Lead Network & Systems Engineer

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 NATOs 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 NATOs communication networks and information systems against cyber threats.
• Command and Control Systems: The NCIA develops and maintains the systems used by NATOs 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 NATOs mission to detect deny and defeat threats to its communication networks.
• Information Management: The NCIA manages NATOs information technology infrastructure including its databases applications and servers.

Overall the NCIA plays a critical role in ensuring the security and effectiveness of NATOs communication and information technology capabilities.

The program

Assistance and Advisory Service (AAS)

The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) is NATOs 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 categorises: 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 ID C004237

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 non- functional 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 non- functional 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 policiesstandards 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.

Additional duties for this post:

• Develop networking solutions for IaaS/SaaS/PaaS applications that reside in private cloud public cloud or both using industry best practices and technologies.
• Support Programme Project and Service Delivery Managers in preparation and implementation of new capabilities and continuous improvement of existing capabilities; Liaise and collaborate internally throughout NCI Agency Business Areas (BA) and with external organisations for fault rectification activities during and post project implementation
• Provides consultative support to include setting up demonstrations explaining features and benefits to customers designing solutions configuring products and services to meet specific customer business needs and objectives based on NCI Agency approved catalogue of services and architectural concepts
• Maintain an awareness of all ongoing network infrastructure configuration and maintenance activities to build and maintain an up to date picture
• Ensures a common understanding of available toolsets and methods of utilization within the centralised and distributed user base;
• Investigates and proposes long-term solutions to re-occurring problems and identify areas for greater efficiency to improve the Service Value Chain (SVC)
• Leads and manages the permanently assigned team as well as temporary project and ad-hoc teams
• Deputizes for higher grade staff if required

Essential Skills Experience and Certifications

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:

• CCNP Routing and SwitchingServices 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 ccross vendors and technologies
• Experience of operational and technical leading of an engineering team.

Education Experience and Training (desirable):

• 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

• Braine-lAlleud Belgium

Working Policy

• Onsite

Travel

• Some travel to other NATO sites may be required

Security Clearance

• NATO Cosmic Top Secret