Adaptation Specialist - SME

About Peraton

Peraton is a next‑generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world’s leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, Peraton delivers trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect the nation and its allies. The company operates at the critical nexus between traditional and non‑traditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace, and partners with essential government agencies and every branch of the U.S. armed forces.

About the Role

Peraton is seeking an Adaptation Specialist – SME to support the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Terminal Flight Data Manager (TFDM) program. The specialist will configure and prepare TFDM capabilities for deployment at individual FAA terminal facilities, translating local operational requirements and ATC procedures into site‑specific system configurations or adaptations. This position is 100 % on‑site in Herndon, VA (alternate location Atlantic City, NJ) and may require up to 25 % travel.

Responsibilities

• Ensure TFDM is accurately configured, tested, and ready for operational use while maintaining alignment with FAA requirements, national standards, and approved program baselines.
• Act as the coordinator for TFDM adaptation activities supporting assigned terminal facilities.
• Support FAA TFDM program activities, including coordination with engineering teams, integration environments, and operational facilities.
• Create, maintain, and verify facility‑specific TFDM configurations, including gate and stand layouts, airport surface routing, flight‑data rules, system parameters, and alert settings.
• Partner with ATC, Technical Operations, engineering personnel, and program stakeholders to collect, analyze, and translate local operational requirements, procedures, and site data into system adaptations.
• Utilize approved adaptation and configuration‑management tools to develop, modify, track, and maintain site‑specific configuration baselines.
• Support site‑readiness activities, pre‑deployment evaluations, dry runs, and readiness reviews to confirm adaptations are complete, accurate, and prepared for implementation.
• Participate in System Integration Testing (SIT), Joint Site Acceptance Testing (JSAT), and Operational Test & Evaluation (OT&E) activities.
• Verify adaptations align with applicable enterprise architecture, system engineering, safety, and program standards.
• Investigate adaptation and configuration issues, support root‑cause analysis, and work with engineering teams to identify and implement appropriate resolutions.
• Maintain accurate adaptation documentation, technical decisions, configuration records, and version histories.
• Provide technical guidance, knowledge transfer, and adaptation support to site personnel, program teams, and local and national FAA stakeholders.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance.
• Bachelor’s degree + 12 years relevant experience, or Master’s degree + 10 years, or Associate’s degree + 14 years, or high‑school diploma + 16 years.
• Experience or demonstrated knowledge in aviation systems, air traffic operations, systems engineering, systems integration, software/system configuration, testing, or data analysis.
• Ability to analyze operational requirements and translate them into technical requirements, data elements, or system configurations.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and attention‑to‑detail skills.
• Ability to interpret technical documentation, system requirements, procedures, and airport or system layouts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for collaboration with technical and operational stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel up to 25 % of the time for program support, site surveys, adaptation workshops, testing events, and deployment activities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience supporting the FAA, National Airspace System (NAS), or aviation modernization programs.
• Familiarity with TFDM, TFMS, STARS, ASDE‑X, ERAM, or other FAA automation and air‑traffic‑management systems.
• Experience with TFDM or similar site adaptation/configuration activities.
• Direct work experience with air traffic controllers, FAA Technical Operations personnel, engineers, and other operational stakeholders.
• Bachelor’s degree in aviation, engineering, computer science, systems engineering, or a related discipline.
• Knowledge of terminal airport operations, surface movement, gate/stand configurations, taxi routing, and ATC procedures.
• Experience supporting system integration, site implementation, acceptance testing, operational testing, or deployment readiness.
• Experience with configuration‑management systems, adaptation tools, data‑management platforms, or geospatial applications (e.g., ArcGIS, AutoCAD).
• Familiarity with FAA adaptation or data‑development environments such as URET or TDDS.
• Understanding of FAA implementation and acquisition processes, including AMS and JRC processes.
• Experience analyzing and troubleshooting system interfaces, data flows, configuration discrepancies, or integration issues.
• Strong understanding of baseline control, requirements traceability, and technical documentation.

Pay

Target Salary Range: $135,000 – $216,000. Salary is determined by factors such as scope of responsibilities, experience, education, knowledge, skills, competencies, geographic location, and business/contract considerations. Employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Short‑ and long‑term disability coverage
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Parental leave
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Paid time off (PTO) for vacation
• Company‑paid holidays