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 capabilities-ensuring 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
• Bachelor's 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

• Master's 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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