Cyber Security Defender (SIEM & Splunk)

NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA); Henegouwen; On-site; EUR 68,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Meaningful work

5 year contract with tax-free salary

Expatiation and education allowances

Private health insurance

30 days annual leave

NATO Pension Scheme

Professional development programs

Job summary

The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) seeks a SIEM Engineer based in Mons, Belgium, to join the NATO Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). You will act as a senior SME for SIEM and log-collection services, shaping security monitoring across enterprise environments and ensuring data security systems operate reliably.

The role requires hands-on Splunk experience, Linux administration, and scripting in Bash, Python or Ansible to automate tasks.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline with 2+ years post-related experience, or 6+ years progressive expertise.
• At least 1 year of extensive SIEM administration in a large enterprise (deployment, configuration, maintenance).
• Hands-on experience with distributed Splunk architectures and Splunk Enterprise.

Responsibilities

• Act as a main engineer and SME for SIEM and log collection services.
• Provide advice and technical assistance, maintain expertise, and contribute to data security projects.
• Responsible for management and further development of data security systems.

Skills

SIEM administrator

Splunk

Linux administration

Python

Bash

Ansible

Regular expressions

Documentation

Autonomy

Communication

English fluency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline

Tools

Splunk Enterprise

Ansible

Job description

Who we are:

For more than 70 years, NATO’s mission has been to preserve peace and security in the Alliance for nearly one billion citizens. The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) and its predecessors have worked tirelessly in providing the means that enable the connectedness and togetherness that keep our Alliance strong. We are the NCIA, a team of 3000 civilian and military staff in 29 locations throughout Europe, North America and Asia. Our technology and cyber experts allow NATO to conduct critical operations, protect NATO’s airspace, make data-driven decisions, defend against cyber-attacks, secure NATO networks and maintain superiority in space. This is all possible because of our greatest force, our people. In order to keep this edge we aim to hire, train and retain the very best staff. Our staff members represent both the diversity and unity of our Alliance. When you join the NCIA, you will be part of an organization where you can contribute authentically to the mission and purpose of NATO and help us keep our technological edge.

Primary Location

Belgium-Mons

Schedule

Full-time

Application Deadline

08-Nov-2026, 11:59:00 PM

Salary (Pay Basis)

6,713.06

Grade

NATO Grade G15

About the job:

Based in Mons, Belgium, you will join the Agency as we embark on a journey to transform our IT services to support NATO’s Digital Endeavour. You will join NATO Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), which is responsible for planning and executing all lifecycle management activities for cyber security. In executing this responsibility, NCSC provides specialist cyber security-related services covering the spectrum of scientific, technical, acquisition, operations, maintenance, and sustainment support, throughout the lifecycle of NATO Communications and Information Systems (CIS).

• Act as one of the main engineers and Subject Matter Expert (SME) for SIEM and Log collection services;
• Provide advice and technical assistance to other stakeholders, maintain technical expertise, awareness, and developments in related new technologies, and provide technical contributions to any projects related to the data security systems;
• Responsible for management and further development of the data security systems;
• Following ITIL standards, provide support to Operations and Service Delivery management covering all stages of the data security systems lifecycle (e.g. Service Design, Transition, Operations, Change Management and Continual Service Improvement);
• Ensure that data security systems are installed, configured, and operating correctly and in line with dependencies with others systems or applications required.

For a full list of duties, please review the job description on the NCI Agency career site .

About you:

• A Bachelor’s degree at a nationally recognised/certified University in a related discipline and 2 years post-related experience. Or exceptionally, the lack of a university degree may be compensated by the demonstration of a candidate’s particular abilities or experience that is/are of interest to NCIA, that is, at least 6 years extensive and progressive expertise in duties related to the function of the post;
• At least 1 year of extensive practical experience as SIEM administrator in large enterprise environment (deployment, installation, configuration and maintenance);
• Hands‑on experience in the design and maintenance of distributed Splunk architectures;
• At least 2 years and expert level experience related to SIEM and Log collection management activities with Splunk Enterprise;
• Demonstrable experience of analysing and interpreting system, security and application logs in order to diagnose faults and spot abnormal behaviours;
• Practical hands‑on experience in systems and tools administration, especially Linux environment;
• Comprehensive knowledge of the principles of computer and communication security, networking, and the vulnerabilities of modern operating systems and applications;
• Practical skills in writing Bash, Python or Ansible scripts to support repetitive tasks automation;
• Solid Linux system and application administration and troubleshooting skills;
• Solid understanding of regular expressions;
• Ability to develop clear and concise technical documentation, including procedures;
• Demonstrable ability to work autonomously and proactively, to understand the chain of command and to follow internal processes;
• Good communication abilities, both written and verbal, with the ability to clearly and successfully articulate complex issues to a variety of audiences and teams;
• Fluency in English, both written and spoken.

What we offer:

• Genuinely meaningful work as part of the most successful alliance in history;
• 5 year contract with competitive tax-free salary and household and children’s allowances;
• Privileges for expatriate staff including expatriation and education allowances (where appropriate) and additional home leave;
• Excellent private health insurance scheme;
• Generous annual leave of 30 days plus official holidays;
• NATO Pension Scheme;
• Development programs such as professional training, wellbeing, and more.

To learn more about NCIA and our work, please visit our website .

The NCIA prides itself on being an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment of mutual respect and value uniqueness and differences in gender, gender identity, race, ethnic or cultural origin, age, religion, sexual orientation and physical or neurocognitive ability.

Additional details on the conditions of application can be found via the NCIA career site.