Senior Infrastructure Engineer – VMware & Microsoft

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.

Senior Infrastructure Engineer – VMware & Microsoft

Role ID – RFQ 2026-0112 / CO-115786-AAS+

Role Background

The Senior Infrastructure Engineer – VMware & Microsoft will provide advanced technical engineering support for NATO's Deployable Communication and Information System (DCIS) environment at NCIA in Brunssum, Netherlands.

The role focuses on configuring, integrating, validating, maintaining, and supporting Core Services infrastructure used within NATO deployable CIS kits. The engineer will work across VMware virtualization, Microsoft infrastructure, Active Directory, Exchange, DNS, storage, backup, endpoint management, and related enterprise services.

The position supports the NATO Mission Iraq (NMI) environment and requires close coordination with NCIA personnel and other technical delivery teams to ensure systems are secure, fully integrated, tested, documented, and ready for operational deployment.

Role Duties and Responsibilities

• Configure Core Services components according to approved technical designs, security requirements, and NCIA standards.
• Integrate and validate Core Services with network infrastructure, Boundary Protection capabilities, and supporting management systems.
• Configure and prepare DCIS kits for operational deployment.
• Support deployment, configuration, validation, and operational readiness activities.
• Configure and verify systems within centralized management and monitoring tools.
• Maintain and update system and technical documentation to reflect configurations, changes, implemented solutions, and operational procedures.
• Support User Acceptance Testing (UAT).
• Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve Core Services infrastructure issues.
• Support continuous monitoring, maintenance, controlled service updates, and deployment activities.
• Ensure technical activities follow NATO/NCIA security, configuration management, and governance procedures.
• Identify technical risks, dependencies, and issues and escalate them when required.
• Participate in operational, technical, incident, problem, change, release, risk, and service review meetings.
• Identify opportunities for service optimization and continuous improvement.
• Track corrective and preventive actions through completion.
• Produce weekly progress reports and monthly service performance reports.
• Provide ad hoc technical reports when required.
• Maintain accurate, traceable, and auditable records of technical activities and system changes.
  
  

Essential Skills

• Strong experience implementing and maintaining VMware 6 infrastructure.
• In-depth knowledge of VMware technologies, including:

• VMware ESXi
• vSAN
• vRealize Operations
• NSX
• vSphere
• vSphere CLI scripting
• VMware Update Services

• Strong knowledge of storage technologies, including:

• vSAN
• iSCSI
• SAN environments
• HP MSA

• Strong knowledge of VEEAM Backup & Replication 9.x and VMware architectures.
• Strong Microsoft infrastructure administration experience, including:

• Windows Server 2012 R2
• Windows Server 2016
• Windows 10
• Exchange Server 2013/2016

• Strong experience implementing and administering Active Directory (AD)
• Experience managing:

• Active Directory
• Domain Trusts
• Exchange Servers
• DNS
• Group Policy
• Endpoint Protection
• Software Update Services
• Experience managing DNS domains and DNS resolution.
• Strong client operating system and software troubleshooting skills.
• Experience deploying Microsoft SCCM
• Knowledge of McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator.
• Knowledge of BlackBerry Enterprise Server
• Strong understanding of server, storage, and network infrastructure.
• Strong analytical and technical problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and within multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain complex technical matters.
• English proficiency of at least NATO STANAG 6001 SLP 3333.
• In-depth practical understanding of NATO Command structures, roles, and organizational context.
• In-depth practical knowledge of NATO Enterprise Architecture and DCIS services across OSI Layers 1–7.

Experience

At least 3 years of experience is required across the specified technical areas, including:

• VMware infrastructure implementation and maintenance.
• VMware vSphere, ESXi, vSAN, NSX, vRealize Operations, and related technologies.
• Data storage technologies such as vSAN, iSCSI, SAN, and HP MSA.
• VEEAM Backup & Replication and VMware architectures.
• Microsoft Windows Server and Windows client administration.
• Microsoft Exchange Server.
• Active Directory and Domain Trust administration.
• DNS and Group Policy Management.
• SCCM architecture deployment.
• Endpoint protection and software update services.
• BlackBerry Enterprise Server environments.

Desirable Experience

At least 3 years of experience in the following areas is desirable:

• Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT).
• Microsoft Remote Desktop Services (RDS).
• McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator 5.1.3 or later.
• Server, storage, and networking hardware.
• HP Blade Server products and HP rack-based servers.
• Network protocols and network management technologies

Certifications

• CompTIA A+ or equivalent qualification is required.
• The following CompTIA A+ versions:
• Pre-2019: Core 1 (220-1001) and Core 2 (220-1002)
• Post-2019: Core 1 (220-1101) and Core 2 (220-1102)

Working Location

Brunssum, Netherlands – NCIA

Working Policy

• Primarily on-site at NCIA Brunssum, Netherlands.
• Normal working hours:

• Monday–Thursday: 08:30–17:30 CET
• Friday: 08:30–15:30 CET

• Night work may occasionally be required for operational reasons and will be planned with NCIA in advance.
• Travel to other NCIA locations in Europe may be required.
• Approximately one trip per month is anticipated, normally not exceeding 5 days.
• The contractor is responsible for normal travel arrangements and associated costs as specified in the SOW.
• NCIA will provide access to necessary tools, data, and NATO networks subject to security and authorization requirements.
• NATO COSMIC TOP SECRET security clearance is mandatory.
• Tentative start date: 15 September 2026.
• Initial duration: 2 months, with the possibility of extension depending on business needs and funding.

Travel

• Some travel to other NATO sites may be required

Security Clearance

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance