Director/a of Security at the Spanish Space Agency: requirements and application deadline 2026

Key data

The Spanish Space Agency announces one of the most responsible positions in security matters in the Spanish aerospace public sector. The Resolution of May 26, 2026, published in the Official Gazette of June 4, 2026, opens the free appointment process for the position of Director/a of Security and Planning, with a very specific technical and strategic profile and an extremely short application deadline: 10 calendar days.

The position combines competencies in aerospace security, cybersecurity, space traffic management and strategic coordination at both national and international levels. The appointment corresponds to the Board of Directors at the joint proposal of the Agency's Management and the representative of the Ministry of Defense, which underscores the national security component of the position.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution announces, through the free appointment system, the position of Director/a of Security and Planning of the State Agency Spanish Space Agency. Unlike merit-based competition, free appointment allows the competent body to choose discretionally among candidates who meet the requirements, which provides greater flexibility but also requires that the candidate's profile precisely fits the needs of the position.

The functions of the position cover areas of high specialization:

• Aerospace security
• Cybersecurity
• Space traffic management
• National and international strategic coordination

The mandatory requirements to be able to submit an application are as follows:

Additionally, the following merits are valued:

• French level B2
• Experience in team management and leadership
• Strategic analysis
• Classified information management

The appointment is made by the Board of Directors of the Spanish Space Agency, at the joint proposal of the Agency's Management and the representative of the Ministry of Defense.

Economic and operational impact

As this is a position provision announcement in the public sector, the direct economic impact falls on the announcing body itself and on potential candidates. Specific salary data for the position is not published in the resolution, but the A1 profile with 20 years of seniority and high-level security clearance places the position in the highest salary brackets of the Spanish civil service.

From an operational perspective, the relevance of the position is significant:

• The position has direct impact on national security in the aerospace field, given that the appointment requires the support of the Ministry of Defense.
• The requirement for NATO SECRET / EU SECRET clearance means that the candidate must have already passed high-level security accreditation processes, which considerably restricts the universe of eligible candidates.
• The application deadline of 10 calendar days is particularly short, requiring an immediate response from interested parties.

Who does it affect?

This announcement directly affects the following groups:

• Career civil servants of group A1 with 20 or more years of seniority and NATO SECRET or EU SECRET security clearance.
• Statutory personnel at a level equivalent to group A1 with the same seniority and clearance requirements.
• Career military personnel with rank equivalent to group A1 of the civil public service, who have the required security clearance and minimum seniority.
• Labor personnel of a category similar to group A1, with the required seniority and clearance requirements.

Indirectly, the announcement is relevant to:

• Bodies and agencies in the aerospace and defense public sector that may have employees with this profile.
• Human resources departments of public bodies that manage personnel with high-level security clearances.

Practical example

A civil servant of group A1 of the Superior Body of Civil Administrators of the State, with 22 years of seniority, who in the exercise of their previous functions has obtained the NATO SECRET security clearance and accredits C1 English level, meets all mandatory requirements to submit an application.

If they also have accredited experience in team management, strategic analysis or classified information management, and have B2 French certification, their application would be strengthened in the discretionary assessment carried out by the Board of Directors.

This candidate must submit their application before June 14, 2026 (10 calendar days from the publication of June 4), gathering all documentation proving the requirements and merits. Since the system is free appointment, there is no automatic scoring: the Board of Directors assesses the candidate's overall profile at the proposal of the Management and the representative of the Ministry of Defense.

What should candidates do now?

1. Verify compliance with mandatory requirements: Check that you belong to group A1 (or equivalent), have 20 or more years of seniority, have valid NATO SECRET or EU SECRET clearance and accredit C1 English.
2. Act immediately: The deadline is 10 calendar days from June 4, 2026. There is no room for delays. The estimated deadline is June 14, 2026.
3. Gather supporting documentation: Certificates of seniority, current security clearance, official qualification or certificate of C1 English, and any documentation proving valuable merits (B2 French, management experience, classified information management).
4. Consult the full text of the announcement: Review in the official Official Gazette the application form, the destination registry and any formal submission requirements.
5. Inform the HR manager of the originating body: In free appointment processes, coordination with the originating body is key to managing possible assignment or service commission.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-11964