Automation Domain, SME

The Automation Domain Subject Matter Expert (SME) serves as the senior technical authority for the FAA Automation Domain leading a team of Automation Architects and Systems Engineers to define the FAA vision for automation modernization and translate it into a coherent Enterprise Architecture capability roadmap and implementation-ready designs across the NAS.

This role is responsible for domain architecture leadership spanning core automation systems and their interoperability including (but not limited to) ERAM STARS and TBFM with strong emphasis on safety-critical engineering operational suitability integration dependencies and traceability from mission outcomes to technical decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the principal Automation Domain advisor to FAA leadership and BNATCS program management for automation modernization enterprise architecture and technical governance.
• Lead an integrated team of Automation Architects and Systems Engineers to produce automation domain architectures reference designs and transition strategies aligned to FAA priorities and NAS operational realities.
• Define the Automation Domain Vision-to-Execution blueprint including target-state architecture capability sequencing and migration approaches that minimize operational risk while enabling modernization.
• Own the Automation Domain enterprise design across en route terminal and flow/trajectory capabilitiesensuring interoperability among ERAM STARS TBFM and adjacent NAS systems services and data exchanges.
• Drive digital engineering and MBSE adoption to enable end-to-end traceability (requirements architecture design verification) and to improve repeatability across releases and sites.
• Establish and chair domain-level architecture governance including design reviews standards reference patterns interface alignment and technical debt management for automation capabilities.
• Coordinate cross-domain integration with cybersecurity safety infrastructure/platform data/telemetry and test & evaluation teams to ensure automation designs are deployable supportable and compliant.
• Ensure safety and mission assurance alignment integrating safety considerations (e.g. hazard awareness operational suitability service continuity) into architecture and engineering decisions for safety-critical environments.
• Lead vendor and integrator technical evaluations including architecture assessments integration approaches and design trade studies; provide recommendations that balance performance safety schedule and lifecycle cost.
• Mentor and develop senior technical staff strengthening engineering rigor architectural consistency and shared understanding of automation domain dependencies and operational constraints.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 16 years with BS/BA or Minimum of 14 years with MS/MA
• Bachelors degree in Systems Engineering Computer Science Electrical Engineering Aviation/Aerospace Engineering or a related discipline (or equivalent experience).
• 12 years of experience in enterprise/system architecture systems engineering or technical leadership on large-scale mission systems in FAA DoD or other federal environments.
• Deep hands-on FAA Automation Domain experience is required including strong familiarity with ERAM STARS and/or TBFM (architecture interfaces operations deployment/sustainment or modernization).
• Demonstrated experience leading technical teams (architects/engineers) delivering enterprise architecture and domain designs across multi-stakeholder environments.
• Working knowledge of NAS operational concepts and interdependencies (en route terminal flow/trajectory surveillance/flight data procedures and operational constraints).
• Experience with systems engineering rigor: requirements development interface definition configuration management design reviews and verification/validation planning.
• Exposure to digital engineering / MBSE methods and tools (e.g. SysML Cameo Enterprise Architect DOORS or equivalent).
• Strong executive communication skillsable to brief architecture tradeoffs risks and sequencing decisions to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• 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.
• Experience supporting FAA modernization programs (NextGen-era initiatives automation refresh integration deployment/sustainment).
• Experience with architecture frameworks and artifacts (e.g. DoDAF TOGAF operational views interface views roadmaps).
• Familiarity with agile delivery at scale and portfolio-level execution practices in complex safety-critical programs (e.g. SAFe/LPM concepts).
• Understanding of cybersecurity and resilience considerations for automation environments (segmentation identity logging/telemetry secure integration patterns) in regulated federal systems.

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