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 capabilities—ensuring 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
• Bachelor’s 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 skills—able 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

• Master’s 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.