Background screening in aerospace and defence
Satellites, launchers, drones and weapons systems are built by people with access to controlled technology and classified information. Pescheck checks who they are before that access starts: identity, sanctions lists, criminal records, employment history and qualifications. It fits around export control rules and the state security clearance your contracts require.
Trusted by space agencies, defence organisations and their suppliers:
Why aerospace and defence screening matters
In aerospace and defence, one wrong hire can cost more than a salary. An engineer with a false identity or a sanctions link can put an export licence, a defence contract or a whole programme at risk. Espionage and insider threats aimed at European space and defence companies are rising, and governments now ask suppliers to show how they vet their people.
The pressure comes from three sides:
- Customers and governments: defence ministries, space agencies and prime contractors write personnel security into their contracts. If you cannot show your process, you do not win the work.
- Trade law: export control rules and sanctions regimes decide who may see controlled technology. Breaking them can lead to fines, lost licences and criminal charges.
- Growth: new space and defence tech companies are hiring fast and across borders. Manual checks by email and spreadsheet do not keep up.
Pescheck gives HR, security and trade compliance teams one platform for all of this. Every check is logged, so you can show an auditor or a customer what you checked, when and why.
Export control and sanctions screening for employees
Controlled technology is not only shipped in boxes. Under export control rules, showing technical data to a person can count as an export in itself. That makes hiring part of your trade compliance.
Export control
Much aerospace and defence work falls under the EU Dual-Use Regulation (EU) 2021/821, national military export rules or, for US-origin technology, ITAR and EAR. Before someone gets access to controlled data, your trade compliance team needs to know exactly who they are. Pescheck verifies the candidate's identity and passport or ID card against 31,000+ document types, with our ID check. Your team uses that verified record to decide on access and any licence needed. Pescheck does not make export control decisions or issue licences.
Sanctions and PEP lists
Paying a salary to someone on a sanctions list can break EU, UN, UK or US sanctions law. Pescheck checks candidates against 800+ sanctions and PEP lists, including the EU, UN, OFAC and UK lists, with our PEP and sanctions check. You get the result in minutes. Possible matches are reviewed by our analysts, so a common name does not stop a good candidate.
Keep checking after day one
Sanctions lists change every week. With in-employment screening you can re-check staff on sensitive programmes at set intervals, or when they move to a new project.
Security clearance is up to the state. Pre-screening is up to you.
For classified defence work, only a government can grant a security clearance. In the Netherlands, the AIVD or MIVD carries out the security investigation, and the minister then issues a certificate of no objection (Verklaring van Geen Bezwaar, VGB). Defence suppliers work under ABDO 2019, and since 2026 new government contracts move to its successor, ABRO 2026. No private company can issue or speed up a clearance, and neither can Pescheck.
What you control is everything around it. Clearance takes weeks or months, and a refused clearance late in the process costs time and money. Screening first lets you:
- Check identity, history and qualifications before you put a candidate forward for clearance.
- Spot issues early, such as gaps in a CV, a false diploma or a sanctions match.
- Keep a clear file that shows your customer and the security officer what you checked.
- Screen roles that do not need state clearance but still touch sensitive work.
Clearance systems in other countries
| Country | Who grants clearance | What you can do first |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | AIVD or MIVD investigates; minister issues the VGB | Pre-screening plus VOG (certificate of conduct) |
| Germany | Federal economics ministry for industry, with checks by the BfV (Sicherheitsüberprüfung) | Pre-screening plus Führungszeugnis |
| Belgium | National Security Authority (NVO/ANS) | Pre-screening plus extract from the criminal record |
| United Kingdom | UK Security Vetting (SC, DV) | BPSS-level checks: identity, right to work, employment history, criminal record |
Working on NATO or ESA programmes? The same rule applies: the clearance comes from your national security authority, and Pescheck covers the employer checks before it.
Role-based pre-screening: the right checks for each role
Not every role needs the same checks, and under GDPR you may only check what fits the job. Pescheck lets you set a screening package per role, so a receptionist and a propulsion engineer each get the checks that match their access.
| Role | Typical access | Suggested checks | Package |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office and support staff | Building, no controlled data | ID check, diploma check, work references | Standard |
| Engineers, technicians, scientists | Controlled technical data, test sites, cleanrooms | ID check, sanctions and PEP, criminal record, diploma check, work references | Enhanced |
| Programme leads, security officers, executives, finance | Classified information, contracts, budgets; often state clearance | All of the above, plus credit check, adverse media and integrity check | Complete |
| Contractors, interns, visiting researchers | Temporary access to sites or data | ID check and sanctions and PEP, plus the checks of the role they fill | Per role |
You choose the checks; we suggest a starting point. For candidates who lived or worked abroad, we run international background checks in 196 countries. See all checks and pre-employment screening.
How screening works with Pescheck
- Choose the package. Pick the checks for the role, or use a package your security officer set up.
- Invite the candidate. They get a secure link, give consent and upload their documents. It works in English, Dutch and German.
- We run the checks. Automated where possible, with analysts reviewing anything unclear. Most checks are done within 24 hours on average.
- Review and decide. Results appear in your dashboard with a full audit trail. The hiring decision stays with you.
Built for sensitive work
- Secure by design: ISO 27001 certified, with independent penetration testing.
- GDPR first: we only collect what the role needs, and candidates see what is checked and why.
- Licensed and accredited: registered under the Dutch Private Security Organisations and Detective Agencies Act (Wpbr) and a PBSA member.
- International: checks in 196 countries for teams that hire across Europe and beyond.
- Fits your systems: connect your ATS or HR system through our integrations or API.
Related industries: government and technology.
Which checks do we perform for aerospace and defence?
Pick the checks per role and combine them into a package. We know every background check well and help you choose.
PEP and Sanction Check
Check if your candidate appears in PEPs and Sanction lists.
Learn moreID Check
Automated ID Checker verifies over 31,000 global identity documents
Learn moreDiploma Check
Find out whether your candidate has his/her qualification or certificates
Learn moreDutch Criminal Record (VOG)
A declaration of conduct (VOG) showing that past behavior poses no objection.
Learn moreWork Reference Check
Verify an individual's work history, job performance, and other qualifications
Learn moreAdverse Media
Scanning search engines for possible risk indicators regarding your candidate.
Learn moreSee Pescheck for aerospace and defence
Book a demo for space companies, defence primes, drone makers and their suppliers. We'll show how to set up role-based packages, sanctions screening, and a clear file for security audits.
- Hiring engineers who will work on export-controlled programmes?
- Preparing candidates for state security clearance?
- Need one process across several countries?
Trusted by Leaders in the Aerospace Sector
Our specialized solutions help you ensure safety and compliance with precision.
Pescheck has been a positive change for our company. Their service is user friendly, efficient and personable. The team's quality of customer service and communication has been superb.
Emily A.
Recruiting, Jump Trading
The team behind Pescheck is exceptional. They work super fast and always respond with quality content. The API connection works great and gives us much flexibility. They deliver what they promise at a predictable price.
Giel T.
Directie, Sermi Register
Frequently asked questions about aerospace and defence screening
It is the background screening of people who will work on aircraft, space or defence programmes. It usually covers identity, sanctions and PEP lists, criminal records, education and employment history. For sensitive roles, it can also include credit and adverse media checks.
No. Only a government can grant security clearance. In the Netherlands that is the VGB, after an investigation by the AIVD or MIVD. Pescheck screens candidates before and alongside that process, so you know who you are putting forward.
ABDO 2019 sets the security requirements for companies that work on Dutch defence contracts, including which roles need a VGB. ABRO 2026 builds on ABDO and applies to new contracts across the Dutch government from 2026. Ongoing defence contracts stay under ABDO 2019.
Export control rules limit who may access controlled technology, and sanctions law bans dealings with listed people. Screening confirms a candidate's identity and checks them against 800+ sanctions and PEP lists. Your trade compliance team then uses that record to decide on access and licences.
A common set is ID check, sanctions and PEP screening, criminal record, diploma check and work references. Add more checks only if the role needs them, so you stay within GDPR.
Yes. Pescheck runs international background checks in 196 countries. Which checks are available depends on the country.
Most checks are done within 24 hours on average. International criminal records and references can take longer, depending on the country and how quickly referees reply.
Yes, if each check is necessary for the role and the candidate is informed. Pescheck asks for consent, only runs the checks you choose and is ISO 27001 certified.
Governance & Security:
With screening, government bodies ensure themselves of reliable and trustworthy personnel
When it comes to compliance, every level of an organisation must meet certain standards. This is why employees in government-related jobs are screened regularly by their employer-to make sure they're qualified and safe enough for the job at hand; if not then there could be risks taken on behalf of other people which would lead to accidents or abusive situations.
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Screen your staff in the financial sector and comply with international regulations.
It is becoming increasingly difficult for organisations to comply international regulations. In addition to ID verification, clients must also be checked for sanctions and PEP status. This should be easier, we think. That is why we developed a customer due diligence that, just like Commerzbank, Geldmaat and Lendex, lets you know within 20 minutes who you are doing business with.
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Want to know more?Works with the HR software you already use
Order screenings from inside your ATS or HR system. Pescheck connects with 160+ systems, so candidates never leave your workflow.
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