Telecommunications Systems Engineer - SME (FENS)

Responsibilities

JoinPeratonin advancing the safety, efficiency, and modernization of the National Airspace System (NAS) through the FAAEnterprise Network Service (FENS) program. As a trusted partner to the Federal Aviation Administration, Peraton delivers the mission-critical systems and services that keep millions of passengers and aircraft moving safely every day.

Were looking for forward-thinking professionals who thrive in complex, high-impact environments and want their work to matter. If youre passionate about innovation, collaboration, and shaping the future of air traffic management, this is your opportunity to make a real difference alongside leaders in aviation, engineering, data science, and systems integration.

Systems Engineer, SME | Telecom - FENS

Role Overview:

In this role, you will serve as a Telecommunications System Engineer SMEto manage complex engineering and technology initiatives in support of the FAA Enterprise Network Services (FENS) program. In this role, you will design, deploy, migrate and manage the Secured Network Infrastructure in alignment with FAA standards and mission objectives.

The ideal candidate brings a strong blend of Network and Security technical experience, with the ability to migrate and manage complex system architecturesincludingglobal telecommunications and network infrastructures (SD-WAN, MPLS, and enterprise LAN/WAN environments).

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 requirements.

What Youll Do

• Provide technical review for complex systems engineering efforts, driving architecture decisions, verification strategies, and risk mitigation.
• Support systems engineering activities across the lifecycle, translating requirements into system designs and verification plans.
• Advise program leadership on technical baselines, Migration strategy, integration sequencing, and test campaigns.
• Advise on modeling and trade studies to ensure systems meet performance, reliability, and security objectives. Coordinate with stakeholders to manage requirements, traceability and technical risk.
• Translate requirements into system designs and verification plans; support integration, modeling, and technical risk management.
• Translate operational and technical requirements into robust system architectures, interface definitions, and verification strategies.
• Develop and maintain requirements traceability matrices to ensure alignment between system requirements, design artifacts, and test outcomes.
• Support system integration efforts, ensuring telecommunications solutions meet performance, resiliency, and security objectives.
• Provide advisory input on telecommunications modernization efforts and infrastructure upgrades.

Why This Role Matters

The FAAs ability to modernize and operate the National Airspace System depends on the flawless execution of highly technical projects that underpin aviation safety, system reliability, cybersecurity, and global connectivity. As a Technical Project Manager for FAA Enterprise Network Services (FENS) program, you play a critical roleligning diverse technical teams, managing risk early, and ensuring outcomes that directly support national aviation priorities.

Your work will help ensure that U.S. air traffic systems remain safe, resilient, and technologically advanced in an increasingly interconnected global aviation environment.

Qualifications

Position Requirements:

• U.S. citizenship required with the ability to obtain and maintain aPublic Trust clearance.
• Bachelors degree with 12+ years of experience (or equivalent combination: Masters 10+, Associates 14+, HS diploma 16+)
• Demonstrated experience supporting telecommunications or network-based systems.
• Experience translating high-level requirements into system designs, integration plans, and verification strategies.
• Experience with telecommunications architectures, including IP-based networks, transport systems, or mission-critical communications environments.
• Experience with TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VPNs, and routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, EIGRP)
• Experience with Enterprise Network Management Tools (e.g., Science Logic, SolarWinds, Splunk, NetScout, Datadog) to maintain full asset visibility and real-time security monitoring.
• Solid understanding of SD-WAN, MPLS, TIC 3.0 and LAN/WAN technologies
• Experience in Implementing robust security frameworks within the network edge, including NGFW policies, IPSec/SSL VPN tunnels, micro-segmentation, and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) models.
• Familiarity with requirements management tools (e.g., DOORS, Jama, or similar platforms) and Network topology documentation tools (e.g., Visio, Lucidchart)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with National Airspace System (NAS) architecture and modernization initiatives (e.g., NextGen).
• Certifications: INCOSE CSEP preferred.
• Technical Certifications such as Cisco CCNA/CCNP, CompTIA Network+, Juniper JNCIA/JNCIS.
• Advanced Excel skills for data analysis, reporting, and visualization.
• Strong ability to interpret complex data and deliver actionable insights.
• Proven experience designing efficient workflows.
• Expertise in managing and optimizing processes for compliance and performance.

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Target Salary Range$112,000 - $179,000. 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 individuals 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.