Lead Data Architect - Aviation Analytics

Peraton Labs is seeking a Lead Data Architect - Aviation Analytics to support FAA BNATCS CTO in identifying, acquiring, modernizing, integrating, and operationalizing data required for advanced analytics, visualization, and agentic AI-enabled workflows. This role will serve as a senior data leader across FAA BNATCS and Peraton Labs data streams and will help ensure that the Digital Command Center (DCC) is built on a strong data foundation. The ideal candidate combines strategic data leadership with practical experience in multi-domain data environments, ETL, and data fusion.

Within this role you will define the data backbone behind advanced analytics and AI-enabled mission support. You will play a critical role in ensuring the right data is available, usable, and ready to support highly visible capabilities that inform decision-making and modernization at scale.

Key responsibilities may include:

Lead data strategy and execution supporting DCC and CTO-driven capabilities
• Identify, assess, and prioritize data sources needed to support analytics, visualization, and AI-enabled workflows
• Coordinate data acquisition efforts across internal teams, stakeholders, and program partners
• Define and improve approaches for data fusion, modernization of data capture, and data pipeline readiness
• Guide ETL and data preparation efforts needed to support dashboards, analytics models, and downstream AI/ML use cases
• Partner with systems, software, and analytics teams to align data architecture with mission needs
• Help identify data gaps, dependencies, quality issues, and integration challenges affecting program success.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 12+ years of relevant experience in data engineering, software engineering, aerospace, systems engineering, systems/enterprise architecture, or related fields
• Experience leading data-focused initiatives in complex technical or operational environments
• Demonstrated experience with data identification, data acquisition, ETL, and multi-source data integration
• Experience with advanced data analysis and data fusion
• Familiarity with modern data capture, transformation, and preparation approaches that support advanced analytics
• Ability to work across multiple teams and stakeholders to align data efforts with mission objectives
• US Citizenship with ability to obtain/maintain an FAA Public Trust suitability
• Must be local and able to commute to one of our following locations: Annapolis Junction, MD, Bowie, MD, or Herndon, VA.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with synthetic data generation
• Familiarity with FAA systems or aviation operational data environments
• Experience supporting analytics platforms, dashboards, AI/ML pipelines, or decision-support systems
• Knowledge of metadata, lineage, governance-aware data practices, or data architecture strategy
• Experience with cloud data platforms, APIs, and modern data engineering ecosystems

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can't be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we're keeping people around the world safe and secure.