Position Overview
This is an exciting and challenging position to shape the research laboratories at the FAA to better support the vast, wide-ranging NextGen research activities that lead to improved Air Traffic Management (ATM), design improvements to the National Airspace System (NAS), and integration of new entrants (UAS, AAM, etc.) into the NAS. Examples of cutting edge technologies you’ll research include Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), digital twins, and Virtual Reality enhancements, UAS.
Concepts Beyond provides Systems Engineering and Aviation expertise to develop advanced Air Traffic Management concepts; develops cybersecurity solutions for zero trust & confidential computing; Develops AI/ML and cloud computing tools for Aviation Safety & Data Analytics.
Essential Functions
- Investigate FAA NextGen future research goals and activities and identify ways that FAA research laboratories can support those initiatives. Examples of research areas include Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning, Digital Twin, Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality (AR/VR), new entrants such as UAS / AAM (Advanced Air Mobility), Cloud Computing.
- Develop Concepts of Operations (ConOps) for how users would use the laboratories to conduct the research needed for the NextGen activities.
- Identify requirements for improvements to the labs to support those NextGen research activities.
- Develop a business case to justify the funding needed to support the requirements and personnel needed for the labs.
- Coordinate with various labs and NextGen research projects / offices to understand their activities. Conduct stakeholder outreach.
Qualifications
- BS or higher in Aviation, Engineering, or other technical field from a US accredited institution.
- 10+ years experience (advanced degrees may be substituted).
- Knowledge of advanced Air Traffic Management (ATM) concepts (e.g. TBO, SWIM, DataComm, FF-ICE, UAS/AAM, xTM, etc.) and NAS systems (e.g. ERAM, STARS, TBFM, TFMS).
- Experience with Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning (AI/ML), Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Digital Twin, Unmanned Aerial Systems / Advanced Air Mobility (UAS / AAM) integration into the NAS, Air Traffic Management (ATM).
- Ability to quickly grasp new concepts and technologies, analyze, and engineer new ideas and concepts.
- Experience with project leadership, coordinating work with the customer.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to communicate technical issues to technical and non-technical audiences.
Additional Desired Skills
- Understanding of FAA NAS Enterprise Architecture and the long-term FAA mission, especially for Info-Centric NAS.
- Experience with business case analysis.
