Principal Solution Engineer - CBRN, Land C2 and Ops Planning

The Principal Solution Engineer will support NATO's mission by translating capability requirements into implementation plans, designs, and development activities for CBRN, Land Command and Control, and Operations Planning capabilities. The role involves solution architecture, systems development management, and leadership in software project delivery within a multinational defence context.

Responsibilities

• Translate capability requirements into implementation plans, designs and development activities for CBRN, Land C2, and Ops Planning capabilities.
• Derive solution requirements and designs from capability requirements and architectures.
• Select, design and implement solutions to requirements within a given application domain and lead the evolution of these capabilities.
• Evaluate supplier’s technical solutions and manage selected interfaces of that solution.
• Implement software development activities in a DevSecOps manner.
• Provide solution architecture, requirements definition and management, systems development management, network design, sourcing, contract management, product ownership and capability development.
• Apply military domain expertise and operational relevance to systems integration and software project leadership.
• Engage with industry and acquisition stakeholders.
• Provide leadership, communication, and governance within the team.

Requirements

• A minimum requirement of a master’s degree at a nationally recognised/certified university in a related discipline and at least 5 years post-related experience, or a Bachelor’s degree with at least 8 years of extensive and progressive expertise in duties related to the function of the post.
• Demonstrated experience acting as Product Owner, Product Manager or equivalent role for complex software systems, including managing roadmaps, backlogs, and stakeholder priorities across multiple concurrent development streams.
• Strong understanding of military planning processes or land operations, with practical experience applying this knowledge to capability development or operational support.
• Substantial experience working with command and control capabilities, including their architecture, integration, and operational use in joint or land-focused contexts.
• Proven ability to lead or significantly contribute to the delivery of complex software-based capabilities, from requirements capture through architecture, development, and fielding.
• Hands-on experience designing, evaluating, and integrating system architectures, with specific emphasis on interoperability, scalability, and security in federated or multinational environments.
• Demonstrated ability to understand software logic, architecture, and system behaviour, including working knowledge of programming principles and structured problem-solving.
• Ability to read and interpret code and contribute to solution development using at least one modern programming or scripting language at a basic level (e.g., Python, Java, C++, JavaScript).
• Understanding of relational or NoSQL database concepts, data models, and structured data representation relevant to system design and integration.
• Demonstrated ability to work closely with senior stakeholders, operational users, developers, and acquisition staff to translate strategic needs into technical solutions.
• Practical experience working with defence industry partners, including technical input to Statements of Work, proposal evaluations, and vendor oversight or similar experience as defence industry partner.
• Strong interpersonal skills with experience leading multi-disciplinary teams and delivering clear, effective communication across technical and non-technical audiences.
• ITIL Foundation certified or knowledge.
• Nice to have: Prior experience working within NATO, a national Ministry of Defence, or similar multinational defence environments, particularly in capability development or operational planning roles.
• Familiarity with agile methodologies (e.g., Scrum, SAFe) and experience applying them to software-intensive defence programmes.
• Involvement in concept development & experimentation (CD&E), field trials, or user validation exercises related to C2 systems or emerging capabilities.
• Exposure to or participation in the evaluation and integration of emerging technologies relevant to C4ISR, such as AI/ML, data fusion, or cloud-based C2.
• Understanding of NATO or national defence information assurance standards, interoperability profiles (e.g., NISP, MIP), and service-oriented architectures.
• Ability to understand and contribute to software development processes, with working knowledge of programming logic, data structures, algorithms, and version control practices.
• Solid understanding of relational and/or NoSQL databases, data modelling, schema design, and structured data management, particularly in the context of integrated information systems.
• Experience supporting capability acquisition programmes, including requirements definition, technical evaluations, and lifecycle cost considerations.
• Relevant certifications such as TOGAF, ITIL, SAFe, or equivalent in architecture, project management, or product ownership.

Skills

• Product Ownership
• Product Management
• Military Planning Processes
• Land Operations
• Command and Control Capabilities
• Systems Architecture
• System Integration
• Software Development Lifecycle
• Programming Principles
• Python
• Java
• C++
• JavaScript
• Relational Databases
• NoSQL Databases
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Defence Industry Collaboration
• ITIL Foundation
• Agile Methodologies
• Scrum
• SAFe
• Concept Development and Experimentation
• C4ISR Technologies
• AI and Machine Learning
• Data Fusion
• Cloud-based Command and Control
• Information Assurance Standards
• Interoperability Profiles
• Service-Oriented Architectures
• Version Control Systems
• Requirements Definition
• Technical Evaluation
• Lifecycle Cost Management
• TOGAF

Languages

English