Who we are
For more than 70 years, NATO’s mission has been to preserve peace and security in the Alliance for nearly one billion citizens. The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) and its predecessors have worked tirelessly to provide the means that enable the connectedness and togetherness that keep our Alliance strong. We are the NCIA, a team of 3,000 civilian and military staff in 29 locations throughout Europe, North America and Asia.
Our technology and cyber experts allow NATO to conduct critical operations, protect NATO’s airspace, make data‑driven decisions, defend against cyber‑attacks, secure NATO networks and maintain superiority in space. This is all possible because of our greatest force, our people. To keep this edge we aim to hire, train and retain the very best staff.
Our staff members represent both the diversity and unity of our Alliance. When you join the NCIA, you will be part of an organization where you can contribute authentically to the mission and purpose of NATO and help us keep our technological edge.
About the job
Based in Braine l’Alleud you will join the Agency as we embark on a journey to transform our IT services to support NATO’s Digital Endeavour. You will join the NATO Integrated Mobile Service Centre, which provides NATO and its partners with scalable, protected, secure, reliable, and integrated wireless communication‑based services with a focus on NATO operations, crisis response, missions, exercises and business continuity. The NIMSC Chief is responsible for planning and executing all lifecycle management activities for the centre’s services: strategy, design, transition, operation and continuous service improvement including subject‑matter expertise, research and development, acquisition and logistic support.
This is a temporary location pending completion of the new SHAPE facility at Camp Casteau in Mons. The Braine l’Alleud site is expected to close by the end of 2027, with future duty stations shifting to Brussels or Mons, depending on function and business needs.
We are seeking an experienced Solution Engineering Lead (internally called Principal Solution Engineer) to drive the design, integration and delivery of complex, mission‑critical CIS and network solutions to include Satellite Communications capabilities. This role combines deep technical architecture expertise with leadership, sourcing, and service performance accountability.
You will translate high‑level capability requirements into robust, secure and scalable technical solutions across deployable and static environments. You may lead architecture development, manage systems integration and network design, and ensure delivery against technical, financial and quality objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Solution Architecture & Systems Engineering
* Lead development of architectures for complex, multi‑domain solutions.
* Ensure alignment with agreed requirements, standards and enterprise frameworks.
* Balance functional, performance, security and service management requirements.
* Oversee systems development lifecycle, embedding security and privacy by design.
* Produce and approve network architectures, topologies and connectivity designs.
Requirements & Delivery Management
* Drive scoping, prioritisation and baseline management for large initiatives.
* Manage trade‑offs, risks and architectural decisions across projects.
* Ensure technical, financial and quality targets are met.
Sourcing & Contract Management
* Lead procurement, tendering, evaluation and acquisition processes.
* Negotiate with suppliers and manage contractual performance through KPIs.
* Address underperformance, manage change and drive continual improvement.
Leadership & Additional Duties
* Manage, mentor and develop engineers and technicians.
* Set and cascade business objectives and performance targets.
* Monitor engineering performance against milestones and KPIs, driving service improvement.
* Provide technical direction to Integrated Mission Services using deployable CIS, SATCOM and wireless communications technologies.
* Represent engineering at the agency, NATO, academia and industry engagements.
* Deputise for higher‑grade staff as required.
We are looking to recruit for two similar roles. For a full list of duties and the specific additional responsibilities for each role, please review the job description on the NCIA career site.
About you
* A master’s degree from a nationally recognised/certified university in a related discipline and five years of post‑related experience, or a bachelor’s degree with eight years of post‑related experience.
* Proven experience managing technical teams.
* Strong knowledge of deployable and highly‑mobile CIS infrastructure.
* Experience in systems integration with non‑CIS (including AC power distribution, emergency generation, UPS).
* Sound understanding of wireless technologies including SATCOM.
* Experience with architecture modelling (UML, SysML, ArchiMate) within recognised frameworks (e.g. TOGAF, NAF, DoDAF) and MBSE.
* Experience in quality assurance and lifecycle management of communications systems.
Certifications
* ITIL Foundation
* PRINCE2 Foundation or equivalent (e.g. PMP).
What we offer
* Genuinely meaningful work as part of the most successful alliance in history.
* Five‑year contract with competitive tax‑free salary and household and children’s allowances.
* Privileges for expatriate staff including expatriation and education allowances (where appropriate) and additional home leave.
* Excellent private health insurance scheme.
* Generous annual leave of 30 days plus official holidays.
* NATO pension scheme.
* Development programmes such as professional training, wellbeing and more.
To learn more about NCIA and our work, please visit our website.
The NCIA prides itself on being an equal‑opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment of mutual respect and value uniqueness and differences in gender, gender identity, race, ethnic or cultural origin, age, religion, sexual orientation and physical or neurocognitive ability.
Additional details on the conditions of application can be found via the NCIA career site.
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