Engineer (Digital Infrastructure)

Job Posting Organization:
The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) has been operational for over 70 years, dedicated to preserving peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security for nearly one billion citizens within the NATO Alliance. With a workforce of approximately 3000 civilian and military staff, the NCIA operates in 29 locations across Europe, North America, and Asia. The agency focuses on providing essential technology and cyber expertise that enables NATO to conduct critical operations, protect airspace, make data-driven decisions, defend against cyber threats, secure networks, and maintain superiority in space. The NCIA is committed to hiring, training, and retaining top talent to maintain its technological edge, and values diversity and unity among its staff members, encouraging authentic contributions to NATO's mission.

Job Overview:
As an Engineer (Digital Infrastructure) based in Brunssum, The Netherlands, you will play a crucial role in transforming IT services to support NATO's Digital Endeavour. Your position within the CSU Brunssum will involve enabling end-to-end Communications and Information Systems (CIS) services, which include the installation, operation, maintenance, and support of a full range of CIS capabilities during peacetime, crisis, and war. You will be responsible for providing guidance on security controls, performing risk and business impact analyses, designing system components, and collaborating with technical teams to develop system integration plans. Your work will ensure the smooth functioning of infrastructure services and components, and you will monitor performance and security events to maintain operational efficiency.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Your primary duties and responsibilities will include:

• Providing guidance on the application and operation of elementary physical, procedural, and technical security controls.
• Explaining the purpose of security controls and performing security risk and business impact analysis for medium complexity information systems.
• Designing system components using appropriate modeling techniques in accordance with agreed architectures, design standards, patterns, and methodologies.
• Identifying and evaluating alternative design options and trade-offs.
• Providing technical expertise to enable the configuration of system components and equipment for systems testing.
• Collaborating with technical teams to develop and agree on system integration plans and reporting on progress.
• Provisions/installs, configures, and maintains infrastructure services and components.
• Monitoring, measuring, and reporting on infrastructure load, performance, and security events.
• Monitoring operational systems for resource usage and failure rates to inform and facilitate system software tuning. 1
• Applying system software parameters to maximize throughput and efficiency. 1
• Preparing and maintaining operational procedures for storage management. 1
• Monitoring capacity, performance, availability, and other operational metrics. 1
• Periodically providing on-demand support outside of business hours, which may require working on-site. 1
• Deputizing for the head of the IIS section, if required.

Required Qualifications:
To qualify for this position, you must possess a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree from a nationally recognized/certified university in a related discipline, along with at least 2 years of post-related experience. Alternatively, if you do not have a university degree, you may still be considered if you can demonstrate at least 6 years of extensive and progressive expertise in duties related to the function of the post. Additionally, you should have at least 2 years of practical experience in designing, implementing, and managing the underlying technology, software, and hardware components that ensure the smooth functioning of servers, storage systems, data centers, and cloud services. Experience in troubleshooting infrastructure-related issues and performing regular maintenance is also essential. Strong communication and interpersonal skills, along with good analytical skills and a solution-oriented attitude, are required.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor’s degree at a nationally recognized/certified university in a relevant field. This educational qualification is essential to ensure that candidates have the foundational knowledge necessary for the technical aspects of the role. In cases where candidates lack a formal degree, substantial relevant experience may be considered as a substitute, provided it demonstrates the necessary skills and knowledge for the position.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 2 years of practical experience in the field, specifically in designing, implementing, and managing technology infrastructure. This experience should encompass a comprehensive understanding of the software and hardware components that are critical for the operation of servers, storage systems, data centers, and cloud services. Additionally, experience in troubleshooting and maintaining infrastructure is vital to ensure that candidates can effectively address any issues that may arise in the operational environment.

Languages:
Fluency in English, both written and spoken, is mandatory for this position. This requirement ensures effective communication within the diverse international environment of NATO. While English is the primary language, knowledge of additional languages may be considered advantageous but is not explicitly required for this role.

Additional Notes:
The position offers a 5-year contract with a competitive tax-free salary, along with household and children's allowances where applicable. Expatriate staff will benefit from privileges such as expatriation and education allowances, as well as additional home leave. The role includes excellent private health insurance and generous annual leave of 30 days plus official holidays. Employees will also be part of the NATO Pension Scheme and have access to development programs, including professional training and wellbeing initiatives. The NCIA is committed to being an equal opportunity employer, fostering an inclusive environment that values diversity in all forms.