LIFE AT CISPA
CISPA is shaped by the people who bring it to life. Here, you’ll get to know our team, our shared values, and the spirit that defines our community. Discover the people behind CISPA and what drives us every day.
At CISPA, diversity is more than a value. Diversity is a driving force behind everything we do. With over 655 colleagues from 55 nations, we know that a multiplicity of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives makes us stronger — in research, operations, and beyond. By embracing diversity in all areas, we foster fresh ideas, inclusive solutions, and a vibrant workplace where everyone can thrive. Creating an environment where every voice is valued isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s essential for excellence.
Currently, people from 55 countries are part of CISPA: Albania Austria Azerbaijan Bangladesh Belarus Belgium Brazil Bulgaria Burkina Faso Cameroon Canada China Colombia Denmark Egypt Finland France Gambia Germany Greece Hungary India Indonesia Iran Israel Italy Jordan Lithuania Luxemburg Malaysia Netherlands Nepal New Zealand Nigeria Pakistan Poland Romania Russia Serbia Singapore Slovenia South Korea Spain Sudan Switzerland Syria Thailand Tunisia Turkey UK Ukraine USA Vietnam
Working at CISPA was an incredibly exciting opportunity for me that I couldn’t pass up. I am proud to be part of this renowned institution – and by extension also of the Helmholtz Association, one of the largest scientific organizations in the world.
Working at CISPA is extremely exciting and varied, especially because we deal with cybersecurity research. It is particularly challenging, but also fascinating, when questions arise for which there are no clear legal guidelines or court decisions.
The fact that CISPA is still growing and its development phase has not yet been completed is particularly rewarding. We have the opportunity to shape many things together for the first time and initiate positive change.
CISPA is a great place to be for all our researchers and staff. At our research center, everybody is on first-name terms and (almost) everybody likes to play table soccer after work. And, needless to say, we all enjoy a little chitchat in the hallway.
And because nothing connects people like food and fun, we often come together for a lunch break, an after-work drink, and leisure activities.
This Code of Conduct serves as a framework for all the internal guidelines and the conduct of all the employees and supervisors of CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security (CISPA). This means that the Code of Conduct is an overarching set of rules which is part of the compliance management system. Our actions are based on respect, fairness, esteem, loyalty, security and frankness. CISPA's Code of Conduct set out below makes these principles clear.
At CISPA there's currently one common works council for all locations. It represents the interests of the employees and is elected for four years.
The Ombuds Office is a confidential and independent resource for all CISPA members. We want to deal constructively with concerns and conflicts related to your experience and work at the CISPA.
The Anti-Discrimination Agency has been set up to protect against discrimination in accordance with the General Act on Equal Treatment (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz – AGG).
CISPA strives to be an inclusive, fair and supportive workplace for all its employees. This is one of the reasons why our center has signed the Diversity Charta/Charta der Vielfalt. The first port of call for any questions concerning gender equality and equal opportunities at CISPA is our Equal Opportunities Office. It is also responsible for the implementation of CISPA’s Equality Plan.
Whether in science, technology, or administration – your work contributes to groundbreaking research and real-world impact.
Benefit from public sector pay (TVöD-Bund), a secure work environment, pension schemes, and additional benefits.
We support your growth. Take advantage of tailored training opportunities, language courses, and access to national and international networks.
Work in an open, diverse environment where English as the working language and which offers support for relocation and integration.
Enjoy flexible hours, mobile working, and generous vacation days – including time off on Christmas and New Year.
We promote a family-friendly corporate culture and help you balancing career and private life if you go on parental leave, re-enter the labor market or take care of relatives.
We value respectful collaboration, open communication, and a strong sense of community. Your work matters – and grows in an environment shaped by trust and appreciation.
Your health matters to us. We offer a range of programs to support physical and mental wellbeing – from ergonomic workspaces and health checks to workshops on health-related topics.
From ergonomic furniture to state-of-the-art technology, we create an inspiring environment where productivity and creativity thrive.
