BACKGROUND

NATO offers you more than a job. It gives you a mission: building peace and security for one billion people in Europe and North America.

We are a unique multinational flying force with operational capability located at the NATO Airbase Geilenkirchen. With its 14 E-3A aircraft, our organization plays a critical role in NATO and our mission is to deliver ready, responsive Airborne Early Warning, Battle Management, and Command and Control capability to operational commanders in support of NAC-approved tasks.

The Mission Systems Engineering Centre (MSEC) provides industry standard system engineering and maintenance to the NAEW&CF for NE-3A on-board mission, sensor, and ground support systems using its on-site engineering facilities and test laboratories for testing, training and troubleshooting. 

The Engineering Assurance Branch is responsible for managing the project portfolio for quality assurance and configuration management related aspects.

The Engineer – Test Leader is responsible for planning, coaching or execution, and evaluation of all review and test tasks for at least onedomain / product in the context of a project.

To find out more about the background, please visit our Homepage https://awacs.nato.int/

THE ROLE

• Acting as Alternate Senior Engineer – Test Manager in the absence of the Senior Engineer – Test Manager.
• Setting up and maintaining master test plans for validation and verification of MSEC products.
• Contributing to the definition of the software safety objectives / goals, performing software safety hazard scenario assessments for the E-3A operational software or ensuring that they are carried out by Project Teams.
• Leading execution of integration and system level test activities.
• Reviewing unit level test plans, procedures and reports.
• Developing and implementing procedures to ensure adequate implementation of validation and verification concepts, adequate coverage of software safety issues.
• Ensuring test process usage.
• Reviewing test process compliance with regulatory framework.
• Conducting or supporting test process improvement cycles.
• Determining test readiness of products.
• Coaching and coordinating the project related work of test specialists.
• Reporting project and process metrics to quality system records.
• Monitoring test progress.
• Reporting test results, qualitative and quantitative.
• Contributing to the selection of test tools.
• Reviewing the implementation of test tools.
• Producing test scripts and procedures to test new and amended software.
• Interpreting, executing and documenting complex test scripts using agreed methods and standards.
• Reviewing test results and modifying tests if necessary.
• Producing reports on system quality and metrics on test cases.
• Coordinating and managing planning of the system and acceptance tests within a development project or programme and coordinates the execution of these.
• Implementing the test strategy for validation and verification for the project.
• Preparing and implementing the master test plan for validation and verification of a project.
• Advising system engineers / product managers and analysts on testability matters.
• Guiding project leaders for Quality Management System compliant implementation of verification and validation tasks into project plans.
• Defining and establishing a test automation strategy for the product.
• Analyzing test requirements based on change request.
• Evaluating test coverage of product requirements.
• Managing all risks associated with the testing and taking preventative action when any risks become unacceptable.
• Assessing and advising on the practicality of the testing process.
• Reviewing requirements definition and refinement for testability of Mission System Software changes to be developed by a contractor.
• Providing verification and validation assistance for industry-provided hardware, firmware and commercial-of-the-shelf software changes (system engineering).
• Providing verification and validation assistance and on-site support for weapon system improvement programmes.
• Conducting verification and validation reviews of contractor produced software packages.
• Providing analysis for determination of mission system performance.
• Creating and maintaining test scenarios to simulate mission system states and process flows.
• Performing ramp and in-flight software testing and evaluation on-board the E-3A.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• University Degree and 2 years function related experience, or Higher Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 4 years post related experience.
• 2 years of recent experience in software engineering of large-scale distributed software intensive transaction processing or management support systems (like management information-, decision support systems, etc).
• User level knowledge of computer system architectures, operating systems, client/server, LAN/WAN and network concepts.
• General up-to-date knowledge of software engineering related software life cycle models, methods, techniques, metrics and tools.
• Working level knowledge of hardware, firmware and operating system to work with (i.e. UNIX workstations, Solaris, PCs, Windows).
• Working knowledge of software configuration management, systematic testing and quality assurance.
• General knowledge of project management.
• Solid understanding of ISO 9001 requirements.
• 2 years recent experience of testing in practice.
• 1 year recent practical experience in testing of embedded and/or real-time systems.
• User level understanding and knowledge of system engineering and test requirements from ISO 12207 and ISO 15288.
• Expert level knowledge of systematic testing.
• User level knowledge of testing tools.
• User level knowledge about Industry standards of embedded and real-time systems.
• Adequate level of Automatic Data Procession (ADP) systems is essential.
• The work, both oral and written, in this post and in this Headquarters as a whole is conducted mainly in English. Consequently, adequate level of English proficiency is required.

THE FOLLOWING WOULD BE CONSIDERED AS AN ADVANTAGE

• Recent experience with design, development / sustainment of airborne IT systems from Aerospace Industry and/or military organizations.
• Certificate in systematic testing (e.g. ISTQB/ISEB Foundation , ISTQB Advanced Functional Tester / ISEB Practitioner Tester).
• Good understanding of hardware, firmware and software aspects of Airworthiness requirements from RTCA/DO 160, RTCA/DO 178,
• RTCA/DO 200, RTCA/DO 254.
• Good knowledge of relevant NATO policies and standards.
• Master`s degree (or equivalent) in a technical subject with substantial Information Technology (IT) content, and 2 years post related experience.
• Member of recognized professional institution or body.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

Please attach any documentation (proof of highest education, diplomas, certificates, testimonials etc.) that you consider to be particularly relevant to the qualification requirements specified in this advertisement.

CONTRACT

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

Newly recruited staff will be initially offered a definite duration contract of three years. Thereafter, an indefinite duration contract might be offered.

SALARY

Salary value indicated in this vacancy notice is based on NATO`s Single Salary Spine scale.

WHAT DO WE OFFER?

• Excellent tax-free salary, including (where eligible) expatriation, family and children’s allowances and additional privileges for expatriate staff; 
• Education allowance for children (where applicable) and an excellent private health insurance scheme; 
• Generous annual leave and home leave (if eligible); 
• Retirement Pension Plan.

TEST/INTERVIEW

Our recruitment team will provide further guidance for invited candidates.

IMPORTANT REMARK

Please note that due to the large volume of applications, the screening process may take up to 2 months after closing date. We appreciate your patience.