NATO Internship - International Military Staff, NATO Digital Staff

Are you eager to learn more about NATO’s Digitalisation Efforts for the Alliance? Do you to contribute to strategic decisions that will influence NATO operations and exercises across a wide range of information communication technology (ICT) areas? Or perhaps you’re passionate about cyber security, cyberspace operations, information assurance, and cutting-edge technologies? If so, this internship is the one for you!

NATO is currently seeking dynamic, driven interns to join the NATO Digital Staff (NDS). The NDS is the integrated civilian and military team at the heart of the NATO’s Digital Transformation and Cyber Defence. As part of the NDS, you will work alongside subject matter experts who provide the highest quality advice, policy and leadership to ensure the Alliance's technological edge, enable data-driven decision making and release the potential of Multi-Domain Operations.​

The NDS provides support and advice to both the military and civilian bodies in the NATO Headquarters and has a lead role in shaping NATO’s Digital Transformation.

In this exciting role, you will:

·       Hone your research and drafting skills while preparing for high-level meetings or supporting the creation of strategies that directly influence NATO’s digital advancements;

·       Work alongside NATO civil and military staff and collaborate with a diverse range of stakeholders including national delegations, industry experts and academia;

·       Contribute to the development of NATO’s Cyber Defence strategies, advancements in NATO’s digital capabilities, and more.

The NDS is recruiting Interns in the following branches:

Section 1: Digital Strategy and Policy Branch (DSP): is the lead branch for NATO Digital Transformation, orchestrates the development of Alliance digital strategies and policies – including compliance monitoring - conducts strategic foresight analysis and oversees the coherent application of architectural expertise and methodologies across NATO.

Section 2: Digital Operations and Transformation Branch (DOT): facilitates the implementation of key digital strategies and policies. This is driven by a clear focus on Alliance Operations and Mission in order to realise the full potential of multi-domain operations by benefitting from Digital Transformation and Digital Innovation efforts. Furthermore, DOT supports the delivery of governance and the portfolio management of programmes and projects delivering digital transformation, and verifies the related compliance for the relevant initiatives.

Section 3: Digital Standardization and Interoperability (DSI) is an integrated civil/military team of international experts who lay the foundations for secure information/data sharing and data-driven decision making in military operations. Within the NDS, the DSI team provides subject matter expertise in C4ISR, standardization, enterprise and business architecture, software engineering, AI/ML, semantic interoperability, data management, data centric security, IT/Cloud services and specialized military communications services,. (e.g. voice and data services, applicable to cellular, line of sight, beyond line of sight and satellite communications).

What do we offer?

• A 6-month traineeship at NATO Headquarters, in Brussels, starting in March / September 2026. 
• A full-time traineeship (38 hours a week).
• A monthly grant of €1,286.09 and a travel reimbursement upon joining and leaving the organisation.
• Teleworking subject to business requirements.
• A rich programme of activities, attending regular events and participating in meetings with several stakeholders.
• NATO HQ Staff Centre which promotes employee well-being and foster a healthy work environment (click here for more info, special membership price for NATO interns)

Selection Criteria

Please note that you can apply for up to three (3) different vacancies!

Apply until 22 June 2025 at 23.59, Brussels time.

Essential:

The candidate must:

1.       be a national of a NATO member state,

2.       be at least 21 years old,

3.       have at least two years of university level studies OR equivalent education OR be currently a student OR a recent graduate (degree obtained no longer than 12 months ago),

4.       have proficiency in one of the two official NATO languages (English/French).

Desirable:

The following criteria will be considered an advantage:

1.       have a Bachelor's degree or in the final stage of a Master’s degree relevant to the requested area of expertise,

2.       elementary knowledge of the second official NATO language (English/French),

3.       be an advance user of IT tools including Microsoft Office, SharePoint;

4.       previous experience with other international organizations, national administration, research or industry.

Competencies required:

The candidate must demonstrate the following competencies:

·       Achievement: Works to meet standards.

·       Analytical thinking: Breaks down problems and see basic relationships.

·       Clarity and accuracy: Shows general concern for order and clarity, and checks own work.

·       Customer service orientation: Responds appropriately, maintains clear communication.

·       Empathy: Listens actively.

·       Flexibility: Acts with flexibility.

·       Initiative: Reacts to short-term opportunities or problems.

·       Organizational awareness: Understands the Organization’s structure.

·       Teamwork: Cooperates, shares information and knowledge freely, offering support and cooperation.

Our Values:

NATO is committed to diversity and inclusion, and strives to provide equal access to employment, advancement and retention, independent of gender, age, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, cultural background, sexual orientation, and disability. NATO welcomes applications of nationals from all member Nations, and strongly encourages women and candidates living with disability to apply.

NATO is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible working environment, where all candidates living with disabilities can fully participate in the recruitment and selection process. If you require reasonable accommodation, please inform us during your selection process. Candidates will be required to provide documented medical evidence to support their request for accommodation.  

Building Integrity is a key element of NATO’s core tasks. As an employer, NATO values commitment to the principles of integrity, transparency and accountability in accordance with international norms and practices established for the defence and related security sector. Selected candidates are expected to be role models of integrity, and to promote good governance through ongoing efforts in their work.

Special Notice:

In order for the Internship Office to assess your eligibility for the Internship Programme, please attach the following documents:

1.       Copy of university qualifications you have completed and/or

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

We prefer that these documents are in one of the NATO official languages (English or French). If you don’t have these documents in English or French, please attach a self translation.

Please ensure that all information is complete and accurate before submitting your application.

Please note that the application cannot be updated after the relevant deadline. 

The pool of candidates will be available to all NATO IS / IMS Divisions, Offices and NATO Bodies in case there is a need for a similar profile.

Due to the broad interest in NATO and the large number of potential candidates, telephone or e-mail enquiries cannot be dealt with.

Read more about the Internship Programme, including terms and conditions, and what we offer at our website.

Kindly note that NATO will not accept any phase of the recruitment and selection prepared, in whole or in part, by means of generative artificial-intelligence (AI) tools, including and without limitation to chatbots, such as Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (Chat GPT), or other language generating tools. NATO reserves the right to screen applications to identify the use of such tools. All applications prepared, in whole or in part, by means of such generative or creative AI applications may be rejected without further consideration at NATO’s sole discretion, and NATO reserves the right to take further steps in such cases as appropriate.