Weather Domain, SME

Peraton•Bethesda, MD

About The Position

The Weather Domain Subject Matter Expert (SME) serves as the senior technical authority for the FAA Weather Domain, leading a team of Architects and Systems Engineers to define the FAA vision for weather modernization and translate it into actionable Enterprise Architecture, capability roadmaps, and implementation-ready designs. This role requires deep expertise with FAA weather systems and technologies, including (but not limited to) NEXRAD, TDWR, LLWAS, ITWS, WARP, CCFP, and Aviation Weather Cameras. The SME ensures weather architectures are resilient, interoperable, safety-oriented, and integrated with NAS automation, surveillance, communications, and operational constraints—while enabling consistent, high-quality weather products and decision support.

Requirements

Minimum of 16 years with BS/BA or Minimum of 14 years with MS/MA
Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Meteorology/Atmospheric Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace/Aviation Engineering, or a related discipline (or equivalent experience).
12+ years of experience in enterprise/system architecture, weather systems engineering, sensor integration, or technical leadership on large-scale, mission-critical programs (aviation, defense, or similarly regulated environments).
Hands-on FAA Weather Domain experience is required, including strong familiarity with one or more of: Weather radars: NEXRAD and/or TDWR Hazard detection/alerts: LLWAS, ITWS Weather processing/distribution: WARP and/or related FAA weather product pipelines Forecast products: CCFP Situational awareness feeds: Aviation Weather Cameras
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, latency, integrity, operational continuity, graceful degradation).
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.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree (or higher) in a relevant discipline.
Experience with weather product generation, fusion, and dissemination concepts supporting ATC decision-making (e.g., convective, wind shear, microburst, precipitation intensity, and surface weather awareness).
Familiarity with operational constraints and performance expectations for weather decision support (latency, refresh rates, coverage, alerting thresholds, and operational impact).
Experience with architecture frameworks and artifacts (e.g., DoDAF, TOGAF, operational views, interface views, standards profiles, roadmaps).
Understanding of cybersecurity and resilience considerations for sensor and weather-processing ecosystems (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.

Responsibilities

Serve as the principal Weather Domain advisor to FAA leadership and program stakeholders for weather modernization strategy, enterprise architecture, and technical governance.
Lead an integrated team of Architects and Systems Engineers to develop weather domain architectures, reference designs, and transition strategies aligned to FAA priorities and NAS operational needs.
Define the Weather 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 weather enterprise design across sensing, product generation, fusion, and dissemination—ensuring coherent integration of radar/wind shear/camera and derived products into downstream NAS consumers.
Drive weather data architecture and interoperability, including interface definitions, distribution patterns, data quality controls, latency/update requirements, and alignment with enterprise services.
Establish and chair domain-level architecture governance, including design reviews, reference patterns, standards profiles, interface control discipline, and technical debt management across weather capabilities.
Coordinate cross-domain integration with automation, surveillance, telecommunications, cybersecurity, infrastructure/platform, and test & evaluation teams to ensure weather designs are secure, deployable, supportable, and verifiable.
Lead technical trade studies and modernization planning, evaluating sensor/product strategies, fusion and dissemination approaches, resiliency patterns, and lifecycle sustainment considerations.
Guide operational suitability and sustainment alignment, ensuring architecture accounts for site constraints, maintenance windows, monitoring/observability, 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.