For more than 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) is NATO’s technology and cyber hub. We are a team of 3400 civilian and military staff, working together to connect all corners of NATO and maintain its edge from 30 locations across the Alliance.

We are a key partner in NATO's Digital Transformation, working hand in hand with industry to provide technical solutions and expertise, facilitating political consultations and decision-making, and enabling multi-domain operations.

Our experts provide secure static and deployable communications infrastructure, satellite communications and information technology services, connected the Alliance’s forces, and strengthening NATO’s defence and deterrence posture. Fulfilling NCIA’s missions is possible because of our greatest force, our people. In order to reinforce NATO’s 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 NCIA, you will be part of an organization where you can contribute authentically to the mission and purpose of NATO and help us ensure seamless connectivity among Allied partner nations.

About the Program

The NCIA internship is a 6-month program based at one of our key hubs in The Netherlands, Belgium or Portugal. Our internship opportunities start from either 1 March or 1 September with the start date being dependent on the timeline to secure the required security clearance to work within the NATO community. During an internship, you will join and support a diverse international team and simultaneously learn from our experts via on-the-job training, working independently on purposeful projects or initiatives during your tenure.

About the Internship

Internship duration: 6 months

Location: The Hague, Netherlands

The NATO Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is responsible for planning and executing all lifecycle management activities for cyber security. In execution of this responsibility, it provides specialist cyber security-related services covering the spectrum of scientific, technical, acquisition, operations, maintenance, and sustainment support. NCSC provides services in the specialist security areas such as: CIS Security, Cyber Defence, Information Assurance, Computer Security and Communications Security.

This internship supports the NATO Cyber Security Innovation Team in designing, managing, and rebuilding connectivity labs across physical, virtual, and logical network layers. The role involves setting up secure networks, configuring routers and switches, and experimenting with emerging technologies such as IoT devices and wireless systems including 5G. You will work hands-on with network emulators, simulators, automated tooling, and AI-assisted configuration generation, documentation, and troubleshooting. The intern is expected to approach problems autonomously while collaborating with team members when needed. Fluency in English, strong practical problem-solving skills, and enthusiasm for exploring modern networking technologies are essential.

About you:

The valuable knowledge and experience that you bring to this role is:

Information security: Applies and maintains specific security controls as required by organisational policy and local risk assessments. Communicates security risks and issues to business managers and others. Performs basic risk assessments for small information systems. Contributes to the identification of risks that arise from potential technical solution architectures. Suggests alternate solutions or countermeasures to mitigate risks. Defines secure systems configurations in compliance with intended architectures. Supports investigation of suspected attacks and security breaches.

Network design: Specifies the technical configurations and components required for a small network or a network segment in a more complex infrastructure. Follows organisational architectures and standards.

Network support: Contributes to the operational configuration of network components. Assists in the investigation and resolution of network problems. Assists with specified maintenance procedures.

Behavioural Competencies

· Deciding & Initiating Action: Takes responsibility for actions, projects and people; takes initiative and works under own direction; initiates and generates activity and introduces changes into work processes; makes quick, clear decisions which may include tough choices or considered risks

· Creating & Innovating: Produces new ideas, approaches, or insights; creates innovative products or designs; produces a range of solutions to problems

· Relating & Networking: Easily establishes good relationships with customers and staff; relates well to people at all levels; builds wide and effective networks of contacts; uses humour appropriately to bring warmth to relationships with others

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to apply for our internship program, you will need to meet the following criteria:

· You are a national of a NATO member country

· You are currently studying towards a university-level degree or have recently graduated in the past 12 months

• A thorough knowledge of one of the two NATO languages, both written and spoken, is essential and some knowledge of the other is desirable. NOTE: Most of the work of the NCIA is conducted in the English language

We also request that you please attach the following documents to your application form:

· Copy of the university degree you have completed and/or

· Proof of ongoing studies with the dates clearly mentioned if you are still studying

Application Process:

The application process for an internship at NCIA is:

1. Apply via the NCIA Careers site by 23:59 CET Sunday 8^th March 2026

2. If selected to progress to the first stage evaluation this will consists of a variety logic, numeracy and behavioral gamified exercises in addition to on-demand video questions aligned to the requirements of the internship

3. Virtual interviews will take place in the months of March and April

4. Conditional offer to be presented to successful candidates by early May

Compensation

Netherlands

You will be compensated at a fixed taxable rate of 1,477.30 EUR per month, based on 38 hours of work per week and for reasonable travel expenses to start on day 1 and to return to your home location once the internship is complete.

Thank you for your patience while we consider your application. To learn more about NCIA and our work, please visit our website.

Future Opportunities

In support of the NCIA strategy to hire, train and retain exceptional talent the NCIA Internship Programme embeds a performance management process throughout the 6 month internship to provide high performing interns with the opportunity to continue their internship experience after their internship is successfully completed in a paid post at G8 equivalent at the duty location for 6 months to a maximum of 24 months. There is no guarantee that the internship can transfer to an Internship Temporary Personnel (ITP) as the funding is aligned to business priorities and objectives.

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.