Aviation Technical Systems Specialist

Automation Systems Specialist

The specialist participates as a technical team member and is responsible for supporting the oversight and analysis of all facets of the automation systems related to Air Traffic Control (ATC) activities within the facility. This position supports multiple, varying and complex assignments under the direction of a Field Manager, project manager, team leader, or more experienced technical specialist. The specialist provides support to a project team for large work activities.

Typical duties include performing research to identify, analyze, and resolve operational automation discrepancies, ensuring the adequacy of automation support based on knowledge of air traffic control procedures and a general knowledge of facility traffic flows, maintaining, testing, and recommending modifications to adaptation databases to ensure that maximum effectiveness is achieved and the data will be processed in a precise and timely manner, and coordinating with staff at local and other air traffic facilities regarding automation decisions and activities that could impact NAS operations.

The Specialist works at a field site with limited direction provided by the Second Level Engineering Field Manager. The Specialist works in a team environment and works with a team lead or manager to support the decisions related to the maintenance of adaptation and software systems critical to the safe operation of the NAS. The work is reviewed periodically, typically at major milestones and at completion, for technical compliance and alignment with the requirements of the project or other work activity.

The Specialist serves as a principal technical specialist on a team and is responsible for conducting research and analysis of all facets of automation systems related to Air Traffic Control (ATC) activities within the facility. Typical duties include leading research to identify, analyze, and resolve complex operational automation discrepancies, ensuring the adequacy of automation support based on an in-depth knowledge of air traffic control procedures and a general knowledge of facility traffic flows, developing, maintaining, testing, and modifying adaptation databases to ensure that maximum effectiveness is achieved and that data is processed in a precise and timely manner including safety critical system functions (e.g

MSAW/CA), and coordinating with staff at local and other air traffic facilities regarding automation decisions and activities that affect operations.

The specialist communicates with Technical Operations, Air Traffic, Military, Second Level Engineering, and other Field Specialists across the CONUS to monitor second level engineering support activities and software and adaptation requirements. The specialist leads the coordination of air traffic software adaptation changes and requirements with multiple air traffic control facilities, military base operations, airlines and international air traffic control organizations. Communicates results to all levels internally and externally.

Presents briefings to obtain consensus/approval on policies. Coordinates significant technical matters with representatives of external organizations.

Serves as an Aviation Technical Systems Specialist, incumbent applies experience and advanced technical knowledge of NAS equipment, procedures, and safety interventions including their interrelatedness and functions, in order to design, develop, modify, or evaluate the NAS. Applies multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary scientific principles, qualitative methods, and modeling to study and analyze complex NAS systems and programs to assist in proposing an alternative course of action in the acquisition, management, and deployment of major aviation related systems or programs.