Technical Lead Architect

Spektrum have a wide range of exciting opportunities in several global locations. We are always looking to add great new talent to our team and look forward to hearing from you.

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 NATOs 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 NATOs communication networks and information systems against cyber threats.
• Command and Control Systems: The NCIA develops and maintains the systems used by NATOs 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 NATOs mission to detect deny and defeat threats to its communication networks.
• Information Management: The NCIA manages NATOs information technology infrastructure including its databases applications and servers.

Overall the NCIA plays a critical role in ensuring the security and effectiveness of NATOs communication and information technology capabilities.

The program

Assistance and Advisory Service (AAS)

The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) is NATOs 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 categorises: 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 2026-0097
Technical Lead Architect
Role Background
The ITM Recovery Increment 1 (ITM RC1) project will replace the legacy
Automated
Information Systems (AIS) NS classification network with a modernized ITM
Operational Network (ON) at NS in a private cloud across the NATO Command
Structure (NCS). The project structure includes 14 Work Packages organized
in 4
pillar teams with about 30 people interacting daily with each other and
externally too.
This task falls under WP07 System Integration scope.
Role Duties and Responsibilities
1 Architecture Validation & Guidance
Review and validate the design documents for the private air-gapped cloud
(vCF 9
NSX-T Cisco ACI) identifying gaps risks and non-conformances against best
practices dependencies and overarching NATO architecture and directives
documents.
Provide design guidance to infrastructure and platform teams throughout
the implementation lifecycle.
Define and maintain architecture decision records (ADRs) and ensure
traceability from requirements to design.
3.2 Interface Control & Integration
Define and specify Interface Control Documents (ICDs) between the private
cloud
infrastructure and all producer/consumer services.
Ensure interfaces are designed with security observability and automation
in mind.
Maintain an interface register and track ICD sign-off across workstream
owners.
3.3 Cross-team Coordination
Coordinate design and implementation efforts between the cyber security
team and the infrastructure team specifically covering:
o Privileged Access Management (PAM) implementation via CyberArk.
o PKI design and certificate lifecycle management.
o Cyber Security Monitoring capability integration with the private cloud.
Chair or co-chair joint design sessions and resolve cross-team technical
dependencies.

3.4 Automation & IaC Enablement

Validate and guide implementation of infrastructure automation using
Ansible / AAP Terraform Jenkins and vCF Automation.
Define the automation and IaC target operating model for the cloud
platform team.
Advise on and document the transition from traditional infrastructure
support to anautomation-first operating model.
Support upskilling of cloud operating teams in automation principles and
tooling.
The Contractor will be part of a team and will provide services using Agency
tools and reporting. There will be monthly planning and review meetings
weekly scrum meetings to track progress and more asynchronous meetings
based on deliverables for the areas identified above
Essential Skills Experience and Certifications
Platform & Infrastructure
Hands-on experience with VMware vCF 5; working knowledge of vCF 9 (direct vCF
9 experience strongly preferred).
Experience designing or validating NSX-T software-defined networking at enterprise
scale.
Familiarity with Cisco ACI in a multi-site or data centre context. Security
Demonstrable experience applying Security by design principals (e.g Zero Trust
Approaches) to private cloud or data centre environments.
Direct experience with CyberArk PAM implementation and integration.
Understanding of PKI design and certificate management in enterprise
environments.
Automation & IaC
Hands-on experience with two or more of: Ansible / AAP Terraform Jenkins vCF
Automation.
Experience leading or supporting the adoption of IaC practices within an
infrastructure or cloud operating team.
Architecture Practice
Ability to produce and maintain ADRs ICDs and architecture review reports to a
professional standard.
Experience coordinating across security infrastructure and application teams in a
complex enterprise programme.
Supplier Response Requirements
Suppliers should address the following in their submission (maximum 4 pages).
Experience evidence of comparable assignments involving enterprise private
cloud architecture vCF / NSX-T / Cisco ACI CyberArk PAM and IaC adoption at
scale.
Track Record at least two references from similar engagements in the last 3
years with measurable outcomes and client contacts.
Approach to Objectives how the proposed candidate will cover both the
architecture/governance and automation/IaC tracks concurrently manage cross-
team coordination and ensure deliverables in 4 are met on schedule
Working Location
On site NCI Agency The Hague/ off-siteWorking Policy
The Contractor will be required to work at least 50% on site NCI Agency The Hague.
NCIA Recognised Business hours
o NCIA The Hague Operations:
Monday to Thursdayand Friday(CET)
Contractor Furnished Services:
o The Contractor will be provided with a Reach Laptop and access to
information required to perform the contract
Travel
Some travel to other NATO sites may be required
Security Clearance
Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance

We never know what new opportunities might be just over the horizon. If this opportunity isnt for you please feel free to send us your resume anyway and be the first to know if something suitable for your skills and experience comes up.

Required Experience:

Senior IC

Employment Type : Full Time
Experience: years
Vacancy: 1