Network and Security 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 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 Background

The NATO Communications and Information Academy (NCI Academy) located in Portugal, Belgium and The Netherlands reinforces NATO’s technological edge through excellence in Cyberspace learning.

The NCI Academy has the Academy Learning Environment, which is the toolset associated with all back-end learning and development activities, the transfer of knowledge from trainers to students and the support of the student learning process. To secure the Academy Learning Environment, there is a team responsible for all activities related to the operation and maintenance of this infrastructure. In addition to setting up courses, maintaining them and deploying them as they iterate, the team is also responsible for running projects to ensure that the Academy Learning Environment is state of the art

Role Duties and Responsibilities

• Supports projects or change initiatives through the preparation of technical plans and application of design principles to network design. Aligns network design solutions with enterprise and solution architecture standards (including security);
• Undertakes or supervises complex installations and de-installations of networks or its components, including handover to operations;
• Uses network management software and tools to investigate and diagnose network problems, collect performance statistics and create reports;
• Maintains the network support process and checks that all requests for support are dealt with according to agreed procedures;
• Configures tools and/or creates scripts to automate the provisioning, testing and deployment of new and changed infrastructure. Maintains operational procedures and checks that they are executed following agreed standards;
• Ensures network configurations are applied to meet operational requirements in line with agreed procedures, applying the configuration baselines determined by the Service Lines, when available;
• Creates, edits and manages network access control lists and other security controls on network devices (such as firewalls, routers, switches and intrusion prevention systems), applying the configuration baselines determined by the NATO Cyber Security Centre, when available;
• Assist in the tasks of cybersecurity protection and defence; and provide general support for cybersecurity;
• Develops procedures and standards for installation and handover to maintain and improve the installation service;
• Monitors the external environment to gather intelligence on emerging technologies. Assesses and documents the impacts, threats and opportunities to the organization;
• Performs other duties as may be required.

Essential Skills and Experience

• ITIL foundation certification;
• CISCO CCNA (Routing and Switching) certification;
• Hands on experience in managing computer networks (switching, routing, firewalls and VPN concentrators);
• Development of network documentation;
• Development of network architectures;
• Experience in troubleshooting network installations.
• Must have recent experience undertaking cyber related activities on a NATO accredited system.
• Must have recent experience working for the NCI Agency with good knowledge of ACO and ACT.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Experience in administering a network within the NATO enterprise.
• Good technical knowledge of NATO CIS Security governance and policy for local area network and enterprise networks.
• Cybersecurity training and/or certifications, such as COMPTIA Security+.
• Prior experience of working in an international environment comprising both military and civilian elements.

Education

• Higher vocational training in a relevant discipline with 4 years post-related experience, or a secondary educational qualification with 6 years post-related experience;

Working Location

• Oeiras, Portugal

Working Policy

• On-Site

Travel

• Some travel to other NATO sites may be required

Security Clearance

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance