Principal Technician - Software Engineering (Cybersecurity)

BACKGROUND

NATO offers you more than a job. It gives you a mission: building peace and security for one billion people in Europe and North America.

We are a unique multinational flying force with operational capability located at the NATO Airbase Geilenkirchen. With its 14 E-3A aircraft, our organization plays a critical role in NATO and our mission is to deliver ready, responsive Airborne Early Warning, Battle Management, and Command and Control capability to operational commanders in support of NAC-approved tasks.

The Mission Software Engineering Branch is responsible for managing the project portfolio for all software engineering aspects.

The incumbent is responsible for systems administration and cybersecurity/information assurance activities of the Weapon System peculiar Information Technology (IT) and Communication and Information Systems (CIS).

To find out more about the background, please visit our Homepage: https://awacs.nato.int/

How to apply: Video

THE ROLE

The incumbent's duties are:

• Assisting in the integrity of the assigned Weapon System peculiar IT/CIS and networks and its set of features
• Analysing Information Assurance requirements for the assigned Component Support, Mission Support and Mission Systems according to NATO and NAEW&C Force Security Directives;
• Applying protection by testing and implementing Recovery Policies, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plans for the assigned Weapon System peculiar IT/CIS;
• Assisting in system, security and application log monitoring, log collection and log storage policies;
• Assisting in evaluating and analysing of system, security and application related logs for the assigned systems;
• Applying patches implementation for assigned Weapon System peculiar IT/CIS, in accordance with operating system and application policies, NATO security directives and operational requirements;
• Assisting in the monitoring and reporting on Weapon System peculiar Information Assurance constraints;
• Applying and/or executing at the NAEW&C Force level, trial installations, installation compatibility testing, software conflict identification testing and mitigation, technical support and maintenance for assigned Weapon System peculiar IT/CIS;
• Maintaining high level of expertise in the assigned technical areas and staying abreast of Cyber Security best practices;
• Following technical requirements definitions and the refinement of components of Weapon System peculiar IT/CIS being either developed, produced, delivered, integrated or installed from internal or external organizations;
• Assisting in the execution of routine and contingency support for Weapon System peculiar IT/CIS installation and maintenance efforts at the MOB, at FOBs/FOL, and other deployed locations;
• Assisting in the essential operational support to all NAEW&C Force organizations including, when needed, the provision of support for contingency operations on a 24 hours a day, seven days a week basis, for an extended timeframe;
• Providing essential 2nd level user support for all assigned Weapon System peculiar IT/CIS at the MOB, the FOBs/FOL and other deployed locations.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Recent experience in system administration, cyber security and information assurance concepts and implementation;
• General up-to-date knowledge of computer system architectures, operating systems, client/server, LAN/WAN and network concepts;
• General up-to-date knowledge of cyber security and information assurance related models, methods, techniques, metrics and tools;
• Profound professional experience in system administration, cyber security and information assurance concepts and implementation;
• Working level knowledge of operating systems (UNIX/LINUX/MS Windows) and firmware;
• Proof of successful completion of training in at least 3 computer scripting languages (e.g.: Bash, Python, Ansible and alike);
• University Degree and 2 years function related experience; or a Higher Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 4 years post-related experience;
• Qualified advanced training as system administrator for UNIX and/or Linux servers and networks;
• Qualified advanced training on Cyber Security / Information Assurance with commonly recognized certification;
• The work both oral and written in this post and in this Headquarters as a whole is conducted mainly in English therefore sufficient English proficiency is essential;
• Adequate knowledge of Standard Automatic Data Processing (ADP) is required.

THE FOLLOWING WOULD BE CONSIDERED AS AN ADVANTAGE

• Experience with systems administration and/or cyber security engineering of airborne IT systems from Aerospace industry and/or military organizations;
• Experience in automated tools supporting software engineering activities;
• General knowledge about contemporary industry standard COTS products that are used for embedded and real-time systems;
• 1-year recent experience working in an organization or entity that is ISO 9001 certified, or that uses ISO9001 as a guideline;
• Practical experience and/or basic knowledge in project management;
• Comprehensive understanding of RDBMS and SQL, combined with 2 years working experience with both;
• University Degree in the field of Computing or in a related Engineering field with substantial Information Technology (IT) content;
• Proven ability to analyse, design, develop, integrate and test software systems;
• Working knowledge of software configuration management, systematic testing and quality assurance.
  

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

Please attach any documentation (proof of highest education, diplomas, certificates, testimonials etc.) that you consider to be particularly relevant to the qualification requirements specified in this advertisement. Any documentation submitted in a language other than English must be accompanied by at least an unofficial translation. Please note that upon taking up duties, candidates will be asked to provide original certificates of their education and professional experience as relevant for this vacancy.

CONTRACT

Serving civilian members of NATO will be offered a contract in accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations.

Newly recruited staff will be initially offered a definite duration contract of three years. Thereafter, an indefinite duration contract might be offered.

SALARY

Salary values indicated in this vacancy notice are based on the new Single Salary Spine scale.

WHAT DO WE OFFER?

• Excellent tax-free salary, including (where eligible) expatriation, family and children's allowances and additional privileges for expatriate staff;
• Education allowance for children (where appropriate) and an excellent private health insurance scheme;
• Generous annual leave and home leave (if eligible);
• Retirement Pension Plan.

TEST/INTERVIEW

Our recruitment team will provide further guidance for invited candidates.