Job Description

System Security Engineer

Job Requisition ID: 20241

Date Posted: 27 January 2026

Closing Date: 17 February 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication: Internal & External

Type of Appointment: 4 years, extendable to indefinite

Directorate: Technology, Engineering and Quality

Workplace:

Noordwijk, NL

Grade Band: A2 - A4

Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description

System Security Engineer in the System Security Section (TEC-SES), End-to-End Systems Division, Systems Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

The System Security Section is responsible for the end-to-end system security engineering of the Agency’s missions, projects, and activities, in space, ground, user segments and communication links, at system, subsystem, element and equipment level. It covers the missions from study phase to definition of requirements, design, development, security integration / verification, and security service preparation, across the full stack, from physical to application layer. The System Security Section provides functional support to ESA missions and projects in the area of Endend-to-End end security engineering & and cyber security. To serve these functions, it also defines and executes the associated technology research and developments (R&D) and studies.

This position is for the support of European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI), entrusted to ESA by the European Commission, and the ESA Secure And cryptoGrAphic (SAGA) mission projects in the Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communication (CSC). The SAGA project aims to develop and deploy the EuroQCI first first-generation space component (space and related ground/user segment) for preliminary QKD service validation.

As a System Security Engineer for EuroQCI and SAGA, you will be part of projects’s Core core Team teams and you will work closely with the CSC Security Office. You will hold lead technical responsibilities for the security baseline and implementation of the projects. Your role will cover all areas of security engineering, information security and cyber security across terrestrial and space environments. You will be responsible for integrating security engineering in the development of both EuroQCI and SAGA in close coordination with the EuroQCI E2E System Security Engineer, the ESA Security Office (ESO), other relevant ESA Directorates directorates and our industrial partners. You will also be responsible for developing a long-term relationship with industry partners by fostering reliable technical collaboration and steering innovation developments and digitalization digitalisation procurement.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

being responsible for all security engineering activities for SAGA/EuroQCI in all phases of the project;
participating in programme reviews of the projects, assessing and being responsible for the security design, implementation, qualification and validation of space
systems at system level (including ground, space, user segment and communication links), to ensure development is in line with the relevant programme security requirements;
being responsible for the end-to-end system security architecture and implementation of the corresponding security requirements of EuroQCI and SAGA;
being responsible for the development and maintenance of various technical documents (security requirements, security management plans, etc.);
leading the SAGA/EuroQCI Security Engineering team as a security design authority;
being responsible for and coordinating the SAGA/EuroQCI security risk assessment with the ESA Security Office (ESO);
coordinating with the product assurance, system and payload leads during development, integration and testing activities for the resolution of potential deviations;
serving as the technical interface for designing, supporting and maintaining SAGA/EuroQCI cyber security processes and procedures, in cooperation with the ESA Security Office;
defining and maintaining the SAGA/EuroQCI cyber security policy;
acting as the technical focal point within the team on SAGA/EuroQCI cyber and security matters, applying standard security techniques and architectures to mitigate security risks;
providing regular reporting to project management, identifying technical and security risk areas, proposing and monitoring mitigation measures;
contributing to the management of the schedule and proposing schedule risk mitigation actions within your area of responsibility;
monitoring the industrial preparation for in-orbit QKD in-flight spacecraft commissioning and service provision in collaboration with project and other teams, as necessary;
defining and validating the end-to-end security baseline, applicable to large-scale ground infrastructure (including fibre optic distributed interconnected systems), ground-to-space and space-to-space;
coordinating with ESO in the preparation of the certification and accreditation dossier;
fostering new security application areas for multidisciplinary activities, placing emphasis on innovative concepts, cutting-edge technologies and system architectures in the field of space security engineering;
proposing and supervising/monitoring as a Technical Officer research and development (R&D) activities in the area of security for space systems and missions;
continuously following technological trends and evolutions in the scientific fields relevant for this position.

Technical competencies

Very good knowledge of security threats against space missions and corresponding mitigations

Knowledge of modern applied cryptography

Good knowledge of security standards, hardening guidelines and security best practices

Deep knowledge of security engineering for communications systems based on RF and quantum key distribution

Good knowledge of space system engineering, including ESA and/or industrial development, verification and procurement processes

Knowledge of complex project risk management processes and security assessments

Knowledge or experience in securing wide-area network infrastructures (including familiarity with fibre-optic technologies)

Previous project experience and/or knowledge of quantum communications would be a distinct asset

Knowledge of network and satellite communications security

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation

Operational Efficiency

Fostering Cooperation

Relationship Management

Continuous Improvement

Forward Thinking

For more information, please refer to the ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education

A master's in aerospace engineering, or cyber security, or telecommunications engineering or other relevant engineering discipline is required for this post.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.

At the Agency we value diversity, and we welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us via email at contact.human.resources@esa.int.

Important Information and Disclaimer
In principle, recruitment will be within the advertised grade band (A2-A4). However, if the selected candidate has less than four years of relevant professional experience following the completion of the master’s degree, the position may be filled at A1 level.

Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations & eligible to acquire the security clearance by their national security administrations.

During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency's security procedures.

Note that ESA is in the process of transitioning to a Matrix setup, which could lead to organisational changes affecting this position.

The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.

Nationality and Languages
Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.

According to the ESA Convention, the recruitment of staff must take into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the ESA Member States*. When short-listing for an interview, priority will first be given to internal candidates and secondly to external candidates from under-represented Member States*.

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.

*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.