Cloud Engineer

Spektrum; Brussel Hoofdstad; Hybrid; EUR 68,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Spektrum is seeking a Cloud Engineer to maintain and develop CTAB’s cloud environment used to host NATO’s cyber threat intelligence platform. You will work on AWS-based infrastructure, automate pipelines, and drive security and cost-optimisation improvements. Some Azure familiarity is a plus.

The role requires collaboration with software engineers, data scientists, and CTI researchers, and involves 2-days on-site and 3 days teleworking in Belgium, with security clearance prerequisites.

Qualifications

• University degree or equivalent experience in a quantitative discipline and relevant field.
• Strong hands-on experience with multi-account AWS cloud environments (Lambda, S3, CloudTrail, ECS, EC2).
• Proficient in Terraform and IaC, plus CI/CD automation.
• Experience with security controls, IAM, VPCs, and least-privilege principles.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to convey complex topics to non-domain experts.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and develop CTAB’s cloud environment to support the cyber threat intelligence platform.
• Develop automation pipelines for infrastructure provisioning and code projects.
• Lead security- and cost-optimisation improvements within the cloud environment.
• Assist in transitioning from AWS to Azure while ensuring system stability and compliance.

Skills

Cloud engineering

AWS

Terraform

Python

Bash

Docker

CI/CD

Networking

Security best practices

Communication

Education

University degree in Computer Science/Engineering/Statistics or related quantitative field

Tools

Terraform

CI/CD pipelines

Docker

Git

Linux

Job description

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 ID – NATOIS-0052

Role Background

The Cyber Threat Analysis Branch (CTAB) is looking for a Cloud Engineer to further
develop and maintain the cloud environment used to host NATO’s cyber threat intelligence platform, intended to support cyber threat intelligence production for the NATO Enterprise and Alliance.

The Joint Intelligence and Security Division (JISD), under the leadership of the
Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence and Security (ASG I&S), comprises two principal pillars: Intelligence – headed by the Deputy ASG for Intelligence; and the NATO Office of Security (NOS) – headed by the Deputy ASG for Security. Intelligence is responsible for ensuring the situational awareness of the North Atlantic Council and the Military Committee, for the analysis of the indications and warnings in support of the NATO Crisis Response System and for the development of intelligence policies and capabilities for NATO. Its functional areas address: intelligence analysis and production, intelligence policy and capability development.
1.2.2 The joint civilian and military Intelligence Production Unit (IPU), under the JISD, delivers strategic intelligence-based analysis to support North Atlantic Council (NAC) and Military Committee (MC) decision making on strategic issues of concern. The IPU produces a range of planned and tasked intelligence products on regional issues in Eurasia, Africa and the Middle East, and on transnational issues such as hybrid warfare, terrorism, instability, weapons of mass destruction and energy security.
1.2.3 The Cyber Threat Analysis Branch (CTAB), under the IPU, is responsible for providing evidence-based assessments of the cyber threat landscape to empower NATO stakeholders to make risk-informed decisions. The multidisciplinary team combines all-source data with cutting edge technologies to support and enhance the Alliance leaderships’ understanding on the nature of cyber competition and conflict. CTAB systematically identifies strategic patterns and trends in cyber space and generates tailored insights to support network defence and mission assurance with predictive analysis, cyber threat intelligence, and threat hunting

Role Duties and Responsibilities

2.1 CORPORATE OBJECTIVE
2.2 The contractor (Cloud Engineer) will support the work of the Cyber Threat Analysis Branch and be responsible for maintain and developing CTAB’s cloud environment in order to support the functioning of CTAB’s cyber threat intelligence platform.
2.3 CONTRACT OBJECTIVE
2.3.1 Obtain specialist consulting services to support the following initiatives

2.3.1.1 Ensure the integrity, availability and confidentiality of CTAB’s cloud environment and lead maintenance and development efforts together with a software engineer, data scientist, and CTI researchers.
2.3.1.2 Push for innovative new ways to architect security, data flows, and cost optimalization within the environment while ensuring maximum stability, scalability and functionality.
2.3.1.3 Develop automation pipelines for infrastructure provisioning and configuration as well as for coding projects within the platform, while ensuring up-to-date documentation and clear communications on performed work.
2.3.1.4. Help in transitioning from a AWS-based cloud environment to a Azure-based cloud environment.
2.4 MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVE
2.4.1 Allow the Contractor the maximum flexibility to innovatively manage its corporate resources and expertise so as to provide a high-value contribution in support to the NATO’s corporate and contract objectives within existing constraints and available funding

Essential Skills, Experience and Certifications

3.2.1.2 Knowledge of and experience in maintaining and developing multi-account AWS cloud environments, specifically in core AWS products such as Lambda, S3, CloudTrail, ECS, EC2, and similar, as well as working according to industry best practices such as AWS’s Well Architected Framework.
3.2.1.3 Significant experience in using Terraform to build and maintain cloud infrastructure as code, setting up CI/CD pipelines, automating containerized workloads on ECS and conditional access.
3.2.1.4 Able to set up monitoring, logging and alerting with tools like CloudTrail and GuardDuty, and experienced in managing IAM with SSO, VPC networking, and least-privilege security controls.
3.2.1.5 Proficient in Python and Bash and knowledge of Docker, Linux administration and Git.
3.2.1.6 Experience within cybersecurity and/or the intelligence domain is strongly preferred but not required for this role, as is experience with Azure

3.2.1.5 Good communication skills, both orally and written. Able to translate complex technical topics into information conveyable to non-domain experts. Can easily cooperate with non-cloud experts and explain conducted work, as well as give and take feedback and create clear and structured documentation based on the work conducted

Education

3.2.1.1 A university degree from a nationally recognised/certified university in a quantitative discipline (Computer Science, Engineering, Statistics, Operations Research, etc.) with substantial systems engineering content and 2 years of specific experience – OR - at least 4 years’ experience similar to the tasks described in this SoW and relevant industry recognized certificates.

Working Location

• 2-days on-site, 3 days teleworking in Belgium

Working Policy

• On-site

Travel

• Some travel to other NATO sites may be required

Security Clearance

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance