluation results, and propose solutions for any identified policy gaps.

Contribute to the development, formulation and implementation of standardized methodologies and procedures to assess and strengthen information security for safeguards equipment systems and compliance with international security regulations.

Undertake initial assessment of safeguards equipment systems with respect to information security and data protection, and assist in root cause analysis of security issues.

Prepare quality controlled technical documents, including technical reports, specifications and procedures. 

Provide field installation support for safeguards equipment and training for inspectors as required. 
 

Competencies and Expertise

Core Competencies(Competency Framework)

Functional Competencies

Required Expertise

Asset Expertise

Qualifications, Experience and Language skills

Bachelor's Degree - University degree in computer science, engineering or a similar technical area.

Minimum of five years of relevant working experience in information security, and/or equipment security and systems engineering. 
Experience in the implementation of nuclear safeguards is an asset.
Professional experience at the international level is an asset. 
Excellent oral and written command of English. Knowledge of other official IAEA languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is an asset.

Remuneration

The IAEA offers an attractive remuneration package including a tax-free annual net base salary starting at US $70212 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), a variable post adjustment which currently amounts to US $ 39670*, dependency benefits, rental subsidy, education grant, relocation and repatriation expenses; Other benefits include 6 weeks' annual leave, home leave travel, pension plan and health insurance. More information on the conditions of employment can be found at: https://www.iaea.org/about/employment/professional-staff/conditions

General Information

• The IAEA's paramount consideration in the recruitment of staff member is to secure employees of the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity.
• Staff Members shall be selected without any unfair treatment or arbitrary distinction based on a person's race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, age, language, social origin or other similar shared characteristic or trait.
• The IAEA is committed to gender equality and to promoting a diverse workforce. Applications from qualified women and candidates from developing countries are strongly encouraged.
• Applicants should be aware that IAEA staff members are international civil servants and may not accept instructions from any other authority. The IAEA is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. As part of the United Nations common system, the IAEA subscribes to the following core ethical standards (or values): Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for diversity.
• The IAEA has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and the IAEA, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.

Evaluation process

• The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the selection criteria stated in the vacancy announcement. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information. Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise, which may be followed by a competency-based interview.
• Candidates under serious consideration for selection may be subject to reference and background checks as part of the recruitment process.

Appointment information

• Appointment is subject to a satisfactory medical report.
• Staff members may be assigned to any location.
• Candidates appointed to posts in the Professional and higher categories are subject to IAEA rotation policy and their maximum tour of service shall normally be seven years.
• The IAEA retains the discretion not to make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade or with a different contract type, or to make an appointment with a modified job description or for shorter duration than indicated above.