Automation Architect -SME

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, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces, solving the most daunting challenges our customers face each day.

About the role

Join Peraton in advancing the safety, efficiency, and modernization of the National Airspace System (NAS) through the FAA's Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS) contract. As a trusted partner to the Federal Aviation Administration, Peraton helps deliver the systems and services that keep our nation's skies safe and connected. This is your chance to make an impact on one of the world's most vital transportation infrastructures, working alongside leaders in aviation, engineering, data science, and systems integration.

We are seeking an Automation Architect - SME to lead the design, implementation, and oversight of automation strategies supporting the FAA. This senior technical role provides strategic vision, architecture leadership, and technical expertise to enable automation across infrastructure, testing, cybersecurity, and operations workflows. The position is 100% on-site, primarily located in Herndon, VA, with an alternate work location available in Bowie, MD.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of automation frameworks across FAA infrastructure, applications, and operations.
• Define and enforce enterprise automation standards, tools, and practices aligned with FAA modernization objectives.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to FAA leadership on automation strategy, tools selection, and roadmap development.
• Provide technical oversight of subcontractor automation activities to ensure compliance and integration consistency.
• Drive adoption of Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Configuration as Code, and automated deployment pipelines.
• Integrate automation into testing processes, ensuring performance, reliability, and security are validated at scale.
• Collaborate with cybersecurity, network, and systems engineering teams to ensure automation supports Zero Trust, RMF, and compliance requirements.
• Conduct trade studies, risk assessments, and architecture reviews to evaluate and recommend automation solutions.
• Mentor engineers and analysts in automation best practices, fostering a culture of efficiency and innovation.
• Prepare and deliver executive-level briefings, reports, and technical recommendations on automation initiatives.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Must have the ability to obtain/maintain a Public Trust clearance.
• Bachelor's degree and 12 years of experience; or Master's degree and 10 years; or Associate's degree and 14 years; or HS diploma/equivalent and 16 years of experience.
• Experience in IT automation architecture or engineering.
• Strong knowledge of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools such as Terraform, Ansible, or CloudFormation.
• Experience with automation in hybrid and cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Knowledge of federal cybersecurity requirements (NIST RMF, FedRAMP, Zero Trust) and integration into automated solutions.
• Hands-on experience automating infrastructure provisioning, monitoring, patching, and compliance activities.
• Proficiency in scripting languages (Python, PowerShell, Bash) for automation workflows.
• Experience with automated testing frameworks for performance, scalability, and security validation.

Qualifications

• Direct experience supporting FAA or NAS automation initiatives.
• Advanced degree (Master's) in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or Systems Engineering.
• Certifications such as AWS Solutions Architect, Microsoft Certified Azure Expert, Red Hat Certified Architect, or Kubernetes Administrator (CKA).
• Background in AI/ML-driven automation, predictive analytics, or intelligent orchestration.
• Demonstrated ability to lead enterprise automation initiatives for large-scale, mission-critical programs.

Pay

Target salary range: $146,000 - $234,000. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual's experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.

Benefits

Peraton offers eligible employees a variety of benefits including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life and health savings account
• Short/long term disability
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Parental leave
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Paid time off (PTO) for vacation
• Company-paid holidays