IT Security Specialist

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 – 2025-0222

Role Duties and Responsibilities

• Install, configure, update Linux operating systems.
• Manage user accounts, permissions and security.
• Configure network service (DNS, DHCP, NFS, SSH).
• Proactively review logs and alerts to identify any technical issues, errors, or failures in the monitoring process.
• Produce and distribute reports related to system health, monitoring activities, and compliance status (e.g., audit logs, system performance metrics).
• Daily: Verify the system is healthy (Check CPU, memory, disk usage, etc.), if not resolve the issues to make system up and running.
• Daily: Review logs for errors or anomalies.
• Daily: Respond quickly to outages or system alerts.
• Daily: Check ITSM and take an action for requests, changes and incidents.
• System Documentation: Document configuration and changes, keep up-to-date documentation of all configurations, integration steps, troubleshooting procedures, and system maintenance tasks.
• Maintain an inventory: Keep track of all integrated identity sources, IAM systems, and external tools.
• Weekly: Do the maintenance (Schedule and apply updates, check system resources, etc.).
• Weekly: Periodically test backup restores to ensure data integrity.
• Weekly: Identify and resolve performance bottlenecks or capacity issues.
• Automation and Scripting: Improve system efficiency by identifying areas where automation could reduce manual intervention and improve operational efficiency.
• Monthly: Analyse trends in resource usage and plan for upgrades.
• Monthly: Ensure service levels are met; report to stakeholders.
• Monthly: Verify and update hardware/software inventory.
• Deliver services in Sprints: Each sprint duration 5 working days, with planning, execution, review, and payment.
• Participate in daily reporting and planning activities (daily stand-ups) as well as workshops, events, and conferences as requested by the service delivery manager.

Essential Skills, Experience and Certifications

• 3+ years of relevant experience in IT security, with a focus on System Administration, Security Tools Management in large organisations.
• Linux Systems administration (Install/configure/maintain Linux based servers, apply system updates/patches, monitor system performance/logs, manage users/permissions/settings of the platform).
• Docker management (maintain Docker containers, troubleshoot Docker based applications and volumes).
• Strong understanding of security best practices.
• IP switching and routing, experience in network troubleshooting.
• Virtual Infrastructure understanding based on VMWare technologies.
• Good engineering skills including programming and/or scripting knowledge (python, shell scripting, PowerShell).
• Demonstrable experience of analysing and interpreting logs in order to diagnose faults and spot abnormal behaviours.
• Experience in Proxy management (Configure/maintain proxy, implement routing rules/access control).
• Understanding of NATO organization and its IT infrastructure.
• Knowledge of Service Management, monitoring and reporting tools, such as Solarwinds.
• ITIL Service Management knowledge.
• Familiarity with System instrumentation solutions such as Ansible.
• Certifications such as CISSP, CISM, or CISA, or equivalent.
• Experience working in an international environment comprising both military and civilian elements.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field or at least 6 years of experience.

Working Location

• Mons, Belgium

Working Policy

• On-site

Travel

• Some travel to other NATO sites may be required

Security Clearance

• Valid National or NATO Cosmic Top Secret personal security clearance