Lead System Engineer - FAA

NIRA, Inc. • Washington, DC

2d

About The Position

NIRA Inc. is seeking a Lead Systems Engineer with hands-on experience in ground-based air traffic management and airport operational systems. This technical-lead role translates operational needs into measurable requirements, evaluates integrated hardware and software solutions, and leads engineering activities through verification and operational readiness. The position involves real-time sensor or surveillance information, operator-facing displays, communications interfaces, and safety-critical system integration.

Requirements

• At least 10 years of relevant engineering experience.
• At least five years supporting ground-based air traffic management, airport operational systems, or closely related aviation applications.
• At least three years in a substantive technical-lead role.
• Demonstrated experience integrating real-time operational systems comprising field equipment or sensors, communications networks, processing software, and operator interfaces.
• Ability to evaluate system-level performance and identify dependencies affecting operational use.
• Hands-on requirements and architecture experience, including developing or leading system requirements, interface control documents, architecture descriptions, technical trade studies, and requirements-to-verification traceability.
• Practical knowledge of system performance and resilience, including latency, timing and synchronization, bandwidth, data quality, redundancy, common-mode failures, degraded operation, and restoration.
• Experience supporting safety-critical engineering reviews and coordinating safety, software assurance, cybersecurity, human-factors, and maintainability inputs.
• Ability to lead technical discussions with government stakeholders and suppliers and produce clear engineering recommendations.
• Bachelor's degree in a technical field such as math, science, or engineering.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
• Excellent written, oral, and presentation communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and critical-thinking ability.
• Ability to work effectively independently and in team-oriented environments.
• Must be able to pass a Public Trust background investigation.

Nice To Haves

• Direct FAA/NAS engineering experience.
• Experience integrating sensor-based situational-awareness or operational-display systems.
• Experience with field deployment of aviation systems.
• Experience developing or reviewing technical evidence supporting government acceptance or operational authorization.

Responsibilities

• Translate operational needs into measurable system requirements.
• Evaluate integrated hardware and software solutions and assess system-level performance.
• Lead engineering activities through verification and operational readiness.
• Integrate real-time operational systems combining field equipment or sensors, communications networks, processing software, and operator interfaces.
• Develop or lead requirements, interface control documents, architecture descriptions, technical trade studies, and requirements-to-verification traceability.
• Assess latency, timing and synchronization, bandwidth, data quality, redundancy, common-mode failures, degraded operation, and restoration.
• Coordinate system-safety, software-assurance, cybersecurity, human-factors, and maintainability inputs into design and verification activities.
• Lead technical discussions with government stakeholders and suppliers, identify incomplete or unsupported engineering claims, and provide recommendations addressing performance, implementation, supportability, cost, and schedule.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior