Security engineer hiring in Europe cools after its mid-October peak
The weekly pace has eased 21% since 19 October, even though the 30-day total is flat. There are 1,577 open roles across 726 companies right now.
is what the typical role asks for. 9% ask for 10 years or more.
51% of open roles state years419 new roles in the last 30 days, against 413 the 30 days before, at the same companies.
Companies read for 60 days or moreat 726 companies hiring in Europe.
Issue of 2 November 2026This week's read
Postings for Security Engineer roles in Europe hit their high point for the past eight weeks on 19 October, with 127 new roles. Since then the weekly count has come down to 100, a drop of 21% from that peak. Over the full 30-day window the total is still basically flat: 419 new roles against 413 the period before, a 1% change.
Right now there are 1,577 open roles spread across 726 companies, and the typical role stays open for 35 days. No single employer dominates the market: the top 8 employers together hold only 14% of all open roles. PWC has the most with 50 open roles, followed by Capgemini with 42 and Atos with 31. Liebherr, SAP and HiSolutions AG also appear on the list, alongside Jobs.Intesasanpaolo.com and Careers.Indragroup.com.
On experience, the median posting asks for at least 5 years, and 9% of roles ask for 10 or more. But only 51% of open roles state a minimum at all, so half the market leaves the bar unclear. Most roles are pitched at mid-level: 58% of titles are mid-level, 20% senior, and 12% principal, with lead and junior each at 5%.
Remote work is scarce here: just 8% of open roles are remote, so most of this market still expects you in a location. Pay is rarely stated either, with only 7% of postings showing a figure, too few to say what the market actually pays.
On skills, Python is the most asked-for, named in 20% of postings, followed by SIEM at 16% and the cloud platforms AWS (14%) and Azure (13%). Linux, AI and machine learning, PowerShell and EDR each sit between 10% and 12%. Among certifications, CISSP leads at 21%, ahead of CISM at 14% and CISA at 8%.
What this means for you
Three things you can act on this week
- Weekly postings have cooled off
The pace of new roles dropped 21% from its 19 October peak to the latest week, even though the 30-day total is flat. Don't read the headline count alone, check the recent weekly trend.
- Half of listings skip the experience bar
Only 51% of open roles state a minimum years requirement. If you're close to the 5-year median but not exact, it's still worth applying since many postings leave this open.
- Don't expect remote or posted pay
Just 8% of roles are remote and only 7% show a salary figure. Plan to apply for on-site or hybrid roles and raise pay expectations early in the process.
Momentum
New Security roles each week
Last 30 days: 419 new roles, against 413 the 30 days before (+1%). Each week counts the same companies, and a role counts as new only in the week it was posted, so a careers site we start reading never shows up as growth.
See the numbers
| Week starting | New roles |
|---|---|
| 7 Sep | 82 |
| 14 Sep | 109 |
| 21 Sep | 98 |
| 28 Sep | 109 |
| 5 Oct | 85 |
| 12 Oct | 114 |
| 19 Oct | 127 |
| 26 Oct | 100 |
Who is hiring
The companies with the most open Security roles
726 companies are hiring. The top eight hold 14% of the open roles.
| Company | Open roles | Change in new roles |
|---|---|---|
| PWC | 50 | |
| Capgemini | 42 | |
| Atos | 31 | |
| Jobs.Intesasanpaolo.Com | 23 | |
| Liebherr | 20 | |
| Careers.Indragroup.Com | 19 | |
| SAP | 18 | |
| HiSolutions AG | 17 |
Change compares new roles in the last 30 days with the 30 days before, shown where a company posted 25 or more in the earlier 30 days. Staffing agencies are left out. A company name links to its Ashney company page where there is one.
What they ask for
The technology Security roles ask for most
Ask Rate is the share of roles that name a skill, from 1,548 postings read in full. Ways of working (methods such as Agile, tools such as Jira) are listed apart; office tools and soft skills are left out.
Ways of working
Industries named most: SaaS 4%, Operational technology 4%, Financial services 3%. Certifications named: CISSP 21%, CISM 14%, CISA 8%. 8% of open roles say they are remote.
Cite this report