Principal Solution 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 ID – C004716 

Role Duties and Responsibilities  

Solution architecture 

• Leads the development of architectures for complex solutions ensuring consistency with agreed requirements. 

• Establishes policies, principles and practices for the selection of solution architecture components. 

• Manages trade-offs and balances functional, service quality and systems management requirements within a significant area of the organisation. 

• Communicates proposed decisions to stakeholders. 

• Coordinates and manages the target architecture across multiple projects or initiatives. 

• Maintains a stable, viable architecture and ensures consistency of design and adherence to appropriate standards across multiple projects or initiatives. 

Requirements definition and management 

• Plans and drives scoping, requirements definition and prioritisation activities for large, complex initiatives. 

• Selects, adopts and adapts appropriate requirements definition and management methods, tools and techniques. 

• Contributes to the development of organisational methods and standards for requirements management. 

• Obtains input from, and agreement to requirements from a diverse range of stakeholders. 

• Negotiates with stakeholders to manage competing priorities and conflicts. 

• Establishes requirements baselines. 

• Ensures changes to requirements are investigated and managed. 

Systems development management 

• Sets policy and drives adherence to standards for systems development. 

• Leads activities to make security and privacy integral to systems development. 

• Identifies and manages the resources necessary for all stages of systems development projects. 

• Ensures that technical, financial and quality targets are met. 

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. 

Essential Skills, Experience and Certifications 

Education, Experience and Training (essential): 

Education: 

• A Master's degree at a nationally recognised/certified University in a related discipline and 5 years post-related experience. Or a Bachelor's degree with 8 years post related experience. 

Experience: 

• Proven experience of managing teams of technical personnel; 

• Knowledge of current and future Mobile Infrastructure (Deployable, Dispersible, Highly mobile CIS) technologies and trends; 

• Experience with design and systems integration (e.g. AC Power distribution equipment, emergency AC Power generation and associated fuel storage, Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)); 

• Good understanding of current and future Wireless technologies and trends (to include SATCOM); 

• Experience with Architecture modelling language(s) (UML, SysML, ArchiMate, etc.), preferably in the context of an Architecture Framework (NAFv4, TOGAF, DODAF, Zachman, etc.) and Models Based Systems Engineering (MBSE); 

• Experience in applying quality assurance practices; 

• Sound experience in development, implementation, fielding, testing and maintenance of modern communications equipment; 

Training/Certifications: 

• ITIL Foundation; 

• PRINCE2 Foundation or equivalent Project Management Framework (e.g. PMP) certification; 

Experience and Training (desirable): 

Experience: 

• Knowledge and experience in applying the "NATO Architecture Framework, version 4"; 

• Knowledge and experience in the application of Federated Mission Networking (FMN) in service design; 

• Prior experience of working in an international environment comprising both military and civilian elements; 

• Knowledge of NATO responsibilities and organization, including ACO and ACT; 

Training/Certifications: 

• PRINCE2 Practitioner or equivalent (e.g. PMP) certification; 

• ArchiMate or TOGAF or equivalent certification; 

Working Location 

• Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium 

Working Policy 

• On-site 

Travel 

• Some travel to other NATO sites may be required 

Security Clearance 

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance