AI Engineer

Vacaturebank; Den Haag; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

NCI Agency in The Hague, Netherlands seeks an AI Engineer to design, build, and maintain AI/ML components and pipelines for mission-critical systems. You will work at the intersection of applied ML, software engineering and MLOps, delivering production-grade AI solutions in secure environments.

The role requires strong hands-on ML and programming skills, experience with LLMs and modern AI tooling, and the ability to operate within NATO security parameters.

Qualifications

• Experience building, deploying and maintaining end-to-end AI/ML pipelines in production.
• Strong programming, ML and applied AI development skills.
• Solid understanding of ML concepts, evaluation and performance measurement.
• Experience applying pre-trained/foundation models, LLMs and Generative AI to practical use cases.
• Experience with RAG, embeddings, vector databases and production-grade AI backends (LangChain, LlamaIndex, Pydantic AI).
• Strong MLOps/AIOps experience: version control, CI/CD, automation, build/release workflows.
• Experience developing REST APIs and backend services (FastAPI, Pydantic or similar).
• Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, Helm, cloud infra and orchestration tools (Airflow, Argo).
• Experience implementing guardrails, observability and monitoring for LLM-based systems.
• Experience with SQL and NoSQL databases.
• Experience with TypeScript/Node.js/Next.js is a plus.
• Experience in secure, air-gapped environments.

Responsibilities

• Apply machine learning and data science techniques to new problems and datasets, evaluating model outcomes, performance, and data quality
• Identify issues in ML systems, models, pipelines, and datasets, implementing practical improvements
• Design, develop, test, document, refactor, and maintain moderately complex programs, scripts, and AI/ML components
• Apply agreed engineering standards, tools, and secure development practices
• Support AI/software lifecycle engineering, including requirements elicitation and automation for development, testing, release, deployment, and monitoring
• Define AI modules for integration builds and validate against functional, quality, security, and performance criteria
• Build, maintain, and improve data pipelines using ETL/ELT processes
• Monitor progress, report status, and communicate risks or blockers
• Contribute to technology assessments, roadmaps, and knowledge sharing

Skills

AI/ML pipelines

Python programming

REST APIs

Docker

Kubernetes

MLOps

Security clearance

Secure environments

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Helm

Airflow

Argo

FastAPI

Pydantic

LangChain

LlamaIndex

Node.js

Next.js

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 - C005309

Role Background

NATO NCIA AI Engineer to design, build, and maintain AI/ML components and pipelines supporting mission-critical systems. This role sits at the intersection of applied machine learning, software engineering, and MLOps, covering everything from model evaluation and data pipeline development to production-grade LLM/AI agent deployment. The successful candidate will work within secure, structured engineering practices to deliver reliable, well-documented, and maintainable AI solutions.

Role Duties and Responsibilities

• Apply machine learning and data science techniques to new problems and datasets, evaluating model outcomes, performance, and data quality
• Identify issues in ML systems, models, pipelines, and datasets, implementing practical improvements
• Design, develop, test, document, refactor, and maintain moderately complex programs, scripts, and AI/ML components
• Apply agreed engineering standards, tools, and secure development practices
• Support AI/software lifecycle engineering, including requirements elicitation and automation for development, testing, release, deployment, and monitoring
• Define AI modules for integration builds and validate against functional, quality, security, and performance criteria
• Build, maintain, and improve data pipelines using ETL/ELT processes
• Monitor progress, report status, and communicate risks or blockers
• Contribute to technology assessments, roadmaps, and knowledge sharing

Essential Skills, Experience and Certifications

• Experience developing, optimising, deploying, and maintaining end-to-end AI/ML pipelines (training, packaging, monitoring, lifecycle management)
• Strong hands-on programming, machine learning, and applied AI development experience
• Solid understanding of ML concepts, model evaluation, and performance measurement
• Experience applying pre-trained/foundation models, LLMs, and Generative AI to practical use cases
• Experience with RAG, embeddings, vector databases, and production-grade AI agent backends (LangChain, LlamaIndex, Pydantic AI, or similar)
• Strong MLOps/AIOps experience: version control, CI/CD, automation, build/release workflows
• Experience developing REST APIs and backend services (FastAPI, Pydantic, or similar)
• Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, Helm, cloud infrastructure, and orchestration tools (Airflow, Argo)
• Experience implementing guardrails, observability, and monitoring for LLM-based systems
• Experience with SQL and NoSQL databases
• Experience with TypeScript, Node.js, or Next.js (nice to have)
• Experience working in secure, restricted, or air-gapped environments

Working Location

• The Hague, Netherlands

Working Policy

• Full-Time On-Site

Travel

• Some travel to other NATO sites may be required

Security Clearance

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance