Firewall Engineer

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 - C005339    

Role Duties and Responsibilities   

• Build, implement, maintain, and support Next Generation Firewalls (System Administration). 
• Configure, maintain and review security policies and additional Next Generation Firewall capabilities (System Configuration) 

Essential functions include, but are not limited to:  

• Central administration and configuration of Firewalls to ensure continuing functionality and availability. 
• Firewall policy/ruleset implementation and verification. 
• Provide technical support in troubleshooting infrastructure and operational issues and collaborating with other teams for a successful resolution. 
• Collaborate with the Infrastructure Management and other Cyber Security teams. 
• Provide assistance to Incident Handlers to identify and remediate security incidents. 
• Review security documentation and provide technical advice, when requested. 
• Perform other duties as may be required. 

Essential Skills, Experience and Certifications  

Experience:  

• At least 3 years practical experience in cyber security or related field. 
• Extensive knowledge and experience (min 3 years) in the following areas: 
  • Palo Alto Networks Firewalls and Palo Alto Networks Panorama for Enterprise level deployments 
  • Firewall installation and management of other vendors 
  • Scripting (Bash, Python, Ansible) 
  • Experience with network protocols and traffic analysis 
  • Ability to troubleshoot complex network security issues 
  • LAN/WAN networking including protocol network architecture, and the vulnerabilities of modern operating systems and applications 
  • TCP/IP protocols and services 
  • Knowledge of *nix-based Operating Systems 

Skills:  

• Strong stakeholder management skills - can demonstrate evidence of developing and maintaining strong and effective relationships with internal stakeholders at all levels in an organization. 
• Flexible and adaptable; able to work in ambiguous situations. 
• Excellent communication abilities, both written and verbal, with the ability to clearly and successfully articulate complex issues to a variety of audience and teams. 

Training/certifications:  

• Relevant certifications in cyber security, such as Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) or GIAC Security. 

Desirable Experience:  

• Administration of *nix-based Operating Systems 
• Experience in working for or supporting a military or governmental organization. 
• Understanding of Information Security Practices relating to the Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability of information (CIA triad.) 

Education:  

• A minimum requirement of a Bachelor's degree at a nationally recognised/certified University in a related discipline and 3 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 10 years extensive and progressive expertise in duties related to those in this Statement of Work.

Working Location  

• Mons, Belgium 

Working Policy  

• On-Site 100% 
• NCIA IT equipment will be provided for the processing of restricted information. 
• The contractor may be exceptionally permitted to perform work remotely, from a different NATO nation than the duty location, subject to prior approval by their Resource Manager (to which they will be assigned upon contract start) and the Section Head GSS. 
• The contractor may work from their home in the duty location subject to the NCIA teleworking policy and in coordination with the Section Head GSS. 

Travel  

• The contractor may be required to travel to NCIA locations (to include NATO exercises) for in-person or department meetings. In such cases the contractor will be reimbursed for travel costs according to NATO regulations for traveling on NATO duty. 
• Contractors traveling for work purposes shall initiate travel requests from their designated duty station only. 

Security Clearance  

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance