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 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 – 2026-0085
Role Background
The NATO Information and Communication Agency (NCIA) located in The Hague, The Netherlands, is the Interoperability Assurance Authority for NATO.
In light of this responsibility, the C2 Service Centre is looking for a service contract which can provide NCIA with supporting the continued development, maintenance, and evolution of the Networked Interoperable Real-Time Information Services (NIRIS) software.
Role Duties and Responsibilities
D1- Updated, maintained, and release-ready NIRIS software baseline aligned with supported Java LTS releases.
- Output: Updated, maintained, improved, and release-prepared NIRIS software modules delivered in accordance with agreed requirements, assigned work items, technical guidance, project priorities, release planning, and supported Java Long-Term Support (LTS) runtime requirements. This includes software development, defect correction, stabilization, integration into the relevant NIRIS baseline or release branch, and Java module updates, refactoring, or uplift where required to maintain compatibility with the agreed Java LTS version used by NIRIS. The deliverable also includes the implementation or integration of agreed functional enhancements within the NIRIS baseline, including CESMO integration and historic track data capabilities, where included in the agreed release scope. For the historic track data capability, this includes enabling users to receive a potentially filtered set of tracks read and processed from storage where NIRIS recordings have previously been saved. The existing RTS subscription mechanism and corresponding user interface shall be enhanced, where required, to support these data sources and to allow filtering based on agreed parameters such as source name, time interval, geolocation, and track number.
- Outcome: The NIRIS software baseline remains functional, maintainable, secure, stable, and aligned with the agreed NIRIS roadmap and planned releases, including NIRIS 4.7 and NIRIS 4.8. The deliverable strengthens NIRIS interoperability and operational utility by enabling agreed enhancements such as CESMO integration and historic track data access. This supports both real-time and post-event operational analysis, improves the ability to exchange and consume relevant track information, and increases the value of NIRIS as a data-centric interoperability service.
- The baseline is prepared for integration, testing, acceptance, and release, while reducing technology obsolescence risk through continued alignment with supported Java runtime versions.
D2- NIRIS unit and automated test updates.
- Output: Unit tests and automated tests developed, updated, or maintained to verify implemented software changes and support regression testing of NIRIS software components.
- Outcome: Improved software quality and maintainability through repeatable testing, early defect detection, and strengthened regression test coverage.
D3- Enhanced NIRIS logging functionality
- Output: Updated and enhanced NIRIS logging functionality delivered in accordance with agreed requirements, assigned work items, technical guidance, and project priorities. This includes improvements to logging configuration, logging visibility, filtering, endpoint-specific logging, stack trace handling, log compression, logging framework migration where required, and related software corrections or enhancements. The deliverable shall support improved logging per port, endpoint, interface, or relevant NIRIS component, where technically applicable, and shall provide improved mechanisms for filtering, viewing, managing, and analysing NIRIS logs during development, testing, troubleshooting, and operational support activities.
- Outcome: NIRIS maintainability, troubleshooting capability, operational support, and runtime behaviour analysis are improved. The enhanced logging capability enables developers, testers, administrators, and support personnel to identify issues more efficiently, isolate failures more accurately, and reduce the time required to investigate defects, interface issues, runtime errors, and operational incidents. The deliverable contributes to improved serviceability of the NIRIS baseline and supports more efficient defect correction, stabilization, integration, testing, and release preparation activities.
D4- Updated NIRIS interface and interoperability support
- Output: Updated, maintained, and improved NIRIS interface and interoperability-related software components delivered in accordance with agreed requirements, assigned work items, technical guidance, project priorities, and planned interoperability activities. This deliverable groups work related to supported standards, data providers, data consumers, external interfaces, and interoperability test events. It includes corrections, enhancements, configuration support, integration support, and test-event support for agreed NIRIS interfaces and interoperability capabilities. This may include, where included in the agreed scope,
- support for interfaces with data providers and consumers;
- Link 16 / JREAP,
- OTH-Gold,
- DIS,
- VMF,
- AIS, and other agreed formats or standards;
- OANT/SMAQ integration configuration; analyser limit issues; interoperability testing;
- CWIX-related test support;
- TDLITS-related test support;
- INTEND-related test support;
- Outcome: NIRIS remains interoperable with agreed external systems, data providers, data consumers, and NATO interoperability testing environments. The deliverable supports continued operational relevance of NIRIS as an interoperability service by maintaining and improving its ability to exchange, process, transform, and disseminate information across agreed standards, systems, interfaces, and operational communities. It also supports validation of NIRIS capabilities during interoperability events, customer engagements, and test activities, contributing to increased confidence in the NIRIS baseline, its supported interfaces, and its readiness for operational use.
D5- Updated NIRIS software documentation set
- Output: Updated NIRIS software documentation set reflecting implemented software changes, configuration changes, interface updates, test support functionality, release related updates, and operational impacts. This includes maintenance and update of agreed NIRIS documentation, such as user manuals, governance documentation, internal technical documentation, interface documentation, test documentation, release-related documentation, and other software or operational documentation required to support development, testing, integration, sustainment, governance, and operational use. Documentation updates shall be prepared in accordance with agreed templates, standards, review processes, configuration management practices, and release or project timelines.
- Outcome: NIRIS documentation remains accurate, current, consistent, and suitable for development, testing, governance, sustainment, release preparation, and operational use. The deliverable supports effective knowledge transfer, user understanding, technical maintainability, interface management, test execution, release governance, and long- term sustainment of the NIRIS baseline. It reduces the risk of outdated or inconsistent documentation and ensures that implemented changes are reflected in the relevant documentation set in a timely and controlled manner.
Essential Skills, Experience and Certifications
- At least 10 years of professional experience in software development, with a focus on full- stack systems.
- Demonstrated experience in working within Agile/Scrum environments, including participation in sprint planning, execution, and review activities.
- At least 3 years of professional experience in Java-based software development, including experience with modern frameworks and backend service development.
- At least 2 years of experience working with web technologies, including TypeScript and/or Angular-based front-end development.
- At least 2 years of experience working with software integration, including RESTful services, messaging systems, or data exchange interfaces.
- At least 2 years of experience working with near real-time or data-intensive systems, including data processing, filtering, and dissemination.
- At least 1 year of professional experience working with containerization technologies (e.g. Docker), including building, packaging, and deploying Linux-based containers.
- At least 3 years of experience with DevOps and CI/CD practices, including use of tools such as GitLab, automated pipelines, and artifact repositories.
- Demonstrable experience in software testing practices, including unit testing, integration testing, and, where applicable, automated testing.
- Experience in defining acceptance criteria, test scenarios, or validation approaches for software deliverables.
- Demonstrable knowledge or experience in interoperability and data exchange standards, particularly within defence or similar domains (knowledge of Tactical Data Links is mandatory).
- Experience working with distributed systems and multi-component architectures, including integration of multiple data sources.
- Familiarity with secure software development practices and working within controlled or regulated environments.
- The contractor personnel must be a national of a NATO member nation.
Language
- Proven ability to communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing, in a clear, structured, and professional manner.
Working Location
Working Policy
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 isn't 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.
