Network Engineer

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: advanced cybersecurity solutions to protect NATO's communication networks and information systems against cyber threats.
• Command and Control Systems: systems used by NATO's military commanders to plan and execute operations.
• Satellite Communications: services to enable secure and reliable communications between NATO forces.
• Electronic Warfare: services to support NATO's mission to detect, deny, and defeat threats to its communication networks.
• Information Management: management of NATO's IT infrastructure, including databases, applications, and servers.

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 IT infrastructure to enable Allies to consult together under Article IV, and, when required, stand together in the face of attack under Article V.

To deliver these services, the NCI Agency needs a high‑performance engaged workforce. The workforce consists of three major categories: NATO International Civilians, Military, and Interim Workforce Consultants (IWCs). IWCs make up approximately 15% of the total workforce.

Role ID – C

Role Duties And Responsibilities

• Provide advanced Level 3 support for complex enterprise network environments.
• Lead the technical resolution of high‑impact and high‑severity incidents.
• Perform in‑depth analysis of recurring issues and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Identify opportunities for service optimisation and operational improvements, and drive their implementation.
• Contribute to the design, planning, and implementation of network enhancements and new projects.
• Ensure technical correctness, operational readiness, and minimal service impact during changes and deployments.
• Validate and support network changes in line with governance and change management processes.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams, external partners, and service stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate technical documentation and contribute to knowledge sharing within the team.
• Ensure that, on Routing and Switching elements, remote routine maintenance throughout NATO sites is performed.
• Coordinate with sites for Routing and Switching elements centralisation, standardisation and best practices.
• Liaise and collaborate internally throughout the NCI Agency Service Line infrastructures and with external organisations for fault rectification activities.
• Be responsible for the creation and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures.
• Coordinate and perform routing infrastructure design, configuration and maintenance activities for all appointed NATO exercise scenarios and Operations.
• Perform the practical evaluation of management tools and capabilities.
• Ensure a common understanding of the available toolsets and method of utilisation within the centralised and distributed user base.
• Investigate and propose long‑term solutions to encountered equipment and configuration problems.
• When required, coordinate on‑site surveys, validations and system acceptance testing into the Routing infrastructure.

Essential Skills, Experience And Certifications

• At least 8 years of progressive experience in complex network engineering roles.
• Design, implementation and support scalable enterprise network infrastructures leveraging BGP, MPLS, IPv6, OSPF, IS‑IS, IP multicast, and SD‑WAN.
• Active CCNP (Enterprise, Service Provider) certification is required.
• Deep knowledge of BGP, including route reflectors, confederations, communities, path manipulation and filtering (iBGP, eBGP, policy control).
• Proficiency in QoS design, shaping, policing and classification techniques for converged networks; extensive experience fine‑tuning QoS policies to support mission‑critical applications and voice services; knowledge of CBWFQ, LLQ and WRED.
• Proven expertise in IPv6 implementation, troubleshooting and dual‑stack environments with a strong focus on IPv6 adoption and transition strategies.
• Deep knowledge of policy‑based routing, route aggregation and summarisation, redistribution, VRF, MPLS traffic engineering.
• In‑depth knowledge of multicast protocols (PIM sparse/dense mode, IGMP, MSDP, Anycast RP) and their use in real‑world deployments; configuration and troubleshooting of multicast protocols.
• Proficiency in datacenter and switching technologies (STP, MSTP, RapidPVST, EtherChannel, LACP, Virtual Stack, StackWise, Cisco Nexus NX‑OS, Spine‑Leaf Architecture, VXLAN).
• Strong troubleshooting skills with tools like Wireshark, NetFlow and SNMP; knowledge of network monitoring concepts.
• Hands‑on experience with SD‑WAN technologies.
• Familiarity with DevNet, API integrations and network programmability.
• Knowledge of network security best practices (ACLs, firewalls, VPNs, IPSec, AAA, Role Based Access Control, Public Key Infrastructure, security‑hardening concepts).
• Proficiency in network automation and scripting (Python, Ansible, Terraform).
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience with the configuration and operation of HP Network Automation or equivalent network automation and orchestration systems.
• Minimum of 4 years’ experience with the configuration and operation of Network Monitoring and Event Management systems, ideally CA Spectrum.
• Proven experience in the use of an Incident Management System such as BMC Remedy.
• High level of knowledge of network, system and application‑level troubleshooting techniques.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the principles of command‑and‑control systems.
• Extensive technical management expertise in C2 management.
• Broad knowledge of C2 systems and software maintenance procedures.
• Experience in site and system evaluation and inspection.
• Experience preparing test plans, technical documentation and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Autonomous, problem‑solver and drives towards results.
• Experience in configuration management practices and tools.
• Knowledge of ITIL IT service management model.
• Experience and applied knowledge of Service Transition.

Desirable Skills, Experience And Certifications

• Active CCIE (R&S, Enterprise Infrastructure or Service Provider) certification is desirable.
• Post‑graduate degree in a field related to the function of the post.
• Prior experience working in an international environment comprising both military and civilian elements.
• Knowledge of NATO responsibilities, structure and organisation, including ACO and ACT.

Education

• Minimum requirement of a Bachelor's degree at a nationally recognised/certified university in a related discipline and 2 years post‑related experience.
• Alternatively, exceptionally, the lack of a university degree may be compensated by the demonstration of a candidate’s particular abilities or experience that is of interest to NCI Agency, i.e. at least 8 years of extensive and progressive expertise in duties related to the function of the post.

Working Location

• Grazzanise, Italy

Working Policy

• Onsite

Travel

• Some travel to other NATO sites may be required.

Security Clearance

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance.