Navigation Domain, SME

The Navigation Domain Subject Matter Expert (SME) serves as the senior technical authority for the FAA Navigation Domain leading a team of Architects and Systems Engineers to define the FAA vision for navigation modernization and translate it into actionable Enterprise Architecture capability roadmaps and implementation-ready designs.

This role requires deep expertise with FAA navigation systems and technologies including legacy and modernized capabilities such as VOR DME ILS and performance-based navigation (PBN) foundations such as RNAV GPS WAAS and GBAS. The SME ensures navigation architectures remain interoperable resilient safety-oriented and integrated with surveillance automation communications and operational constraints.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the principal Navigation Domain advisor to FAA leadership and program stakeholders for navigation modernization strategy enterprise architecture and technical governance.
• Lead an integrated team of Architects and Systems Engineers to develop navigation domain architectures reference designs and transition strategies aligned to FAA priorities and NAS operational needs.
• Define the Navigation Domain Vision-to-Execution blueprint including target-state architecture transition states and migration sequencing that preserves operational continuity and reduces safety/operational risk.
• Own the navigation enterprise design across ground-based navigation aids and satellite-based augmentation capabilitiesensuring coherent integration of VOR/DME/ILS with RNAV/GPS/WAAS/GBAS-enabled operations and supporting services.
• Drive navigation service architecture and interoperability including interface definitions performance requirements (availability integrity continuity accuracy) monitoring and alignment with NAS operational and safety expectations.
• Establish and chair domain-level architecture governance including design reviews reference patterns standards profiles interface control discipline and technical debt management.
• Coordinate cross-domain integration with surveillance automation telecommunications cybersecurity infrastructure/platform and test & evaluation teams to ensure designs are secure deployable supportable and verifiable.
• Lead technical trade studies and modernization planning evaluating nav-aid rationalization strategies PBN enablement dependencies transition options resiliency patterns and lifecycle sustainment considerations.
• Guide operational suitability and sustainment alignment ensuring architecture accounts for siting constraints flight inspection/monitoring considerations (as applicable) maintenance windows spares/logistics and continuity-of-operations needs.
• Mentor and develop senior technical staff building consistent engineering rigor traceability and architectural coherence across a complex multi-stakeholder environment.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 16 years with BS/BA or Minimum of 14 years with MS/MA
• Bachelors degree in Systems Engineering Electrical Engineering Aerospace/Aviation Engineering Computer Science or a related discipline (or equivalent experience).
• 12 years of experience in enterprise/system architecture navigation systems engineering avionics integration or technical leadership on large-scale mission-critical programs (aviation defense or similarly regulated environments).
• Hands-on FAA Navigation Domain experience is required including strong familiarity with one or more of:
• Demonstrated experience leading technical teams (architects/engineers) delivering enterprise architecture and domain designs across multiple stakeholders.
• Strong systems engineering foundation: requirements development interface definition/ICDs configuration management design reviews and verification/validation planning.
• Working knowledge of mission/safety-critical engineering considerations (availability integrity continuity redundancy graceful degradation and operational continuity).
• Ability to communicate complex tradeoffs clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders including executive briefings and decision support.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust (or higher) as required by the program.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters degree (or higher) in a relevant discipline.
• Familiarity with PBN modernization dependencies and how navigation services integrate with surveillance automation and procedure development/execution ecosystems.
• Experience with navigation performance monitoring/assurance concepts (e.g. service monitoring anomaly detection operational impact assessment).
• Experience with architecture frameworks and artifacts (e.g. DoDAF TOGAF operational views interface views standards profiles roadmaps).
• Understanding of cybersecurity and resilience considerations for navigation-supporting systems and their interfaces (segmentation identity/access controls secure interfaces telemetry/logging supply chain considerations).
• Experience with digital engineering / MBSE methods and tools (e.g. SysML Cameo Enterprise Architect DOORS or equivalent).
• Relevant certifications (one or more): INCOSE ASEP/CSEP PMP or equivalent.

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