Responsibilities **Position Overview:** We are seeking a highly skilled **Data Architect / Data Engineer** to support the **design, development, and governance of mission-critical data infrastructure** for the FAA’s next-generation **air traffic control (ATC) systems** . This role will be instrumental in modernizing how the **National Airspace System (NAS)** leverages real-time and historical data to enhance **safety, efficiency, and system resilience** . You will design end-to-end data architectures, define authoritative sources, implement high-performance data flows, and collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to ensure data solutions support the FAA’s operational, regulatory, and cybersecurity requirements. **Key Responsibilities:** **Data Architecture & Design** + Design and implement scalable, resilient, and secure **enterprise data architectures** to support real-time and asynchronous data needs for ATC systems such as **STARS, ERAM** , and NAS-wide services. + Define and document **data schemas, data flows** , and system integration points using FAA standards and best practices. + Align data solutions with **FAA data strategies** , including identification of **authoritative data sources** , metadata standards, and information lifecycle policies. + Evaluate and implement **data storage, processing, and transformation pipelines** , balancing performance, availability, latency, and compliance requirements. **Data Modeling & Engineering** + Develop and maintain **logical and physical data models** tailored to ATM operations, surveillance data, weather feeds, traffic flow, and flight plan data. + Create and manage **data dictionaries** , **entity-relationship diagrams** , **semantic models** , and **API definitions** for structured and unstructured data assets. + Build ETL/ELT processes, **streaming data pipelines** , and batch workflows using modern tools (e.g., Apache Kafka, Spark, Airflow, AWS Glue, or similar). + Implement robust **data quality, lineage, and governance practices** to ensure integrity and traceability of operational datasets. **System & Domain Integration** + Collaborate with **system architects, software engineers, cybersecurity teams, and FAA stakeholders** to ensure alignment between data architecture and end-to-end system design. + Understand the **ATM domain** , including flight operations, traffic management, decision support systems, and FAA data exchange platforms (e.g., SWIM, TFMS, TBFM). + Support integration of legacy systems with modern cloud-native or containerized solutions using **API gateways** , **data adapters** , and **interoperability frameworks** . **Performance, Security & Lifecycle Management** + Define **data performance requirements** , including throughput, latency, and availability metrics, especially for safety-critical applications. + Ensure compliance with **FAA cybersecurity standards** (e.g., NIST 800-53, Zero Trust principles) and support data encryption, access control, and auditability. + Participate in the **full data lifecycle** , from acquisition and storage to retention, archival, and decommissioning, in accordance with FAA governance and AMS requirements. Required Qualifications **Required Qualifications:** + U.S. Citizen or Green Card Holder (3+ years U.S. residency). + Proven experience in: + **Enterprise data architecture and modeling** + **Schema design, data pipelines, and integration frameworks** + **Data engineering technologies** (e.g., SQL, Python, Spark, Kafka, cloud-native tools) + **Metadata management, data catalogs, and lineage tracking** + Strong understanding of: + **ATM domain data models** , including surveillance, flight plans, and weather integration + FAA’s **data lifecycle policies** , **authoritative data source strategies** , and system performance requirements + **Architectural patterns** for mission-critical or real-time systems + Familiarity with: + **SWIM** , **NAS systems** , and FAA modernization efforts + **DevSecOps** **practices** , including infrastructure as code and CI/CD pipelines + Excellent verbal and written communication skills to engage technical and non-technical stakeholders alike. **Required Education and years** ** **   **Level I** ** **   + 0-4 years of experience and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related technical field.  **Substitution:** High school degree and an additional 4 years of experience    **Salary Range:** $63,600 - $99,450 **Level II** ** **   + 5-9 years of experience and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related technical field.  **Substitution:** **  **   + Masters degree with 3-7 years of experience would qualify   + PHD degree with 0-4 years of experience would qualify   + Highschool degree with a minimum of 14 years total.    **Salary Range:** $77,000 - $120, 275 **Level III** ** **   + 10-15 years of experience and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related technical field.  **Substitution:** **  **   + Masters degree with 8-13 years of experience would qualify   + PHD degree with 5-10 years of experience would qualify   + Highschool degree with a minimum of 24 years total.  ** **   **Salary Range:** $102,500 - $160,100 **Level IV** ** **   + 16-24 years of experience and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related technical field.  **Substitution** :    + Masters degree with 14-22 years of experience would qualify   + PHD degree with 11-19 years of experience would qualify   + Highschool degree with a minimum of 26 years total.   **Salary Range:** $124,000 - $193,750 Desired Qualifications **Preferred Qualifications:** + Experience working on FAA or federal aviation programs (e.g., NAS modernization, TFDM, TBFM, ERAM). + Knowledge of FAA enterprise architecture frameworks (e.g., **UAF** , **DoDAF** ) and modeling tools (e.g., Cameo, MagicDraw). + Familiarity with **data mesh** , **data** **lakehouse** , or **hybrid cloud** **architectures** . + Experience with **geospatial data** , sensor fusion, or time-series data at scale. + Data architecture certifications (e.g., AWS Data Analytics, DAMA-CDMP, TOGAF). Overview Noblis (http://www.noblis.org/) and our wholly owned subsidiaries, Noblis ESI , and Noblis MSD tackle the nation's toughest problems and apply advanced solutions to our clients' most critical missions. We bring the best of scientific thought, management, and engineering expertise together in an environment of independence and objectivity to deliver enduring impact on federal missions. Noblis works with a wide range of government clients in the defense, intelligence and federal civil sectors. Learn more at Noblis -About Us (https://careers.noblis.org/about-noblis/) **Why work at a Noblis company?** Our employees find greater meaning in their work and balance the other things in life that matter to them. Our people are our greatest asset. They are exceptionally skilled, knowledgeable, team-oriented, and mission-driven individuals who want to do work that matters and benefits the public. Noblis has won numerous workplace awards (http://www.noblis.org/about/Awards/) . Noblis maintains a drug-free workplace. * _Remote/hybrid status is subject to change based on Noblis and/or government requirements_ Commitment to Non-Discrimination All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, age, national origin, religion, physical or mental disability, pregnancy/childbirth and related medical conditions, veteran or military status, or any other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact us (https://careers.noblis.org/contact-us/) . EEO is the Law (https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/discrimination) | E-Verify (https://careers.noblis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Federal-e-verify-participation-poster-Eng-and-Sp.-9-11-2024.pdf) | Right to Work (https://www.justice.gov/crt/case-document/file/1133936/download) Total Rewards At Noblis we recognize and reward your contributions, provide you with growth opportunities, and support your total well-being. Our offerings include health, life, disability, financial, and retirement benefits, as well as paid leave, professional development, tuition assistance, and work-life programs. Our award programs acknowledge employees for exceptional performance and superior demonstration of our service standards. Full-time and part-time employees working at least 20 hours a week on a regular basis are eligible to participate in our benefit programs. Other offerings may be provided for employees not within this category. We encourage you to learn more about our total benefits by visiting the Benefits (https://careers.noblis.org/benefits/) page on our Careers (https://careers.noblis.org/) site. Compensation at Noblis is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the combination of education, certifications, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, internal and external equity, location, clearance level, as well as contract-specific affordability, organizational requirements and applicable employment laws. The projected compensation range for this position is based on full time status. For part time or on-call staff, compensation is proportionately adjusted based on hours worked. While monetary compensation is important, it's just one component of Noblis’ total compensation package. Posted Salary Range USD $63,600.00 - USD $193,750.00 /Yr.