Principal Technician

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https://nato.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?lang=en&job=180183

 

Principal Technician-180183

 

Primary Location Netherlands-The Hague

Other Locations Belgium-Mons

NATO Body NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency)

Schedule Full-time

Salary (Pay Basis) : 4,297.62Euro (EUR) Monthly

Grade B.5

 

 

Description

:  

Do you have experience as a tester or independent verification and validation engineer, during all phases of the project lifecycle? Are you an independent user of test and test management tools such as HP ALM, IBM Rational, TestRail or similar?

 

Then please read more about the role below, and apply!  

 

Role responsibilities

 

The Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) Service Line is part of the Service Strategy Directorate. IV&V is responsible for ensuring that all NCI Agency services have gone through the required test, verification and validation to assure that they are fit for purpose and use and that they are interoperable as required.  To execute this responsibility, IV&V maintains all reference facilities, coordinates test plans/schedules with other service lines, executes V&V and interoperability activities that are part of agreed test plans, lead IV&V activities during projects and programmes, conducts validation activities during military exercises, operates and maintains collaboration portals and evaluates service changes prior to deployment.

The Independent Verification and Validation Facilities section is responsible for the provision and management of all facilities and infrastructure related to verification, validation, change evaluation, experimentation and simulation. Particular services, external to the Agency, are provided through networks like Combined Federated Battle Laboratories Network (CFBL Net) as the operational model, such as coalition IV&V, multilateral testing through exercises, and bilateral testing with individual Nations where required.

 

The successful candidate under the direction of the Section Head, IV&V Test will perform duties such as: 

• Perform testing in support of projects, exercises and interoperability events by:
  • Reviewing test plans and test cases.
  • Supporting project and event stakeholders in the preparation leading up to a test event.
  • Participating in unit, system and integration testing with design and build teams when necessary.
  • Performing compatibility, inter-operability and any other testing in support of change evaluation.
  • Producing test reports and updating data contained within test management tools.
  • Assisting NATO Quality Assurance Representatives in the production of Quality Assurance reports.
• Support system administrators of test and reference systems with the specification and implementation of these environments as required by projects and events.
• Provide recommendations to IV&V SL Managers regarding improvements/lessons-learned as they apply to testing, change evaluation and test practices;
• Maintain the necessary documentation and audit trail of all activities conducted;
• Contribute to NATO and the Agency’s IV&V strategy, policies and plans, and execution;
• Participate in the evaluation and procurement process for test management tools.
• Assist with the recruitment of staff for the IV&V Service Line as required;
• Deputize for higher grade staff, if required;
• Performs other duties as may be required.

 

Person specification

 

Qualifications required:

 

The ideal candidate will have Higher Secondary education and have completed advanced higher level vocational training in Electronics Engineering or Information Systems related discipline; leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation, to include a two year college diploma or degree in Electronics Engineering or Information Systems related discipline.

 

Experience required:

 

You will have 8 years relevant experience with:

• Experience as a tester or independent verification and validation engineer, during all phases of the project lifecycle;
• Experience using test and test management tools such as HP ALM, IBM Rational, TestRail or similar;
• Experience configuring and using Windows and Unix;
• Experience with virtualization technologies;
• Knowledge of networking.

The following will be considered as an advantage: 

• ISTQB Certification;
• Experience with MS-Exchange and SharePoint;
• Experience in the implementation of ITIL Service Management;
• Prior experience of working in an international environment comprising both military and civilian element;
• Knowledge of NATO responsibilities and organization, including ACO and ACT.

Competencies required:

 

We are looking for a person who demonstrates the following behavioural competencies:

 

Adapting and Responding to Change - Adapts to changing circumstances; tolerates ambiguity; accepts new ideas and change initiatives; adapts interpersonal style to suit different people or situations; shows an interest in new experiences.

Working with People - Shows respect for the views and contributions of other team members; shows empathy; listens, supports and cares for others; consults others and shares information and expertise with them; builds team spirit and reconciles conflict; adapts to the team and fits in well.

Achieving Personal Work Goals and Objectives - Accepts and tackles demanding goals with enthusiasm; works hard and puts in longer hours when it is necessary; seeks progression to roles of increased responsibility and influence; identifies own development needs and makes use of developmental or training opportunities.

Coping with Pressures and Setbacks - Maintains a positive outlook at work; works productively in a pressurised environment; keeps emotions under control during difficult situations; handles criticism well and learns from it; balances the demands of a work life and a personal life.

Learning and Researching - Rapidly learns new tasks and commits information to memory quickly; demonstrates an immediate understanding of newly presented information; gathers comprehensive information to support decision making; encourages an organisational.

Delivering Results and Meeting Customer Expectations - Focuses on customer needs and satisfaction; sets high standards for quality and quantity; monitors and maintains quality and productivity; works in a systematic, methodical and orderly way; consistently achieves project goals.

 

Languages 

Most of the work of the NCI Agency is conducted in the English language, and therefore a thorough knowledge of English, both written and spoken, is essential and some knowledge of other NATO language is desirable. 

Travel

 

Business travel to NATO and national (NATO and non-NATO) facilities as well as travel between NCI Agency locations. May be required to undertake duty travel to operational theatres inside and outside NATO boundaries.

May have to be deployed to operational theater up to 180 days.

 

Contract

 

NCI Agency normally offers contracts of employment of a definite duration, not exceeding three years. Contracts may be for less than three years as required to support short-term projects, meet uncertainty with respect to the business outlook, staff performance and other factors.

 

Definite duration contracts may be extended for further periods. When extending contracts, the following is taken into consideration:

• Renewal is in the interest of the Agency.
• Staff member's desire to remain with the Agency.
• The financial situation provides sufficient funding for the post held.
• The skills, competencies and behaviours, potential and work experience of the staff, versus the requirements of the Agency's work and/or availability of funding.
• Staff member has served the Agency with performance to the required standard as defined by the Agency,
• Staff member's deployability to operational theatre.

Serving civilian members of NATO will be offered a contract in accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations.

 

The first six months of definite duration contracts are a probationary period. During this period the staff member's work is assessed to ensure that he/she has the ability to carry out the duties of the post. At or before the end of the probationary period, the staff member will be notified in writing that the appointment is confirmed or terminated or, in exceptional cases, that the probationary period is extended.

 

What do we offer?

• Excellent (where eligible) expatriation household and children's allowances and additional privileges for expatriate staff. 
• Education allowance for children (where appropriate) and an excellent private health insurance scheme;
• Generous annual leave and home leave (if eligible).
• Retirement Pension Plan

To learn more about NCI Agency and our work, please visit our website. 

Please note: Due to the Agency’s transition into a new structure in the near future, this post may be subject to transfer to one of our other locations, as well as to a change of reporting lines. The final decision will be made at the time of a firm offer.

The Agency’s recruitment team advises you that due to the large volume of applications it receives the screening process may take up to 2 months. 

We appreciate your patience.