Hardware Security Evaluation Engineer

European Space Agency - ESA; Libin; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

European Space Agency (ESA) seeks a Hardware Security Evaluation Engineer to support a national capability development project at Redu, Belgium. Responsibilities include advisory support to the Project Manager, requirements derivation, and technical evaluation of proposals across hardware security domains.

The role covers end-to-end security evaluation activities, vulnerability assessments, and engagement with national customers and ESA experts to mature hardware security evaluation

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field; three years of relevant experience or a bachelor’s degree plus four years of relevant experience.
• Hands-on hardware hacking, exploitation and security assessment across IT and embedded-system technologies.
• Experience with firmware extraction and reversing techniques is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Supporting the Project Manager by providing recommendations, guidance and plans for test and evaluation laboratory capability development and technologies for hardware security evaluation.
• Regular reporting to the Project Manager on the status of the duties assigned under the project.
• Engaging with national customers and ESA experts on options for developing hardware security evaluation capabilities.
• Deriving technical requirements and reviewing, assessing and evaluating project proposals, including security design, development, implementation, qualification and validation.
• Fostering new security application areas for multidisciplinary activities and cutting-edge technologies in hardware security evaluation.
• Supporting laboratory activities as required.
• Keeping abreast of technological and scientific developments relevant to the position, especially threats and industry trends.
• Contributing to other technical activities beyond the main project within your area of expertise.

Skills

Result Orientation

Operational Efficiency

Fostering Cooperation

Relationship Management

Continuous Improvement

Forward Thinking

Education

Master's degree in a relevant field

Bachelor's degree + 4 years of relevant experience

Job description

Hardware Security Evaluation Engineer

Job Requisition ID: 21080

Date Posted: 27 October 2026

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

Publication Method: External Only

Type of Appointment (learn more): Fixed-Term

Directorate: Technology, Engineering and Quality

Workplace: Redu, BE

Grade Band: A2 - A4

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

Hardware Security Evaluation 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 end-to-end system security engineering for the Agency’s missions, projects and activities across space, ground and user segments and communication links, at system, subsystem, element and equipment levels. Its responsibilities span the mission lifecycle from the study phase and definition of requirements to design, development, security integration and verification, and security service preparation, across the full stack, from the physical to the application layer.

To fulfil these functions, the System Security Section defines and conducts the associated research and development (R&D) activities and studies and implements the necessary security engineering standards.

Using its security laboratory facilities, the System Security Section performs vulnerability assessments across all areas within its remit and proposes detection methods and mitigation and protection measures using security assessment tools and equipment.

This position will support a third‑party activity aimed at developing a national hardware security evaluation capability.

Duties

• supporting the Project Manager by providing recommendations, guidance and plans for test and evaluation laboratory capability development and technologies for hardware security evaluation;
• regular reporting to the Project Manager on the status of the duties assigned under the project;
• engaging directly with and advising national customers and ESA experts on options for developing and maturing hardware security evaluation capabilities;
• deriving technical requirements and reviewing, assessing and evaluating project proposals, including the security design, development, implementation, qualification and validation;
• fostering new security application areas for multidisciplinary activities, placing emphasis on innovative concepts, cutting‑edge technologies and system architectures in the field of hardware security evaluation;
• supporting laboratory activities as required;
• continuously following technological and scientific developments relevant to the position, particularly emerging threats, exploits and industry trends;
• contributing, as requested, to other technical activities beyond the main project within your area of expertise.

Technical competencies

• Hardware attacks and fault injection
• Side-channel analysis and physical security testing
• Embedded systems and hardware security architecture
• Cryptographic hardware security
• Hardware security evaluation and certification standards
• Hardware evaluation laboratory technologies and technical analysis

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 And Professional Experience

A master’s degree in a relevant field and, in principle, three years of relevant professional experience are required for this post. Alternatively, candidates with a bachelor’s degree and an additional four years of relevant professional experience may be considered.

Additional Requirements

Hands‑on experience in hardware hacking, exploitation and security assessment across IT and embedded‑system technologies, including but not limited to:

• side channel attacks;
• voltage fault injection;
• clock fault injection;
• electromagnetic fault injection;
• optical fault injection;
• timing attacks;
• simple, differential and correlation power analysis;
• debug port attacks.

In‑depth knowledge of:

• embedded system characterisation, hardware component imaging and probing techniques;
• fault characterisation and fault model development;
• boot loaders and their weaknesses;
• trusted platform modules, trusted execution environments and other similar technologies, including attacks and mitigations.

Understanding of design principles for hardware analysis purposes, including:

• symmetric cryptographic algorithms;
• asymmetric pre‑quantum cryptographic algorithms;
• asymmetric post‑quantum cryptographic algorithms.

In‑depth knowledge of:

• applying relevant security and certification standards, including FIPS 140‑3, Common Criteria, ENISA, ISO and ETSI, for testing and certification purposes;
• embedded systems and their interfaces and protocols;
• software programming.

Experience of firmware extraction and reversing techniques is desirable.

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 [e-mail].

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, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.

According to the ESA Convention, staff shall be recruited on the basis of their qualifications, taking into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the 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.