ICT competition (AD8)

Notice of Competition

The European Union is looking for highly qualified ICT professionals to join its civil service.

The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) is organising an open competition to establish reserve lists for administrators (grade AD 8) in two ICT fields:

• Artificial intelligence (AI)
• Cybersecurity

Candidates may apply for one field only.

Key deadlines

The application period runs from 8 September 2026 to 13 October 2026 (12.00 midday Brussels time).

Candidates must upload:

• a valid identity card or passport by the application deadline (13 October 2026, 12.00 midday, Brussels time), and

• supporting documents by 14 January 2027 (12.00 midday, Brussels time).

  Typical dutiesAs an ICT administrator, your tasks may include:

Artificial intelligence (AI)

• Designing, building, validation, and operation of end-to-end AI solutions (technical specialisation in AI)
• Ensuring compliant, defensible, and scalable AI use (specialisation in AI governance, compliance, and enablement)
• Policymaking and policy enforcement in the field of AI (policy specialisation in AI)

Cybersecurity

• Risk management and security assurance
• Architecture, design and technology
• Security operations and incident response
• Governance, policy and coordination
• Awareness, skills and advisory

The duties listed above are not exhaustive. Detailed information is available in the Notice of Competition, which can be found on the application page by clicking the “Get started” button below.

Do you have what it takes?To apply for the ICT competition (AD8), you must meet the following requirements:

• Be an EU national and enjoy the full rights of an EU citizen.
• Have a thorough knowledge of one official EU language (C1 level) and a satisfactory knowledge of another official EU language (B2 level).
• You must also have a combination of completed university-level studies and relevant professional experience, as follows:

  • A three-year degree in an area relevant to the chosen ICT field, followed by at least seven years of relevant professional experience;

    or

  • A four-year degree in an area relevant to the chosen ICT field, followed by at least six years of relevant professional experience;

    or

  • A five-year degree in an area relevant to the chosen ICT field, followed by at least five years of relevant professional experience;

    or

  • A three-year degree in another area, followed by at least nine years of relevant professional experience.

The exact requirements vary by field. Candidates must consult the Notice of Competition for full details.

Selection process - TestingThe selection process for the ICT competition (AD8) includes online reasoning tests, a field-related test, and a free-text essay on EU matters. Tests may take place on the same or different days. The exact dates for each test will be communicated to all applicants after the application deadline. Candidates may choose any two of the 24 official EU languages for testing.

All information on test dates, materials and results will be published on the competition page and communicated to candidates via the Candidate Portal, once confirmed.

Further details are available in the Notice of Competition.

Reserve list and RecruitmentCandidates who succeed in the selection process are placed on a reserve list.

Once on a reserve list, successful candidates may be contacted by the recruiting services of the EU institutions and bodies interested in their profile, or they may apply proactively to published vacancies. If shortlisted, they may be invited for targeted recruitment interviews. Such interviews, and any other related procedures, are outside the selection process conducted by EPSO. Recruitment interviews are conducted by the relevant recruiting services usually in English and/or French. Other languages may also be used during the interviews, based on the needs of the recruiting services and the knowledge expressed by candidates in their applications.

Diversity & InclusionAs an employer, the institutions and bodies of the EU offer a community of expertise with a wide range of opportunities to broaden your personal and professional development. The multicultural, international and diverse teams that make up the EU Civil Service work together to benefit the lives of approximately 450 million EU citizens and beyond.

The EU institutions and bodies that EPSO works for, are committed to diversity and inclusion. They seek diversity actively and promote inclusion among their staff. EPSO therefore encourages applications from qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds and on the broadest possible geographical basis among the EU Member States.
Learn more about Diversity & Inclusion in the EU institutions and bodies.

Get started - Artificial intelligence (AI)

Get started - Cybersecurity

Helpful videos for applicants

FINAL-Apply-EPSOCompetitions-Step-by-Step.mp4

Webinar visual ICT AD8

Click to watch the video tutorial

Hear from our staff

Picture of Ann

Ann, European Commission

What do you work on?

"Hello, my name is Ann Mennens. I work in the Directorate-General for Digital Services at...

Picture of Juan

Juan, Council of the European Union

What do you work on?

"Hello, my name is Juan Panadero and I'm working in the Product and Service Development...

Picture of Liliana

Liliana Musetan, Council of the European Union

"What do you work on?

Hello, I’m Liliana Musetan, Head of Cybersecurity and Governance at the General Secretariat of the...

See all testimonials >