Automation Architect -SME

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

Job summary

Peraton is seeking an Automation Architect – SME to oversee automation strategies for the FAA's Air Traffic Control System in Virginia and Maryland. The role involves leading designs for automation frameworks and mentoring teams while ensuring compliance with security standards.

Required qualifications include a Bachelor's degree with extensive IT experience, especially in cloud environments and federal cybersecurity. Competitive salary range of $135,000 to $216,000 depending on qualifications.

Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. Citizen and able to obtain Public Trust clearance.
• Experience in IT automation architecture or engineering is required.
• Proficiency in scripting languages for automation workflows.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of automation frameworks.
• Mentor engineers in automation best practices.
• Collaborate with teams to ensure automation supports Zero Trust.

Skills

IT automation architecture

Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

Scripting Languages (Python, PowerShell, Bash)

Automation in hybrid/cloud environments

Federal cybersecurity requirements

Education

Bachelor's degree and 12 years of experience

Tools

Terraform

Ansible

CloudFormation

Job description

Automation Architect – SME

Job Locations: US-VA-Chantilly | US-MD-Bowie

Requisition ID: 2026-167590
Position Category: Information Technology
Clearance: Public Trust

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.

Help shape the future of U.S. airspace safety and efficiency. You are a Automation Architect – SME who will lead the design, implementation, and oversight of automation strategies supporting the FAA.

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.

• 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, tool 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.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• 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 of experience; or HS diploma/equivalent and 16 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. 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

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