Who we are:
For 75 years, NATO’s mission has been to preserve peace and security in the Alliance for nearly one billion citizens. The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) and its predecessors have worked tirelessly in providing the means that enable the connectedness and togetherness that keep our Alliance strong. We are the NCIA, a team of 3000 civilian and military staff in 29 locations throughout Europe, North America and Asia.
Our technology and cyber experts allow NATO to conduct critical operations, protect NATO’s airspace, make data-driven decisions, defend against cyber-attacks, secure NATO networks and maintain superiority in space. This is all possible because of our greatest force, our people. In order to keep this edge we aim to hire, train and retain the very best staff.
Our staff members represent both the diversity and unity of our Alliance. When you join the NCIA, you will be part of an organization where you can contribute authentically to the mission and purpose of NATO and help us keep our technological edge.
About the job:
Based in Brussels, Belgium you will join the NCIA as we embark on a journey to transform our IT services to support NATO’s Digital Endeavour. You will join the Cloud Centre of Excellence (CCoE) within the Chief Technology Office (CTO.) The Cloud Centre of Excellence plays a crucial role in ensuring that NATO Enterprises' objectives are met through the effective use of cloud computing technology. The CCoE is responsible for defining and managing the factors that drive decision-making for public, private, and hybrid cloud scenarios. It also manages a management framework for consuming cloud technical services, evaluates and selects vendor/service provider offerings, and develops a cloud FinOps strategy for cloud technical service chargeback and billing. Additionally, the CCoE establishes architecture standards for cloud-based applications to reduce technical debt and foster reuse, defines procedures, processes, and tooling for cloud-based application and infrastructure solution architecture, application and infrastructure development, and legacy renovation.
We are looking for a driven and enthusiastic Principal Architect (Cloud) who will take on the following roles and responsibilities:
• Leads the creation and review of a systems capability strategy that meets the strategic requirements of the business.
• Sets cloud strategies, policies, standards and practices to ensure compliance between business strategies, technology strategies, and enterprise transformation activities.
• Lead the migration of on-premises applications and infrastructure to the cloud, ensuring minimal disruption to business operations.
• Evaluate and select cloud service providers that meet the organization's requirements for security, compliance, performance, and cost-effectiveness.
• Develop and implement cloud governance policies and procedures to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including IT, security, finance, and business units, to ensure successful cloud adoption and integration.
• Monitor and optimize cloud usage and costs, identifying opportunities for cost savings and efficiency improvements.
• Stay up-to-date with emerging cloud technologies and trends, and provide thought leadership and guidance to the organization on cloud-related matters.
• Ensure the organization's cloud infrastructure is secure, resilient, and scalable, and that disaster recovery and business continuity plans are in place.
For a full list of duties, please review the job description on the NCI Agency career site.
About you:
The valuable knowledge and experience that you bring to this role are:
• A Master’s degree at a nationally recognised/certified university in a related discipline and 5 years post-related experience. Or a Bachelor’s degree with 8 years post related experience.
• Strong understanding of cloud computing concepts, architectures, and technologies, including Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS).
• Experience with cloud service providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP), including knowledge of their respective offerings, pricing models, and service level agreements (SLAs).
• Knowledge of cloud security and compliance requirements, including data privacy, encryption, access controls, and regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS).
• Experience with cloud migration methodologies and tools, including assessment, planning, and execution of migration projects.
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage timelines and budgets, and communicate effectively with stakeholders.
• Experience with cloud governance frameworks and best practices, including cost optimization, resource allocation, and performance monitoring.
• Knowledge of emerging cloud technologies and trends, such as serverless computing, containerization, and hybrid cloud architectures.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify and resolve complex technical issues related to cloud adoption and integration.
• Fluency in English, both written and spoken
What we offer:
• Genuinely meaningful work as part of the most successful alliance in history;
• Initial 5 year contract with competitive tax-free salary and household and children’s allowances;
• Privileges for expatriate staff including expatriation and education allowances (where appropriate) and additional home leave;
• Excellent private health insurance scheme;
• Generous annual leave of 30 days plus official holidays;
• NATO Pension Scheme;
• Development programs such as professional training, wellbeing, and more
To learn more about NCIA and our work, please visit our website.
The NCIA prides itself on being an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment of mutual respect and value uniqueness and differences in gender, gender identity, race, ethnic or cultural origin, age, religion, sexual orientation and physical or neurocognitive ability.
Additional details on the conditions of application can be found via the NCIA career site.