Crypto Engineer

Job content

Spektrum have a wide range of exciting opportunities in several global locations.

We are always looking to add great new talent to our team and look forward to hearing from you.

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 Background

The NCI Agency has been established with a view to meeting the collective requirements of some or all NATO nations in the fields of capability delivery and service provision related to Consultation, Command & Control as well as Communications, Information and Cyber Defence functions, thereby also facilitating the integration of Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Target Acquisition functions and their associated information exchange.

The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) is dedicated to acquiring, deploying, and defending communication systems for NATO’s political decision-makers and Commands. It operates on the frontlines against cyber-attacks, collaborating closely with governments and industry to prevent future debilitating attacks. The NCI Agency plays a crucial role in maintaining NATO’s technological edge and ensuring the collective defence and crisis management capabilities of the Alliance.

Role Duties And Responsibilities

Support Package to CP 122 project Enhance and Sustain the IP/Packet Encryption Capability, the Service Provider will:

• Project planning, coordination, testing and resource management;
• The lead on site survey, integration/installation and inspection of cryptographic systems for secure end to end services;
• Focal point for subject matter expertise helpdesk in support of cryptographic issues;
• Build and test prototype IA designs to support new/modified requirements such as deployable secure CIS;
• Advice and guidance to NCI Agency Project and System Managers during the whole life cycle of NATO CIS as well as providing subject matter related briefings and presentations.
  
  

Installation and commissioning of NATO crypto equipment, the Service Provider:

• Will be responsible for the day to day installation and commissioning of all Infrastructure-funded, and other, crypto equipment NATO wide, in support of NATO HQs, NATO Nations, NATO Operations and NATO Exercises.
  
  

NATO CIS projects Support Package - Rough order of Magnitude (ROM) and TBCEs inputs, the Service Provider will:

• Review and provide input to capability packages
• Review and input to TBCEs of NATO CIS projects
• Efforts estimation for NATO CIS projects
  
  

User Operator Guides and User Maintenance documentation Package, the Service Provider will:

• Carry over activities regarding the development, production and maintenance of User Operator Guides and User Maintenance for NATO cryptographic systems;
  
  

New cryptographic equipment installations training package, the Service Provider will carry over the:

• Development and production of semi-formal training package during initial installation of NATO cryptographic equipment and systems;
  
  

Essential Skills And Experience

• Strong understanding of security best practices
• Good engineering skills
• 5+ years of experience in IT security in large organisations, with a focus on the following areas:
• Knowledge of cryptographic installation techniques and standards;
• Experience with Cryptographic Systems, design, management and implementation of modern Cryptographic systems and applications;
• Very good knowledge of modern communication and Internet Protocol (IP) based networking technologies and systems including security aspects;
• Experienced and excellent knowledge of COMSEC principles and practices, including physical security standards relating to COMSEC;
• Extensive experience in the analysis of risk and in the implementation and integration of INFOSEC protective measures;
• Good experience with latest Virtualization Technologies;
• Extensive experience in operating systems backup and restore;
• Knowledge of CRYPTO accounting and distribution;
• Working knowledge of the operation of communications systems and troubleshooting techniques;
• Ability to work independently and in teams to achieve the desired goals, including the ability to monitor and support a team of industry;
• Strong stakeholder management skills – can demonstrate evidence of developing and maintaining strong and effective relationships with internal stakeholders at all levels in an organization;
• Flexible and adaptable; able to work in ambiguous situations;
• Excellent coaching skills;
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal;
• The contracted individual must be able to perform effectively and efficiently with minimal supervision.
  

Desirable Skills And Experience

• Experience with implementation projects within NATO and/or National military organizations is desirable.
• Good understanding of the constraints related to IT systems on NATO networks is desirable;
  
  

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field, or equivalent 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 Top Secret personal security clearance
  
  

We never know what new opportunities might be just over the horizon. If this opportunity isn’t for you please feel free to send us your resume anyway and be the first to know if something suitable for your skills and experience comes up.