ESEC Zone 5 Security Specialist - European Space Agency (Redu)

Contract TypeLocal Agent
Deadline18 August 2026

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.

Job Requisition ID:20729

Date Posted:28 July 2026

Closing Date:18 August 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication:Internal & External

Directorate:Strategy, Legal and External Matters

This is a 4-year appointment, which can be extended for an indefinite duration depending on performance.

**Location**

ESEC, Redu, Belgium

## **Description**

ESEC Zone 5 Security Specialist, European Space Security and Education Centre (ESEC), Directorate of Strategy, Legal and External Matters.

You will assume the role of SZ5 Security Officer as described in the ESA Security Directives and will fulfil your tasks under the supervision, authority and responsibility of the ESEC Head of Centre.

You will be in charge of the implementation of security at the designated high-security areas of ESEC in Redu and the related classified sub-registries and COMSEC accounts.

## **Duties**

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

1. implementing the security operational procedures for the protection of the classified information and COMSEC items hosted in the following ESEC Security Zone 5 (SZ5) Class II and Class I areas:

* * ESEC High-Security Facility (EHSF) SZ5 * Galileo Sensoring Station (GSS) SZ5 * PRS Test Facility (PIF) SZ5

and as such, ensuring the registration of and accounting for the classified information hosted and accessed in these areas in the relevant classified sub-registries and COMSEC accounts;

2. reporting operationally to the Head of ESEC and functionally to the Head of the ESA Security Office;

3. ensuring that all the necessary measures in terms of physical security, information protection, personnel security, INFOSEC and COMSEC are taken to ascertain that the accreditation issued by the ESA Security Accreditation Authority for the aforementioned SZ5 Class I areas, the classified sub-registries and the COMSEC account(s) is maintained and in this scope, and to ensure the business continuity of the EHSF/GSS/PIF Class I areas and the classified sub-registries and COMSEC accounts hosted in them;

4. ensuring the correct implementation of the ESA Security Directives within the SZ5s for which you act as Security Zone 5 Security Officer on behalf of the Head of ESEC;

5. maintaining the security operational procedures for the EHSF SZ5, the GSS SZ5 and the PIF SZ5 and for the classified sub-registries and COMSEC accounts under your responsibility;

6. conducting the security risk assessment for the SZ5s you are responsible for and maintaining the related risk register;

7. ensuring completion of the security briefings for personnel being granted personnel security clearance in your area of responsibility and for personnel requiring access to the SZ5 Class I areas for which you are responsible;

8. ensuring availability after standard office hours to respond to incidents or emergencies and ensuring that you can reach the site within a reasonable amount of time when deemed necessary after the initial vetting of the incident or emergency;

9. ensuring that in the event of absence, your responsibilities are formally transferred to the appointed and endorsed ESEC SZ5 Alternate Security Officer;

10. liaising closely with the ESEC Site Security Officer, the EHSF Data Centre Manager, the ESEC Cyber Security Operations Centre Manager, the Directorate Information Security Officer and the Directorate CIS Project Systems Security Officer.

## **Technical competencies**

Knowledge and operational experience in physical security systems, including access control and intrusion detection systems.

Knowledge of classified information protection principles, including handling and safeguarding of classified material up to SECRET level.

Experience in the management of COMSEC/CRYPTO accounts and related cryptographic assets.

Knowledge of physical, personnel and information security principles, including INFOSEC fundamentals and security procedures.

Experience in security incident handling, reporting and follow-up activities.

Proficiency in the use of standard IT tools and applications, such as MS Office, Outlook and Teams, and the ability to work with security-related IT systems.

## **Behavioural competencies**

## **Education and professional experience**

A minimum of a vocational qualification (EQF level 5) in a relevant discipline is required for this post together with 4 years of relevant professional experience.

## **Additional requirements**

* Basic knowledge of TEMPEST principles and related security measures. * Ability to conduct or support security briefings and security awareness activities. * Familiarity with Request for Visit (RFV) procedures and access management for classified environments. * Ability to work in a structured and confidential environment with a high degree of integrity and reliability. * The incumbent is to have a solid knowledge of the English language. Good knowledge of the French language is considered an asset.

Position details

Reference
1419822833
Last Verified
6 August 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for ESEC Zone 5 Security Specialist at ESA based in Redu (Local Agent). The vacancy reference is 1419822833.

Job Requisition ID:20729

Date Posted:28 July 2026

Closing Date:18 August 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication:Internal & External

Directorate:Strategy, Legal and External Matters

This is a 4-year appointment, which can be extended for an indefinite duration depending on performance.

Location

ESEC, Redu, Belgium

## Description

ESEC Zone 5 Security Specialist, European Space Security and Education Centre (ESEC), Directorate of Strategy, Legal and External Matters.

You will assume the role of SZ5 Security Officer as described in the ESA Security Directives and will fulfil your tasks under the supervision, authority and responsibility of the ESEC Head of Centre.

You will be in charge of the implementation of security at the designated high-security areas of ESEC in Redu and the related classified sub-registries and COMSEC accounts.

## Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

1. implementing the security operational procedures for the protection of the classified information and COMSEC items hosted in the following ESEC Security Zone 5 (SZ5) Class II and Class I areas:

* * ESEC High-Security Facility (EHSF) SZ5 * Galileo Sensoring Station (GSS) SZ5 * PRS Test Facility (PIF) SZ5

and as such, ensuring the registration of and accounting for the classified information hosted and accessed in these areas in the relevant classified sub-registries and COMSEC accounts;

2. reporting operationally to the Head of ESEC and functionally to the Head of the ESA Security Office;

3. ensuring that all the necessary measures in terms of physical security, information protection, personnel security, INFOSEC and COMSEC are taken to ascertain that the accreditation issued by the ESA Security Accreditation Authority for the aforementioned SZ5 Class I areas, the classified sub-registries and the COMSEC account(s) is maintained and in this scope, and to ensure the business continuity of the EHSF/GSS/PIF Class I areas and the classified sub-registries and COMSEC accounts hosted in them;

4. ensuring the correct implementation of the ESA Security Directives within the SZ5s for which you act as Security Zone 5 Security Officer on behalf of the Head of ESEC;

5. maintaining the security operational procedures for the EHSF SZ5, the GSS SZ5 and the PIF SZ5 and for the classified sub-registries and COMSEC accounts under your responsibility;

6. conducting the security risk assessment for the SZ5s you are responsible for and maintaining the related risk register;

7. ensuring completion of the security briefings for personnel being granted personnel security clearance in your area of responsibility and for personnel requiring access to the SZ5 Class I areas for which you are responsible;

8. ensuring availability after standard office hours to respond to incidents or emergencies and ensuring that you can reach the site within a reasonable amount of time when deemed necessary after the initial vetting of the incident or emergency;

9. ensuring that in the event of absence, your responsibilities are formally transferred to the appointed and endorsed ESEC SZ5 Alternate Security Officer;

10. liaising closely with the ESEC Site Security Officer, the EHSF Data Centre Manager, the ESEC Cyber Security Operations Centre Manager, the Directorate Information Security Officer and the Directorate CIS Project Systems Security Officer.

## Technical competencies

Knowledge and operational experience in physical security systems, including access control and intrusion detection systems.

Knowledge of classified information protection principles, including handling and safeguarding of classified material up to SECRET level.

Experience in the management of COMSEC/CRYPTO accounts and related cryptographic assets.

Knowledge of physical, personnel and information security principles, including INFOSEC fundamentals and security procedures.

Experience in security incident handling, reporting and follow-up activities.

Proficiency in the use of standard IT tools and applications, such as MS Office, Outlook and Teams, and the ability to work with security-related IT systems.

## Behavioural competencies

## Education and professional experience

A minimum of a vocational qualification (EQF level 5) in a relevant discipline is required for this post together with 4 years of relevant professional experience.

## Additional requirements

* Basic knowledge of TEMPEST principles and related security measures. * Ability to conduct or support security briefings and security awareness activities. * Familiarity with Request for Visit (RFV) procedures and access management for classified environments. * Ability to work in a structured and confidential environment with a high degree of integrity and reliability. * The incumbent is to have a solid knowledge of the English language. Good knowledge of the French language is considered an asset.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 28 July 2026, 8 days ago.

The application deadline is 18 August 2026, 11 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 6 August 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.

Career trajectory

Career progression for this grade staff is governed by Articles 44 to 46 of the Staff Regulations (consolidated text on EUR-Lex) and Annex IB on the promotion procedure. Step increases are automatic every two years (Art. 44); grade promotion is competitive, based on the appraisal exercise (Art. 45) and the Career Development Review. For roles at ESA, progression to the next grade typically takes three to five years on merit, with two-yearly step increases in between. Article 46 governs the classification at recruitment, which sets the starting step within the grade (usually step 1 for external recruits without prior EU service, step 2 or 3 where relevant professional experience is recognised).
Mobility within the institutions is encouraged via the inter-institutional and intra-institutional vacancy publication system: temporary agents who pass the probation period and reservists from EPSO laureate lists can typically apply to internal vacancies after one year of service. Lateral moves between Directorates-General reset the seniority clock for promotion only if the new post carries a different grade.

Language profile

Beyond the formal language requirements stated in the vacancy notice, the day-to-day working languages at this employer are English and French in roughly equal measure, with German appearing in some technical files. Internal meetings and most policy drafting in Brussels run in English; French remains the preferred internal language in Luxembourg-based services and parts of DG TRADE.

Application cadence

ESA has not advertised another comparable role with the same grade and subject signature in the past twenty-four months. This opening has rarely been seen on the EU Careers feed and may be the first such posting in our two-year window. Applicants who pass the eligibility checks should not assume the same profile will reopen on a predictable cadence.

Source: This job listing was sourced from the officialEU Careers portal (EPSO). First published: .

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