Technical Lead - Digital Twin Research and Aviation Modeling

 Peraton Labs is seeking a Technical Lead to directly support digital twin research and development efforts within the BNATCS CTO organization by helping shape, coordinate, and execute technical efforts related to aviation digital twins, NAS modeling and simulation, data integration, and future-state airspace modernization analysis. Within this role you will help ensure digital twin efforts are not just technically sophisticated, but also usable, explainable, operationally relevant, and aligned to the long-term modernization of the National Airspace System.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong combination of aviation domain knowledge, modeling and simulation experience, systems engineering judgment, and technical leadership. This person will help translate FAA modernization needs into executable digital twin concepts, simulation requirements, analytical products, and technical roadmaps that support BNATCS planning, validation, and decision-making.

This role is intended for a senior technical leader who can work with aviation SMEs, systems engineers, data scientists, AI/ML engineers, software teams, program leadership, and FAA stakeholders to ensure digital twin efforts are technically credible, operationally relevant, and aligned to FAA BNATCS mission objectives.

Key responsibilities may include:

• Help lead technical planning and execution of digital twin research efforts supporting BNATCS CTO objectives
• Support the development of digital twin concepts, architectures, use cases, and technical roadmaps for NAS modernization
• Assist with adapting Peraton Labs’ agentic AI and digital twin capabilities to BNATCS program needs
• Define modeling and simulation requirements based on FAA operational needs, system engineering objectives, safety considerations, and stakeholder priorities
• Guide the design of digital twin capabilities representing NAS elements such as airspace operations, surveillance, communications, facilities, ground systems, procedures, and human-in-the-loop considerations
• Establish model interoperability approaches, data exchange expectations, model fidelity guidance, and integration patterns across digital twin and simulation environments
• Work with data, AI/ML, software, and systems engineering teams to identify and integrate required data sources, data dependencies, model inputs, outputs, assumptions, and validation methods
• Evaluate how digital twin environments can support operational analysis, system validation, technology insertion, facility modernization, outage analysis, resilience planning, and future NAS concept evaluation
• Identify technical risks, dependencies, integration challenges, sequencing concerns, and capability gaps associated with digital twin development
• Translate complex simulation results, model outputs, and analytical findings into clear, actionable insights and products for technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Evaluate emerging tools, technologies, vendor capabilities, open-source solutions, and Peraton Labs R&D efforts for potential application to digital twin research and development
• Ensure digital twin efforts align with BNATCS program objectives, Model-Based Systems Engineering practices, CTO advanced analytics initiatives, and FAA stakeholder needs

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 16+ years of experience, Master’s degree with 14+ years, or 10+ years with a PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Operations Research, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field
• 7+ years of relevant experience in aviation systems, aerospace systems, modeling and simulation, digital twins, systems engineering, advanced analytics, or complex technical integration
• Demonstrated experience leading or contributing to modeling, simulation, digital twin, or system-of-systems analytical environments
• Strong understanding of aviation operations, air traffic management, NAS systems, FAA operations, aerospace modernization, or related complex operational environments
• Experience translating operational needs, stakeholder questions, or system constraints into technical requirements, simulation approaches, analytical methods, or research plans
• Familiarity with model fidelity tradeoffs, simulation validation, data integration, technical architecture development, and model interoperability concepts
• Ability to identify technical risks, integration dependencies, assumptions, limitations, and validation requirements for complex analytical or simulation-based efforts
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to brief senior technical, government, and industry stakeholders
• Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, fast-moving environments with evolving requirements, incomplete data, and complex stakeholder needs
• US Citizenship with ability to obtain/maintain an FAA Public Trust suitability

Desired Qualifications

• Direct experience supporting FAA, NAS modernization, NextGen, ERAM, STARS, TFDM, DataComm, SWIM, or related aviation modernization programs
• Experience with digital twin architectures, high-fidelity simulation, distributed simulation frameworks, HLA/DIS, co-simulation, or federated model environments
• Knowledge of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) principles, tools, and their relationship to modeling, simulation, and system validation
• Familiarity with NAS data sources, aviation telemetry, surveillance systems, communications infrastructure, facility systems, operational performance data, safety data, or traffic flow data
• Experience applying AI/ML, predictive analytics, anomaly detection, optimization, synthetic data, agentic AI, or decision intelligence techniques to aviation, transportation, defense, or infrastructure problems
• Experience with real-time data ingestion, streaming architectures, data pipelines, data assimilation, or operational data integration
• Background in applied R&D, research transition, prototype development, technical roadmap development, or government customer delivery
• History of published research, patents, technical reports, or recognized expertise in aviation modeling, digital twins, air traffic operations, simulation, systems engineering, or advanced analytics
• Existing relationships within the FAA, aviation research community, aerospace industry or government R&D ecosystems

Peraton Labs is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all team members feel valued and can contribute their best work.