Digital Architecture & Modeling Engineer

Peraton•Herndon, VA

About The Position

Peraton is seeking an experienced Digital Architecture & Modeling Engineer to support the modernization of the Federal Aviation Administration's National Airspace System (NAS) under the BNATCS program. This position combines the responsibilities traditionally associated with Enterprise Architecture, Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), and Modeling, Analysis & Simulation (MA&S) into a unified, model-centric engineering discipline. The Digital Architecture & Modeling Engineer will develop and maintain the Digital NAS Architecture (DNA)—an authoritative, model-based representation of the NAS that connects mission needs, operational concepts, requirements, capabilities, systems, services, interfaces, infrastructure, verification evidence, and ultimately operational performance. Rather than treating architecture artifacts and engineering documents as independently authored products, this role will establish and maintain the authoritative architecture model from which architecture views, operational concepts, CONOPS content, interface descriptions, analyses, and other engineering products are generated. The successful candidate will work at the intersection of enterprise architecture, systems engineering, MBSE, simulation, digital engineering, and mission analysis. The role requires both architectural judgment and hands-on modeling expertise. Candidates must be capable of understanding complex mission and technical problems, developing the architecture within Cameo using UAF/SysML, analyzing the resulting model, and communicating model-derived insights to FAA leadership, program offices, engineers, and other stakeholders.

Requirements

Minimum of 12 years with BS/BA; Minimum of 10 years with MS/MA; Minimum of 7 years with Ph.D.
US Citizenship with the ability to obtain/maintain a Public Trust Clearance.
Demonstrated ability to develop architecture through models, rather than treating modeling solely as documentation of architecture developed elsewhere.
Strong hands-on experience with Cameo/MagicDraw and model repository/collaboration environments such as Teamwork Cloud.
Deep knowledge of UAF, SysML, DoDAF, or comparable architecture and systems-engineering frameworks.
Experience developing system-of-systems architectures encompassing capabilities, operational activities, systems, services, interfaces, data exchanges, and infrastructure.
Experience developing operational scenarios, mission threads, functional architectures, system interfaces, and architecture traceability.
Experience establishing model governance, configuration management, reusable model libraries, modeling conventions, and model-quality standards.
Demonstrated ability to perform architecture analysis, trade studies, impact analysis, and technical assessments using model-derived information.
Working knowledge of modeling and simulation methods sufficient to select and apply appropriate analytical techniques to architecture and systems-engineering questions.
Understanding of requirements engineering and the relationship among requirements, architecture, design, implementation, verification, and validation.
Experience integrating or establishing traceability between MBSE and requirements-management environments such as Jama Connect, DOORS, or equivalent.
Understanding of modern enterprise technologies including hybrid cloud, networking, cybersecurity, APIs, data architectures, edge computing, automation, DevSecOps, and distributed systems.
Experience supporting mission-critical, safety-critical, federal, DoD, aviation, or similarly complex system-of-systems environments.
Strong written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated ability to translate complex architecture and model-derived analysis into actionable recommendations for technical and executive audiences.

Nice To Haves

15+ years of experience in enterprise architecture, systems architecture, systems engineering, MBSE, modeling and simulation, or related engineering disciplines supporting large-scale, complex systems.
Experience with FAA NAS systems, air traffic management, or comparable aviation infrastructure.
UAF, SysML, DoDAF, INCOSE CSEP/ESEP, or related Digital Engineering certification.
Experience developing model-based CONOPS, architecture descriptions, or other engineering documents generated from authoritative models.
Experience with Cameo Teamwork Cloud, Cameo Collaborator, Cameo Report Wizard, model validation rules, custom profiles, and model automation.
Experience with Jama Connect and model-to-requirements traceability.
Experience with MATLAB/Simulink, SimEvents, Python, AnyLogic, or comparable analysis and simulation environments.
Experience conducting discrete-event simulation, Monte Carlo analysis, capacity analysis, performance modeling, sensitivity analysis, or system-of-systems simulation.
Experience with digital twins and connecting operational telemetry to engineering models for model calibration, validation, and lifecycle feedback.
Understanding of AIOps, observability, operational telemetry, and their potential use as continuous engineering and mission-assurance evidence.
Familiarity with AWS and cloud-based modeling, simulation, analytics, or high-performance computing.
Knowledge of NIST, RMF, FedRAMP, Zero Trust Architecture, and cybersecurity considerations associated with federal Digital Engineering environments.
Experience establishing enterprise architecture governance, chairing or supporting Architecture Review Boards, and influencing cross-functional engineering teams without direct authority.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain the Digital NAS Architecture (DNA) as an authoritative enterprise model representing current-state, transition-state, and target-state NAS architectures.
Apply UAF, SysML, DoDAF concepts, and MBSE practices using Cameo and Teamwork Cloud to model NAS capabilities, missions, operational activities, performers, systems, services, interfaces, information exchanges, infrastructure, and dependencies.
Develop model-based Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) in which operational activities, scenarios, mission threads, performers, information exchanges, constraints, assumptions, and supporting architecture are maintained as authoritative model elements rather than disconnected document content.
Generate DoDAF/UAF architecture views, CONOPS content, interface descriptions, architecture descriptions, matrices, reports, and other engineering products from the authoritative model using standardized model queries, views, and report templates.
Develop and maintain mission threads connecting operational outcomes to capabilities, activities, systems, functions, interfaces, network and infrastructure services, requirements, verification evidence, and other lifecycle artifacts.
Develop enterprise and system-of-systems architectures spanning the heterogeneous NAS environment, including air traffic control operational technology (OT), enterprise IT, telecommunications, networks, edge computing, data platforms, cybersecurity, automation, and hybrid/cloud infrastructure.
Establish architecture principles, patterns, reference architectures, modeling conventions, reusable model libraries, taxonomies, and metamodel extensions that enable consistent architecture development across BNATCS and FAA programs.
Perform architecture analysis directly against the model to identify dependencies, gaps, interface conflicts, integration risks, single points of failure, interoperability concerns, and potential mission impacts.
Develop and apply simulation and analytical models where architecture questions require quantitative evaluation, including performance modeling, capacity analysis, discrete-event simulation, sensitivity analysis, Monte Carlo analysis, and other appropriate techniques.
Conduct model-based trade studies and analysis of alternatives, using architecture relationships, requirements, operational scenarios, simulation results, cost/risk considerations, and mission impacts to evaluate proposed solutions.
Develop appropriate levels of simulation fidelity based on the engineering question being addressed, ranging from architecture-level analytical models through higher-fidelity simulation where warranted.
Support virtual integration and system-of-systems analysis to evaluate how independently developed NAS components, services, and infrastructure will interact before physical implementation.
Establish and enforce model governance, including model ownership, configuration management, baselines, branching, version control, validation criteria, model pedigree, authoritative-element ownership, and reuse across teams and contractors.
Develop reusable enterprise model libraries for common NAS concepts such as systems, facilities, interfaces, network services, infrastructure services, security constructs, cloud services, operational performers, and other shared architectural elements.
Integrate architecture models with requirements managed in Jama Connect, maintaining traceability from mission needs and requirements through architecture, implementation, verification, and validation.
Support development of the FAA digital thread, ensuring persistent identifiers, controlled relationships, authoritative-source designation, baseline awareness, and traceability across engineering repositories.
Define model validation rules and automated quality checks that identify incomplete relationships, inconsistent architecture, orphaned elements, missing traceability, duplicate concepts, and other model-quality issues.
Support architecture governance and Architecture Review Boards by using model-based evidence to evaluate proposed solutions, standards compliance, architectural impacts, technical risk, and alignment with the target Digital NAS Architecture.
Evaluate emerging technologies—including cloud-native platforms, AI/ML, automation, edge computing, digital twins, software-defined infrastructure, advanced telecommunications, and observability—and model their potential integration and mission impact within the NAS.
Apply AI-assisted engineering techniques where appropriate to improve model development, model interrogation, requirements analysis, consistency checking, documentation generation, and architecture analysis while maintaining appropriate human engineering oversight.
Collaborate with cybersecurity, software, cloud, telecommunications, data, test, configuration management, safety, operations, and program teams to ensure their domain architectures are represented within and traceable through the enterprise model.
Review architecture and modeling deliverables from vendors, subcontractors, and FAA programs for conformance with DNA modeling standards, UAF/SysML conventions, interface standards, and enterprise architecture principles.
Translate complex architecture models and analytical results into understandable mission and business impacts for FAA executives, program managers, operators, and other non-modeling stakeholders.
Support publication and stakeholder consumption of model-derived architecture through Cameo Collaborator, the DNA Digital Command Center, generated reports, dashboards, and other appropriate presentation mechanisms.
Mentor architects, systems engineers, and domain engineers in model-centric architecture, MBSE, UAF/SysML, architecture analysis, and Digital Engineering practices.