COTS Applications SME

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 Duties and Responsibilities

• Provision of professional and technical contributions in the conception, development and co-ordination related to all aspects of lifecycle management of Commercial of the Shelf (COTS) applications supported within the Service Support and Business Application Business Area (SSBA BA) projects or services;
• Supporting in-service operations of the systems, including:
  • Support and operation of the assigned system(s) including:
  • Systems operationally used by NATO Enterprise community;
  • Local systems currently used by Local Commands.
  • Atlassian Products management and configuration
  • Maintenance of the operational & support environments;
  • Monitoring performance of the assigned service applications;
  • Support CIS Support Units (CSU) and other support staff for daily operations of the systems.
  • Support technical reviews, walkthroughs and audits;
• Support preparation of functional and technical specifications for software and hardware with special focus on the SSBA BA domain;
• Support to change management, configuration management, release/deployment and testing;
• Maintaining relationships with 3rd party suppliers
• Provision of subject matter expertise and advice as required;
• Performing other duties as may be required.

Essential Skills and Experience

• At least 3 years of relevant experience in the field of computer science or electronic engineering;
• Experience with release and deployment procedures.
• Experience in offering support for COTS Business Applications,including deployment, configuration, and troubleshooting, optimizing and incident resolution.
• Experience in offering user support for Microsoft, Adobe, Atlassian end user products, including deployment, configuration, and troubleshooting, optimizing and incident resolution.
• Experience and lifecycle support knowledge of the following COTS technology:
  • Desktop Alert Application
  • Atlassian Products (Jira Software, Jira Service Management, Confluence, Jira Align)
  • Adobe Creative Cloud Products (Lightroom, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, Dreamweaver)
  • Autodesk Products (AutoCAD)
• Knowledge of programming languages and platforms like .NET, C#, JAVA, JavaScript;
• Experience with Microsoft SQL Server (optimization and querying);
• Experience with Linux and Windows environment;
• Experience in various areas of Software Engineering including some of the following:
  • Requirements elicitation and management (including non- functional requirements for Operations & Maintenance);
  • Software change management and testing;
  • Application release and deployment management;
  • Configuration management practices and tools;
  • Application Lifecycle Management concept and tools.
  • Experience in planning and performing FAT, UAT and SAT
• Knowledge and experience in state-of-the-art technologies, relevant to software engineering:
  • Technologies and standards (at least 4 of them): HTML, REST Services, Web Services, HTTP, Python, XML, SQL;
  • Application server technologies and Relational data base management systems;
  • Experience in working with Monitoring Tools like Splunk, Prometheus (setting up, configure and maintain various alerts,rules and data interpretations)
• Ability to work in cross functional teams like Application management/development team;
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with good briefing skills.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Experience in NCIA processes and procedures.
• Knowledge of post related applications like Desktop Alert, Jira Software, Adobe Creative Cloud Products;
• Cloud computing, SaaS, knowledge of Microsoft Azure;
• Experience with data modelling of complex systems;
• Prior experience of working in an international environment comprising both military and civilian elements

Working Location

• Braine l’Alleud, Belgium

Working Policy

• Hybrid (50% of time On-site)

Travel

• Some travel to other NATO sites may be required

Contract Duration

• Jul 2024 – Dec 2024

Security Clearance

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance