Senior Systems Architect

The Office of Space Weather Observations (SWO) under NESDIS is responsible for advancing space weather observational capabilities to meet NOAA programmatic needs. NOAA’s Space Weather Next (SWX) program maintains and extends space weather observations from various vantage points, selected to most efficiently provide comprehensive knowledge of the Sun and the near-Earth space environment needed to protect our technological infrastructure. 

 The Space Weather Ground Services (SWGS) is responsible for comprehensive ground services for all SWX projects, ensuring successful implementation and operation of observing assets and ensuring the continuity of space weather measurements made by SWFO-L1 and the GOES-R series satellites. 

 The SWGS Mission Operations Services (MOS) program must provide a full satellite mission command and control solution to support the L1 Series with two new independently launched observatories. 

 

Position Overview 

Peraton is seeking a Senior Systems Architect to join the Architecture team and provide Subject Matter Expert (SME) level design, engineering and implementation support for the entire SWO-MOS program working directly with the Chief Systems Architect. 

This role serves as a technical authority responsible for ensuring the system architecture is designed to meet or exceed requirements and effectively allow execution to align with program objectives. The selected candidate will work across cross-disciplinary engineering teams, documenting architecture/designs, performing implementation/integration activities and effectively providing guidelines to deploy complex systems for the mission. 

The ideal candidate brings deep architecture and engineering expertise in multiple disciplines, proven leadership experience, and a strong background supporting mission-critical space or ground system programs. 

Architecture, Performance & System Design 

• Key member of system conceptual design activities and ensuring alignment with program architecture design concepts. 

• Provide strategic direction for system architecture, integration strategy, and technical execution. 

• Translate high-level product strategies into detailed system designs, coordinating across engineering disciplines. 

• Support the establishment of metrics, evaluation criteria, and technical performance measures (TPMs) to assess system design readiness. 

• Ensure system design integrity, scalability, and operational effectiveness. 

• Support development of system documentation/CDRLs and ensure alignment with program architectures and platforms. 

 

System Implementation and Integration 

• Ability to provide hands-on support as needed to effectively implement system designs and services.  

• Implementation of solution architectures and cloud strategies to conform with cloud best practices. 

• Integration of automation into the implementation process to allow efficiencies to be realized. 

 

Technology & Innovation 

• Evaluate emerging technologies and architectures for potential application to the program. 

• Provide technical insight into modernization opportunities including cloud adoption, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), automation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and scalable architecture. 

 

Engineering Support 

• Key member of the requirements development process to ensure solutions meet all functional and performance requirements. 

• Serve as a SME supporting Systems Engineering Integration and Test (SEIT), Infrastructure, Cyber and Software teams across the program as required. 

• Participate in defining external and internal interfaces across program elements and partner systems. 

• Lead and mentor engineers responsible for implementation of developed design artifacts. 

• Support program leadership in technical planning, decision making, and risk management. 

• Support vendor decisions and product analysis, including required hardware, software, and network components. 

• Provide system performance analysis using defined evaluation criteria and technical performance measures conveying improvements where applicable. 

 

Program Technical Leadership 

• Serve as a SME on the program’s technical team, working closely with program management and other functional leads. 

• Consult with management, customers, and external partners regarding schedules, resources, designs, and implementation strategies. 

• Establish and maintain design/engineering standards, best practices, and development processes. 

• Support technical risk and opportunity identification and drive mitigation strategies. 

• Contribute to lessons learned and continuous improvement initiatives. 

• Engage directly with customers to support technical planning, requirements discussions, and problem resolution. 

 

 **This position is contingent on contract award. ** 

 

#SWOMOS

• Ability to obtain and hold a Public Trust clearance – US Citizenship is required 
• Minimum of 12 years of Architecture, Design and Engineering experience supporting Satellite Ground Systems or similar complex mission systems with BS/BA; Minimum of 10 years with MS/MA; Minimum of 7 years with PhD 

• Demonstrated experience with system design and implementation activities on large-scale programs. 

• Strong knowledge of Satellite Ground Systems, including: 

• Mission planning 

• Command, control, and communications 

• Data processing pipelines 

• Space-to-ground interfaces 

• Network topology design 

• Cybersecurity 

• CI/CD pipelines and DevSecOps 

• Satellite operations 

• Experience with software-centric and distributed systems architectures. 

• Experience with Atlassian tools such as Jira and Confluence. 

• Experience with cloud-based services (AWS) and modern infrastructure environments. 

• Experience working in Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) environments or similar Agile methodologies and leading Program Increment (PI) planning activities. 

• Strong experience in requirements decomposition and analysis, system architecture development, interface definition and management, and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE). 

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and resolve complex technical issues. 

 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Technical certifications in AWS, networking vendors (Cisco, PaloAlto, F5) and/or CyberSecurity 

• Experience with machine learning and AI 

• Experience with Peraton OS/COMET 

• Experience supporting NOAA, NASA, or national space mission programs. 

• Experience supporting mission operations or operational system transitions. 

• Familiar with NESDIS Common Cloud Framework (NCCF) 

• Ability to communicate complex data in a simple, actionable way 

• Ability to visualize data in the most effective way possible for a given project or study 

• Experience working within a distributed virtual team environment, with proficiency in remote collaboration tools and practices. 

• Strong interpersonal skills with a willingness to foster strong relationships with coworkers and vendors. 

• Highly organized with strong attention to detail 

• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills  

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.

$176,000 - $282,000. 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 individual’s 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.

EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.