Automation Architect -Senior

Peraton; Bowie (MD); On-site; USD 135,000 - 216,000; Full time

Job summary

Peraton in Bowie, MD, seeks a Senior Automation Architect to define and implement automation strategies for the FAA. In this critical role, you will create automation frameworks that enhance efficiency, scalability, and security, while mentoring a team of engineers.

Key qualifications include U.S. Citizenship, Bachelor's degree with substantial experience in automation, and strong knowledge of Infrastructure as Code tools. The position offers a competitive salary range from $135,000 to $216,000.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Ability to maintain a Public Trust clearance.
• Experience in IT automation architecture or engineering.
• Hands-on experience with automated testing frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and implementation of automation frameworks.
• Define enterprise automation standards and tools.
• Provide technical oversight of subcontractor automation.
• Mentor engineers on automation best practices.

Skills

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) expertise

Automation in hybrid and cloud environments

Proficiency in scripting languages (Python, PowerShell, Bash)

Knowledge of federal cybersecurity requirements

Education

Bachelor's degree with 8 years of experience or equivalent

Tools

Terraform

Ansible

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

Automation Architect - Senior

Job Overview

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.

Help shape the future of U.S. airspace safety and efficiency. We are seeking a Automation Architect - Senior to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals. The ideal candidate will lead the design, implementation, and oversight of automation strategies supporting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In this senior technical role, you will provide strategic vision, architecture leadership, and technical expertise to enable automation, including infrastructure, testing, cybersecurity, and operations workflows. You will guide modernization initiatives through automation that enhances efficiency, scalability, and reliability. This position offers an excellent opportunity to gain in‑depth experience in federal contracting while supporting high‑visibility aviation programs.

Work Location: This position is 100% on‑site, primarily located in Chantilly, 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 requirements.

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.

Why This Role Matters

The FAA is the cornerstone of aviation safety and innovation. Automation Architect - Subject Matter Expert (SME) to lead the design, implementation, and oversight of automation strategies supporting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In this senior technical role, you will provide strategic vision, architecture leadership, and technical expertise to enable automation across FAA systems, including infrastructure, testing, cybersecurity, and operations workflows. You will serve as a trusted advisor to FAA leadership, guiding modernization initiatives through automation that enhances efficiency, scalability, and reliability.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• U.S. Citizenship Required.
• Must have the ability to obtain / maintain a Public Trust clearance.
• Bachelor's degree and 8 years of experience; or Masters degree and 6 years; or Associate's degree and 10 years' experience; or HS diploma/equivalent and 12 years 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct FAA or NAS configuration management experience.
• Advanced degree (Master's or Ph.D.) 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).
• Direct experience supporting FAA automation initiatives.
• Background in AI/ML‑driven automation, predictive analytics, or intelligent orchestration.
• Familiarity with NextGen FAA modernization programs and their automation dependencies.
• Demonstrated ability to lead enterprise automation initiatives for large‑scale, mission‑critical programs.
• Strong understanding of federal IT modernization initiatives, ideally with FAA.

Target Salary Range

$135,000 - $216,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. 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.

EEO

EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.