Cryptography Evaluator Engineer - European Space Agency (Redu)

About this position

The summary below is published by European Space Agency on the official vacancy notice. Our own analysis — salary realism, comparable openings, career trajectory, language profile — follows further down the page.

Key responsibilities

According to the vacancy notice, the role centres on the following duties:

• Support project manager with recommendations and guidance on evaluation and certification of cryptographic algorithms
• Provide regular reporting to Project Manager on status of assigned duties
• Engage with and advise national customers and ESA experts on strengths, weaknesses and design of cryptographic algorithms and parameter selection
• Derive recommendations on cryptographic algorithms in relation to use case and security strength
• Foster new security application areas for multidisciplinary activities with emphasis on innovative concepts and cutting-edge technologies
• Support training of colleagues as required
• Follow technological trends and evolutions in relevant scientific fields, particularly emerging threats and industry trends
• Engage in other technical activities outside main project in area of expertise as requested

Are you eligible?

Check these requirements from the notice before investing time in an application:

• Education: PhD in a relevant domain
• Experience: 3 years of relevant professional experience
• Key skills: Cryptographic Design and Protocol Engineering, Mathematical Foundations of Cryptography, Cryptanalysis and Cryptographic Security Assessment, Formal Security Analysis and Proof Evaluation, Cryptographic Parameter Selection and Implementation Security, Cryptographic Evaluation, Certification and Standards, Design of cryptographic algorithms and protocols, Analysis of real-world security strength of public and private key crypto algorithms, Justified selection of parameter sets for real world crypto algorithms, Certification of crypto algorithms

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: 4 years, non-renewable.

Working arrangements: ESEC, Redu, Belgium.

Hiring unit: System Security Section (TEC-SES), End-to-End Systems Division, Systems Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineer….

Position details

Reference

1451833033

Last Verified

27 October 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Cryptography Evaluator Engineer at ESA based in Redu (Other). The vacancy reference is 1451833033.

Job Requisition ID:21153

Date Posted:27 October 2026

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

Publication Method:External Only

Directorate:Technology, Engineering and Quality

This is a non-renewable post for a limited duration of 4 years and open for the specific needs of a National Project.Accordingly, the external candidate selected for this post will continue to be considered an external candidate for the purposes of any future applications to the Agency.

Location ESEC, Redu, Belgium

Description

Cryptography Evaluator 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 and user segments and communication links, as well as at system, subsystem, element and equipment level. It covers 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.

To serve these functions, the System Security Section defines and executes the associated technology R&D and studies, as well as the required security engineering standards.

Using security laboratory facilities, the System Security Section performs vulnerability assessments at all levels of its responsibility, proposing detection methods, mitigation and protection measures, using security assessment tools and equipment.

This position will support a third party activity for the development of a national capability on the evaluation and certification of cryptographic algorithms and protocols.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

- supporting the project manager by providing recommendations and guidance on the evaluation and certification of cryptographic algorithms; - regular reporting to the Project Manager on the status of the duties assigned under the Project; - direct engagement with and advice to national customers and ESA experts on the strengths, weaknesses and design of cryptographic algorithms and parameter selection for them; - deriving recommendations on cryptographic algorithms in relation to use case and security strength; - fostering new security application areas for multidisciplinary activities, placing emphasis on innovative concepts, cutting-edge technologies and system architectures in the field of crypto algorithm evaluation and certification; - supporting the training of colleagues, as required; - continuously following technological trends and evolutions in the scientific fields relevant for this position, and in particular on the latest emerging threats, exploits, and industry trends; - being engaged in other technical activities outside the main project in the area of your expertise, as requested.

Technical competencies

Cryptographic Design and Protocol Engineering

Mathematical Foundations of Cryptography

Cryptanalysis and Cryptographic Security Assessment

Formal Security Analysis and Proof Evaluation

Cryptographic Parameter Selection and Implementation Security

Cryptographic Evaluation, Certification and Standards

Behavioural competencies

Education and professional experience

A PhD in a relevant domain is required for this post together with 3 years of relevant professional experience.

Additional requirements

Experience in:

- the design of cryptographic algorithms and protocols; - analysis of real-world security strength of public and private key crypto algorithms; - the justified selection of parameter sets for real world crypto algorithms; - the certification of crypto algorithms; - dealing with crypto evaluation facilities and good knowledge of formal crypto evaluation test standards and analysis of formal evaluation results.

Very good knowledge of:

- mathematical foundations of modern public and private key crypto algorithms; - number theory, abstract algebra, probability, discrete mathematics and computational complexity; - security definitions, assumptions, and formal security proofs and how to assess them; - how to to identify weaknesses in algorithm design and cryptographic constructions; - differential and linear cryptanalysis, algebraic attacks, statistical attacks, and relevant attacks on public-key systems; - how to evaluate brute-force resistance, key sizes, security margins, and attack complexity; - how to assess randomness generation, key management, nonce handling, padding, and constant-time implementation requirements; - how implementation flaws can undermine a mathematically sound algorithm; - how to proof assumptions, reductions, and limitations.

Familiarity with formal verification or symbolic protocol analysis, where relevant.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 27 October 2026, today.

The application deadline is 17 November 2026, 20 days from today. Late applications are not accepted, so submit through the official EU Careers portal well in advance.

Last verified against the EU Careers feed on 27 October 2026.

Where to learn more

For headcount, mission, and other open vacancies at ESA see the ESA institution page; for the cost of living, correction coefficient, and other postings in Redu see our Redu location page.

New to EU careers? Our beginner's guide walks through entry routes, EPSO competitions, and what to prepare. For application logistics see application tips and EPSO competitions.