Cyberspace Concept Developer and Validator

Job Description -

NATO CYBERSPACE CONCEPT DEVELOPER AND VALIDATOR

Location: NATO HQ Norfolk VA USA (On-site)

Positions Available: One (1)

Period of Performance: We are seeking immediate applicants. Start date is anticipated in December 2026.

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly qualified Cyberspace Concept Developer and Validator to support NATO warfare development activities in Norfolk VA. The selected candidate will lead and contribute to the development maturation and validation of cyberspace operational capability concepts aligned with ACTs Warfare Development Agenda. This role requires deep technical expertise hands-on systems engineering experience and the ability to translate operational needs into actionable concepts architectures and capability development pathways.

Based on NATO operational needs literature review high-level direction and guidance (notably stemming from ACTs Warfare Development Agenda) and guidance from ACT Cyberspace Technical Director identify cyberspace operation capability concepts to be developed.

For information: Building on previous efforts on Cyberspace Situational Awareness (CySA) follow-on capability concepts are expected to be developed in the area of decision-support and Cyberspace Command and Control (CyC2) to name a few.

1. Develop the identified cyberspace operation capability concepts by conducting all the necessary activities including but not limited to initial research input collection concept aim/scope definition concept drafting submission and approval.

2. Build and maintain Communities of Interest (NATO organizations Nations Industry Academia) dedicated to the development and implementation of cyberspace operation concepts in close coordination with the Technical Director and ACT Cyberspace Federation & Partnership SME.

3. Contribute to experimentation and validation efforts related to the cyberspace operation concepts (feasibility analysis experiment design and preparation assessment etc.) under the guidance of the Technical Director.

4. Develop (as lead or contributor) relevant engineering products/artefacts to support cyberspace capability development and implementation. This includes capability requirements identification and definition across all DOTMLPFI1 aspects Analyses of Alternatives architecture development Information Exchange Requirements definition operational evaluation/validation and interoperability assessment.

5. Support and contribute to other warfare development activities related to concept implementation and engineering (feasibility studies foresight analysis technical and operational analysis experimentation campaigns etc.).

6. Inform organize and participate in meetings workshops conferences and other events and travel to attend those as needed generally within NATOs boundaries for up to 20 days per year.

7. Perform additional tasks related to the contract as required by the COTR.

8. 1 Doctrine organization training material leadership and education personnel facilities interoperability.

Essential Qualifications

Note: Hands-on experience in system engineering activities including definition implementation and engineering of operational/military concepts throughout the complete capability life cycle is general management experience team leading participation and/or contribution to the above activities will not suffice to qualify.

1. Masters degree in engineering systems engineering or computer science. A bachelors degree and 5 years of recent experience in system engineering capability concept development and implementation in a military context will be considered in lieu of a masters degree.

2. Proven recent (at least three within the last five years) post-degree hands-on experience in authoring cyberspace concepts specifications architectures functional analysis designs preferably in the area of military information and cyber systems. Experience at the level of management overseeing participating or supporting shall not be accounted for.

3. Post-degree education in CIS security and cyber defense disciplines as Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) GIAC Security Expert or ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM).

4. Post-degree hands-on experience in architecture drafting preferably using NATO Architectural Framework (NAF) or similar standard (e.g. TOGAF).

5. Demonstrated experience in planning coordinating and executing workshops for various stakeholders including governmental agencies academia and industry.