Systems Engineer Lead

We are seeking a highly skilled, hands-on Senior Systems Engineer to lead the development, authoring, and lab validation of complex Technical Instructions (TIs) supporting the FAA’s En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) system.

In this role, you will leverage a deep background in Systems Administration, VMware virtualization, and Enterprise Networking to translate complex system changes into step-by-step procedures. You will work side-by-side with FAA Second Level Engineering (SLE) Book Owners inside physical and virtual lab environments to dry-run, test, and formally validate new or modified technical procedures before they are deployed to operational Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs).

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Instruction (TI) Lifecycle: Plan, author, schedule, and maintain complex technician-facing Technical Instructions (TIs) for the ERAM environment.
• Lab Validation & Proving: Partner directly with FAA SLE Book Owners in specialized lab environments to physically execute and validate new or modified configuration steps, software patches, and hardware replacements.
• Infrastructure Evaluation: Navigate, configure, and troubleshoot Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)/Unix operating systems, enterprise Cisco networking architectures, and extensive VMware to ensure instructions accurately mirror real-world target environments.
• Technical Writing & Mastery: Turn high-level architecture designs, network port maps, and software deployment scripts into crisp, repeatable, and error-free step-by-step instructions utilizing enterprise documentation standards.
• Collaboration & Peer Review: Interface heavily with systems architects, hardware engineers, and government stakeholders to resolve technical discrepancies caught during lab testbed sessions.
• Baseline Management: Work closely with the FAA System Support Documentation & Production (SSDP) team to ensure all authored procedures are properly cataloged, version-controlled, and routed through formal approval pipelines.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Systems Engineering, Network Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience: 5 to 8+ years of progressive engineering experience, with a solid focus on systems administration, hands-on infrastructure testing, or developing deployment instructions.
• Core Technical Skills:
  • Systems Administration: Robust hands-on experience configuring, troubleshooting, and administering Linux/Unix systems.
  • Virtualization: Deep working knowledge of VM environments (vSphere, ESXi, vCenter, Red Hat Kernel-based Virtual Machine), virtual networking, and snapshot/cloning operations for testing.
  • Networking: Practical understanding of IP networking, routing protocols, switch configurations, and network topology diagnostics.
• Domain Familiarity: Prior experience or strong familiarity supporting the FAA ERAM environment or larger Air Traffic Management (ATM) / civil aerospace infrastructures.
• Tooling Literacy: High proficiency utilizing standard documentation platforms and task management ecosystems (such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Visio, Jira, and Confluence).

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct professional history collaborating with FAA SLE (Second Level Engineering) personnel or working inside FAA testbeds (such as those at the William J. Hughes Technical Center).
• Familiarity with formal FAA formatting standards, maintenance handbooks, or order requirements.
• Relevant industry certifications (e.g., VMware VCP, Cisco CCNA/CCNP, Red Hat RHCSA, or CompTIA Linux+).

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Original Posting:

Pay Range:

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.