Technical Lead - Digital Twin Research and Aviation Modeling

Peraton•,

8d•$146,000 - $234,000

About The Position

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.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

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