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 - C005038
Role Background
The Assurance Engineer is responsible for planning, coordinating, and
delivering verification and validation (V&V) activities to ensure systems,
projects, and deliverables meet quality, compliance, and operational
requirements. The role provides independent assurance across complex
projects, supports operational acceptance activities, and works closely with
internal teams, contractors, and stakeholders to identify risks, resolve non-
compliance issues, and improve system quality.
Role Duties and Responsibilities
Plan, organize, and conduct formal reviews, assessments, and assurance activities
across complex projects.
Evaluate systems and processes to identify non-compliance with organizational
standards.
Investigate root causes of non-compliance and recommend corrective actions.
Develop and maintain testing documentation, including:
o Master Test Plans
o Event Test Plans
o Test Cases
o Requirements Traceability Matrix (RTM)
o Test Reports
Review and provide assurance for testing artefacts, including Requirements
Traceability Matrices.
Manage the planning, coordination, execution, and reporting of Verification and
Validation (V&V) activities.
Provide independent verification for projects delivered by external contractors.
Support operational acceptance testing and work closely with operational users.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders throughout the
testing lifecycle.
Ensure testing activities are completed in accordance with project requirements,
quality standards, and assurance processes.
Essential Skills, Experience and Certifications
Skills
Strong knowledge of Verification and Validation (V&V) methodologies.
Test planning, execution, and reporting.
Functional, non-functional, and interoperability testing.
Requirements traceability management.
Root cause analysis and compliance assessment.
Risk-based testing and test prioritization.
Independent verification and assurance practices.
Ability to analyse hardware and software architecture documentation.
Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Leadership and team coordination skills.
Experience preparing clear technical documentation and executive summaries.
Experience
Minimum 5 years' recent experience leading Verification & Validation (V&V)
planning and execution for large and complex projects.
Demonstrated experience authoring or leading Master Test Plans and Event Test
Plans.
Minimum 3 years' recent experience designing and executing functional, non-
functional, and interoperability testing.
Experience defining test strategies, success criteria, and managing end-to-end testing
activities.
Experience managing external stakeholders, contractors, and project teams.
Experience independently verifying externally delivered project work.
Experience working with virtualized and cloud environments (e.g., VMware, AWS,
Azure, or on-premises virtualization).
Experience using test management, defect management, and requirements
management tools (e.g., Jira, Zephyr, HP ALM, DOORS, Azure DevOps, TestRail, or
similar).
Team leadership experience, including leading testers, quality engineers, or
development teams.
Education
Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Software
Engineering, Systems Engineering, or another related discipline.
Certifications
Preferred
ISTQB Advanced or Expert Level Certification (or equivalent advanced testing
certification).
Desirable
Experience working within NATO or military environments.
Experience with assurance frameworks, compliance assessments, and audit processes.
Experience performing interoperability testing in NATO environments.
Language
English
Working Location
Location: The Hague, Netherlands
Work Arrangement: Hybrid
Approximately 75% on-site at NCIA premises.
Flexible home working is available when operationally required.
Working Policy
Employment Type: Full-time Contract
Contract Duration: 14 September 2026 – 30 December 2026
Total Contract Hours: 550 hours
Hybrid working arrangement with approximately 75% on-site
attendance.
Work performed at NCIA premises in The Hague, with flexibility to work
remotely when required.
Must maintain a valid NATO Secret security clearance throughout the
contract.
Travel
Some travel to other NATO sites may be required
Security Clearance
Valid NATO Secret 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.
