Hybrid Senior Network and Communications Engineer at Spektrum

Spektrum supports apex purchasers (NATO, UN, EU, and National Government and Defence) and their Tier 1 supplier ecosystem with a wide range of specialist services. We provide our clients with professional services, specialised aerospace and defence sales, delivery, and operational subject matter expertise. We are looking for personnel to join our team and support key client projects.

Who we are supporting 

The NATO Communication and Information Agency (NCIA) is responsible for providing secure and effective communications and information technology (IT) services to NATO's member countries and its partners. The agency was established in 2012 and is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.

The NCIA provides a wide range of services, including:

• Cyber Security: The NCIA provides advanced cybersecurity solutions to protect NATO's communication networks and information systems against cyber threats.
• Command and Control Systems: The NCIA develops and maintains the systems used by NATO's military commanders to plan and execute operations.
• Satellite Communications: The NCIA provides satellite communications services to enable secure and reliable communications between NATO forces.
• Electronic Warfare: The NCIA provides electronic warfare services to support NATO's mission to detect, deny, and defeat threats to its communication networks.
• Information Management: The NCIA manages NATO's information technology infrastructure, including its databases, applications, and servers.

Overall, the NCIA plays a critical role in ensuring the security and effectiveness of NATO's communication and information technology capabilities.

The program

Assistance and Advisory Service (AAS)

The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) is NATO’s principal C3 capability deliverer and CIS service provider. It provides, maintains and defends the NATO enterprise-wide information technology infrastructure to enable Allies to consult together under Article IV, and, when required, stand together in the face of attack under Article V.

To provide these critical services, in the modern evolving dynamic environment the NCI Agency needs to build and maintain high performance-engaged workforce. The NCI Agency workforce strategically consists of three major categorise's: NATO International Civilians (NIC)'s, Military (Mil), and Interim Workforce Consultants (IWC)'s. The IWCs are a critical part of the overall NCI Agency workforce and make up approximately 15 percent of the total workforce.

Role Duties and Responsibilities

Systems design

• Designs large or complex systems and undertakes impact analysis on major design options and trade-offs.
• Ensures that the system design balances functional and nonfunctional requirements.
• Reviews systems designs and ensures that appropriate methods, tools and techniques are applied effectively.
• Makes recommendations and assesses and manages associated risks.
• Adopts and adapts system design methods, tools and techniques.
• Contributes to development of system design policies, standards and selection of architecture components.

Network design

• Produces, or approves network providers', network architectures, topologies and configuration databases for own area of responsibility.
• Specifies design parameters for network connectivity, capacity, speed, interfacing, security and access, in line with business requirements.
• Assesses network-related risks and specifies recovery routines and contingency procedures.
• Creates multiple design views to address the different stakeholders' concerns and to handle both functional and nonfunctional requirements.

Systems integration and build

• Plans and drives activities to develop organisational systems integration and build capabilities including automation and continuous integration.
• Identifies, evaluates and manages the adoption of tools, techniques and processes to create a robust integration framework.
• Provides authoritative advice and guidance on any aspect of systems integration.
• Leads integration work in line with the agreed system and service design.
• Assesses risks and takes preventative action.
• Measures and monitors applications of standards.
• Contributes to the development of organisational policies, standards, and guidelines for systems integration.

Network support

• Drafts and maintains procedures and documentation for network support and operation.
• Makes a significant contribution to the investigation, diagnosis and resolution of network problems.
• Ensures that all requests for support are dealt with according to set standards and procedures

Essential Skills and Experience

• At least 3 years practical experience with the designing, implementing, and maintaining the core network architecture for large organizations.
• Relevant practical experience configuring, troubleshooting and optimizing routers, switches, firewalls, and other hardware/software networking elements.
• Ability to stay updated with emerging technologies.
• Very good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical skills and problem-solving attitude.
• Experience in leading small teams.

Training/Certifications:

• Services and Technology Professional Certification (e.g. ITIL, CCIE, SRA, JNCIE, or Devnet Professional or equivalent experience )
• Experience in planning, design, system and services engineering and implementation of communication aspects of C4ISR
• Modern digital communication networking techniques, protocols and standards; communication
• networks specification, design and testing, with an emphasis on IP networks, including IPv6, QoS, MPLS, MP-BGP.
• Communications infrastructure and network service management and control.
• Familiarity with related international / commercial / industrial standards.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively orally, using tact and diplomacy, and in writing with good skills.
• Producing high quality, clear and precise technical and policy papers and reports.
• Proven technical project management/lead experience with supported HLD, LLD, POCT, SAT, etc.
• Experience working in an SLA / SOP driven IT organisation.
• Intermediate knowledge in authentication technologies.
• Proven experience with regards to design and implementation in large scale networks, across vendors and technologies
• A working knowledge of Python3, Git, Ansible, Terraform and/or scripting.
• Minimum 3 years' experience of operational and technical leading of an engineering team.

Additional:

• Knowledge and experience of Network Functions Virtualization (NFV)/Software Defined (SDx) (e.g. SDN, SD-WAN, SDDC or SASE);
• Knowledge and experience in deploying and managing Segment- Routing (SR) and SRv6 based networks.
• CI/CD pipeline, IaC and NetDevOps experience. Demonstrable evidence in maintaining knowledge of advances in Information Technology
• Knowledge and experience in applying ITIL, COBIT and eTOM principles and methodologies applied to effective Service Management and Control;
• Experience with centralised management systems, e.g., DX NetOps Spectrum, Catalyst Center, Splunk and/or CISCO ISE;
• Public cloud experience and CSP certifications from Azure, AWS or GCP.
• An understanding of IP packet encryption, Firewall and Intrusion Detection System Technologies
• Prior experience of working in an international environment comprising both military and civilian elements
• Knowledge of NATO responsibilities and organization, including ACO and ACT.

Working Location

• Mons, Belgium

Working Policy

• On-Site

Travel

• Up to 150 TDY within Belgium per year

Security Clearance

• Valid National or NATO Top Secret personal security clearance