Combat Systems Specialist

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 – C004660

Role Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide flexible technical and analytical support to the BCID CaT, including the preparation of studies, technical papers, briefing material, and draft documentation, as required to support BCID CaT activities and decision-making.
• Support the preparation, coordination, and conduct of BCID CaT meetings, including participation in meetings and workshops, and support to the organisation of BCID CaT events hosted at NCIA.
• Contribute to the development and evolution of the Air-to-Ground Cooperative Target Identification Concept of Employment (CONEMP), including analytical and drafting support in response to inputs from Nations, operational stakeholders, and exercises.
• Support the development and evolution of Radio-Based Combat Identification (RBCI), including contributions to requirements analysis, capability definition, and the drafting and maturation of associated CONEMP and application STANAG(s).
• Provide technical support to the development of the RBCI capability and related STANAG activities, with particular emphasis on communication and waveform considerations, in coordination with the Line-of-Sight (LoS) Communications CaT.
• Support the activities of the BCID CaT RBCI Tiger Team, including technical analysis, preparation of working material, and assistance to NCIA in the coordination and follow-up of Tiger Team actions.
• Support the continued development, refinement, and evaluation of the NATO Concept of Employment (CONEMP) for Digitally Aided Close Air Support (DaCAS), including assessment through trials and exercises. Evaluate the operational impact of integrated Combat Identification (CID) and Joint ISR capabilities within the DaCAS framework.
• Monitor and analyse U.S. and NATO DaCAS-related activities, including efforts led by U.S. Joint Staff J6 and the DaCAS Executive Steering Committee. Support AIRCOM in the evolution of the DaCAS CONEMP, incorporating inputs from the BCID Capability Team (CaT), NATO operational commands, national subject-matter experts, and lessons identified during Bold Quest and other relevant trials.
• Lead the development of the DaCAS System Requirements Document (SRD), in coordination with national NATO specialists and the CAS Working Group, ensuring alignment with operational needs and emerging technical standards.
• Support AIRCOM in the development and maintenance of the DaCAS Implementation Handbook, ensuring coherence with the approved CONEMP, system requirements, and interoperability objectives.
• Provide expert support to BCID CaT meetings on DaCAS-related topics, including the exploitation of Bold Quest and other trial results to support interoperability assessment and tracking.
• Further develop and maintain the DaCAS Technical Interoperability Matrix. Populate and update the matrix using trusted and open-source information, lessons identified from previous trials and exercises, and direct observations from future CAS events. Coordinate with key NATO and national stakeholders to validate inputs and ensure accuracy.
• Support the implementation of STANAG 4162 Edition 3 on Identification Data Combining Process.
• Investigate and assess options for identification/classification, localization and tracking of IFF jamming and spoofing attacks.
• Support the development of a proof-of-concept system performing Identification / classification of IFF spoofing and jamming attacks.
• Provide direct support to the Project Manager and Technical Leader in the preparation of NATO Capability Panel 2 (CaP2) meetings.

Essential Skills, Experience and Certifications

• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in one or more of the following areas:
• Military communications systems
• Combat Identification (CID) / Identification Friend or Foe (IFF)
• Tactical datalinks or line-of-sight (LoS) communications
• Joint fires, Close Air Support (CAS), or air-to-ground operations
• Defence systems engineering or capability development
• Ability to:
• Analyse complex operational and technical problems
• Translate operational needs into technical considerations and vice versa
• Prepare high-quality technical papers, briefing material, and draft NATO documents
• Proven capability to communicate effectively with both operational users and technical experts, including senior military and civilian stakeholders

Desirable

• Proven technical knowledge of air-to-ground and ground-to-ground identification concepts, including:
• Radio-Based Combat Identification (RBCI) and/or Reverse IFF concepts
• Cooperative and non-cooperative identification principles
• Communication waveforms and protocols used in tactical environments
• Knowledge of line-of-sight tactical waveforms,
• Experience contributing to requirements definition, system requirements documents (SRD), CONEMPs, or technical standardisation documents.

Education

• University degree (Bachelor's or higher) in Engineering, Telecommunications, Electronics, Computer Science, Physics, or a closely related technical discipline.
• Equivalent professional experience may be accepted in lieu of a formal degree.

Working Location

• Remote

Working Policy

• Off-site

Travel

• Travel to NCIA The Hague is expected once every month

Security Clearance

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance