Systems Engineer - SME

Responsibilities 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. We’re looking for innovative professionals who thrive in mission-critical environments and are passionate about shaping the future of air traffic management.

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.

At Peraton, you won’t just support the mission — you’ll define it.

Join a team shaping the future of airspace safety and surveillance. As the Systems Engineer - SME you’ll play a key role in designing, integrating, and analyzing complex systems that keep our skies secure. From advanced radar technologies to mission-critical surveillance solutions, your expertise will directly support the FAA’s efforts to modernize and maintain the National Airspace System.

Work Location:

This position is 100% on-site, primarily located in Herndon, VA, with an alternate work location available in Bowie, MD. Candidates must be able to work on-site at one of these locations based on program  this position, you will:

Perform end-to-end systems engineering across the full lifecycle: requirements, design, integration, verification, and validation.

Drive the development of concepts, architectures, trade studies, and system analyses to optimize performance.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to ensure objectives are achieved and requirements are met.

Prepare and deliver technical documentation, reports, and presentations to clearly communicate findings and recommendations.

Contribute to trade studies and analyses under the mentorship of senior engineers.

Participate in system-level reviews and provide hands-on support for integration and testing activities.

Why This Role Matters Your work will directly impact national transportation safety and innovation—helping develop and refine systems used by millions of travelers and aviation professionals every day. You’ll collaborate with top engineers, analysts, and FAA stakeholders to deliver solutions that meet the highest performance standards.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

U.S. Citizenship Required Must have the ability to obtain / maintain a Public Trust clearance

Bachelor’s degree and 12 years experience or Masters degree and 10 years experience or Associate’s degree and 14 years years experience or HS diploma/equivalent and 16 years experience

Systems Engineering experience supporting complex, integrated hardware and/or software systems.

Experience performing full lifecycle systems engineering activities including requirements development, system design, integration, verification, and validation (V&V).Demonstrated ability to conduct trade studies, system analyses, and performance evaluations.

Experience developing and managing technical requirements, interface definitions, and architecture documentation.

Preferred Qualifications Experience supporting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or similar federal agencies (DOT, DHS, DoD).Familiarity with National Airspace System (NAS) architecture, radar systems, surveillance technologies, or air traffic management systems.

Knowledge of FAA modernization initiatives (e.g., Next Gen).Experience using systems modeling tools such as MBSE, SysML, DOORS, Cameo, or similar requirements management platforms.

Familiarity with safety-critical systems engineering and compliance-driven environments.

Experience supporting…