EU opens EPSO competition for AI and cybersecurity administrators

The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) has published notice of open competition EPSO/AD/430/26, opening 494 administrator posts (grade AD 8) in the fields of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity for the institutions, bodies and agencies of the European Union. The call appears in the Official Journal of the European Union (C series) of 8 September 2026, under reference C/2026/4668, and applications must be submitted online by 13 October 2026 at 12.00 (midday), Brussels time.

The competition is based on qualifications and tests and will draw up reserve lists from which EU institutions may recruit new members of the civil service. A candidate may apply for only one of the two fields, and the number of successful candidates sought is fixed per field.

Two fields, 494 posts

The notice covers two distinct technical profiles, each with its own eligibility requirements and selection tests:

• Field 1 – Artificial intelligence (AI): 240 posts sought.
• Field 2 – Cybersecurity: 254 posts sought.

Candidates must be nationals of an EU Member State enjoying full rights as citizens, have fulfilled any military-service obligations, and meet the character requirements for the duties. They must also have a thorough knowledge (minimum C1) of one of the 24 official EU languages and a satisfactory knowledge (minimum B2) of a different one.

Education and experience requirements

Eligibility combines university-level studies with relevant professional experience, with several alternative pathways per field. For AI, recognised diplomas cover areas such as AI, data science, computer sciences, software engineering, cloud and high-performance computing, quantum technologies, statistics and mathematics, among others. For cybersecurity, accepted areas include cybersecurity and information security, digital forensics and incident response, cryptography, network engineering, and ICT governance, with a focus on ICT security demonstrable through specialisations, coursework of at least 30 ECTS, an academic thesis, or peer-reviewed publications.

The experience/education combinations include:

• At least three years of study plus seven years of relevant professional experience.
• At least four years of study plus six years of experience.
• At least five years of study plus five years of experience.
• A degree in another area plus at least nine years of relevant experience.

Selection process and timeline

The competition is organised in phases: online application, testing, scoring and eligibility check, and establishment of the reserve lists. Tests are held and proctored remotely and comprise:

• Reasoning tests (verbal, numerical and abstract) in language 1.
• A field-related multiple-choice test (30 questions, pass score 15/30) in language 2.
• A free-text essay on EU matters (EUFTE) (pass score 5/10) in language 2.

Candidates must upload a valid identity card or passport by the application deadline, and all other supporting documents by 14 January 2027 at 12.00 (midday), Brussels time. EPSO applies an equal-opportunities policy and may grant reasonable accommodations to candidates with a disability or medical condition.

The call responds to the EU’s growing demand for technical staff, notably to support implementation of the Artificial Intelligence Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689) and to strengthen cybersecurity across the Union’s institutions. For technical professionals, it represents a direct route into a permanent EU career, with inclusion on a reserve list — though it does not in itself guarantee recruitment.

Source: Official Journal of the European Union, C series, 8.9.2026, p. 1 (official reference: C/2026/4668).