Operations and Exercises Network Engineer (Mons)

Operations and Exercises Network Engineer 

Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide advanced Level 3 support for complex enterprise and mission-critical network environments.
• Lead the technical resolution of high-priority and high-severity network incidents.
• Perform root cause analysis of recurring network issues and implement long-term corrective solutions.
• Identify opportunities to optimize network services and improve operational efficiency.
• Contribute to the design, planning, implementation, and lifecycle management of enterprise network infrastructure.
• Ensure network changes are technically sound, operationally ready, and executed with minimal service disruption.
• Validate and support network changes in accordance with change management and governance processes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional technical teams, external partners, and service stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate network documentation, technical procedures, and operational knowledge bases.
• Perform remote maintenance activities for Routing and Switching infrastructure across NATO sites.
• Coordinate Routing and Switching standardization, centralization, and best practices across multiple locations.
• Liaise with internal NCI Agency teams and external organizations to resolve infrastructure faults.
• Develop, maintain, and improve Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Design, configure, maintain, and support routing infrastructure for NATO operations and exercise environments.
• Evaluate network management tools and operational capabilities.
• Promote consistent utilization of network management tools across centralized and distributed environments.
• Investigate complex equipment and configuration issues and recommend long-term improvements.
• Coordinate on-site surveys, infrastructure validations, and system acceptance testing when required.
• Support configuration management, service transition, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with network security policies, operational standards, and best practices.

Requirements

Education

• Bachelor's degree from a nationally recognised university in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related discipline, with a minimum of 2 years of relevant post-degree experience.
• Alternatively, candidates without a university degree must demonstrate at least 8 years of progressive professional experience directly related to enterprise network engineering.

Professional Experience

• Minimum 8 years of progressive experience in complex enterprise network engineering environments.
• Extensive experience designing, implementing, and supporting large-scale enterprise network infrastructures.
• Proven experience supporting mission-critical and multi-domain network environments.
• Experience leading technical incident resolution and performing advanced troubleshooting.
• Experience designing and implementing routing and switching solutions for enterprise networks.
• Experience supporting NATO operations, military environments, or similarly complex international organizations is highly desirable.
• Experience with configuration management practices and tools.
• Experience preparing technical documentation, network designs, test plans, and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Experience performing site surveys, system validation, and acceptance testing.
• Experience with Service Transition and IT service management processes.
• Strong experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and external stakeholders.

Technical Knowledge

Strong expertise in enterprise networking technologies, including:

• BGP (iBGP, eBGP, Route Reflectors, Confederations, Communities, Policy Control, Route Filtering)
• MPLS
• IPv6 deployment and dual-stack environments
• OSPF
• IS-IS
• IP Multicast
• SD-WAN
• Policy-Based Routing
• Route Redistribution
• Route Aggregation and Summarization
• VRF
• MPLS Traffic Engineering

Advanced knowledge of switching and datacenter technologies, including:

• STP
• MSTP
• Rapid PVST
• EtherChannel
• LACP
• Cisco StackWise
• Virtual Stack
• Cisco Nexus NX-OS
• Spine-Leaf architectures
• VXLAN

Strong experience with:

• QoS design and implementation (CBWFQ, LLQ, WRED)
• Network monitoring and performance analysis
• Wireshark
• NetFlow
• SNMP
• Network automation and orchestration
• Python
• Ansible
• Terraform
• DevNet concepts
• API integrations
• Network programmability

Strong understanding of network security, including:

• ACLs
• Firewalls
• VPNs
• IPSec
• AAA
• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
• Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)
• Network hardening best practices

Knowledge of:

• Incident Management systems (e.g., BMC Remedy)
• Network Monitoring and Event Management platforms (preferably CA Spectrum)
• HP Network Automation or equivalent automation platforms
• ITIL Service Management framework
• Command and Control (C2) systems
• Service Transition processes

Certifications

Required

• Active Cisco CCNP Enterprise or CCNP Service Provider certification.

Desirable

• Active Cisco CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure, CCIE Routing & Switching, or CCIE Service Provider certification.

Skills

• Advanced analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Strong knowledge of enterprise routing, switching, and network architecture.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills in multinational environments.
• Ability to produce high-quality technical documentation.
• Results-driven with excellent organizational and planning skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities within mission-critical operational environments.

Desirable

• Experience working within NATO or other international military organizations.
• Knowledge of NATO organizational structure, ACO, ACT, and operational procedures.

Security Clearance

• Active NATO Secret security clearance.

Working Conditions

• Location: Mons, Belgium.
• Work arrangement: Full-time, on-site.
• Contract period: 17 August 2026 – 31 December 2026.
• Estimated workload: 1,000 hours.
• Working environment: Normal office conditions.
• Some work outside normal office hours may be required.
• Up to 50 days of duty travel (TDY) within Belgium per year.