Technical Project Manager - SME

Peraton Overview

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.

Responsibilities

Join Peraton in advancing the safety, efficiency, and modernization of the National Airspace System (NAS) through the FAA's Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS) contract. As a trusted partner to the Federal Aviation Administration, Peraton helps deliver the systems and services that keep our nation’s skies safe and connected. We’re looking for innovative professionals who thrive in mission-critical environments and are passionate about shaping the future of air traffic management. This is your chance to make an impact on one of the world’s most vital transportation infrastructures, working alongside leaders in aviation, engineering, data science, and systems integration.

At Peraton, you won’t just support the mission you’ll define it. Lead the work that keeps America flying safely.

At Peraton, we don’t just manage projects we deliver the systems that protect and advance U.S. air travel. We are seeking an experienced Technical Project Manager - SME to lead complex, high-visibility technology initiatives supporting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This role sits at the heart of aviation modernization, where disciplined execution, technical excellence, and mission impact converge. If you thrive in environments where precision matters, collaboration is essential, and your work has national significance, this role offers both challenge and purpose.

Work Location:

• This position is required to be 100% on-site in Herndon, VA.

In this position, you will:

The Technical Project Manager will manage the day-to-day coordination between a team of technical implementation professionals supporting a large-scale, mission-critical federal government program. This role provides hands-on leadership across the planning, coordination, execution, and deployment of technical solutions involving cybersecurity, network infrastructure, systems integration, and testing. The selected candidate will be responsible for implementation team performance, workforce planning, resource allocation, technical delivery, and operational readiness, ensuring projects are completed on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with FAA requirements, security standards, and quality expectations.

Program Execution

• Provide both technical project leadership and direct people management overseeing implementation teams.
• Own the full lifecycle of sophisticated projects from concept through deployment.
• Provide workforce forecasting, employee retention, succession planning, and talent development.
• Translate complex requirements into executable plans, schedules, and budgets using Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid methodologies.
• Align technical delivery with long-term FAA modernization goals and program priorities.
• Support requirements analysis, readiness reviews, and operational transitions.
• Drive projects to successful completion while meeting FAA standards, cost targets, and delivery commitments.
• Translate complex customer and technical requirements into executable work plans.
• Track project progress against established milestones, KPIs, contractual requirements, and customer expectations.
• Coordinate cross-functional technical teams, resolve implementation challenges, and maintain accountability for project outcomes.

Technical Leadership & Collaboration

• Manage the day-to-day performance, workload, priorities, and development of assigned employees.
• Conduct annual and mid-year performance reviews, providing clear, objective, and actionable feedback aligned with employee goals and organizational expectations.
• Establish individual performance objectives and ensure employee goals align with program priorities, contractual requirements, and organizational objectives.
• Assess current and future staffing requirements based on project schedules, technical priorities, customer demand, and contractual requirements.
• Provide ongoing coaching, mentoring, career development, and performance feedback to strengthen individual and team performance.
• Review and approve employee timecards, PTO, attendance, and other workforce-management activities.
• Partner closely with vendors, engineers, and program leaders to ensure seamless execution across all technical domains.
• Address employee performance issues and partnering with Human Resources when appropriate.

Risk Management with Real Impact

• Anticipate and resolve technical risks, dependencies, and integration challenges.
• Develop mitigation and contingency plans to protect program milestones and customer commitments.
• Maintain project risk and issue registers and ensure appropriate ownership, escalation, and resolution.
• Monitor team and project performance using established metrics and KPIs.
• Identify trends that may affect schedule, cost, quality, employee performance, or customer satisfaction.
• Develop corrective action plans and drive issues through resolution.

Trusted Stakeholder Partner

• Serve as a key interface between technical teams, program leadership, subcontractors, vendors, and other stakeholders.
• Provide clear status updates and executive-level briefings covering technical progress, staffing, schedules, accomplishments, risks, issues, and upcoming milestones.
• Translate complex technical information into understandable program and business impacts for senior leadership and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ensure customer priorities and expectations are effectively communicated to assigned employees and technical teams.

Why You’ll Want This Role:

Few roles offer the opportunity to apply deep technical and project management expertise at a scale that truly matters. In this position, your leadership directly supports aviation safety modernization across the National Airspace System.

Your work will:

• Influence systems relied upon by millions of travelers every day
• Support FAA initiatives that enhance safety, capacity, and resilience
• Place you at the center of high-profile, mission-critical programs

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• U.S. Citizenship Required.
• Must have the ability to obtain / maintain a Public Trust clearance.
• 12 years of direct people management experience leading technical implementation, engineering, or integration teams.
• Hands-on experience in systems implementation, infrastructure deployment, and technical operations.
• Experience leading geographically dispersed, cross-functional teams.
• Ability to identify and mitigate project risks and technical resolution.
• Experience with workforce planning, resource allocation, and workload management.
• Experience managing scope, schedules, and budgets using Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid methodologies.
• Ability to conduct technical reviews, validation activities, and post-implementation assessments.
• Experience setting employee performance goals and conducting evaluations.
• Knowledge of network infrastructure, systems engineering, integration, and deployment.
• Experience managing end-to-end implementations, from planning through operational transition.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience supporting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or National Airspace System (NAS).
• Degree in Engineering Management, Business Administration (MBA), or Systems Engineering.
• PMP, Agile, Scrum, ITIL, or related certifications.
• Familiarity with FAA modernization initiatives, implementation standards, operational readiness requirements, and technical deployment processes.
• Strong stakeholder management and executive communication skills.
• Experience managing subcontractors, vendors, technical partners, and external implementation resources.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Project, Jira, Confluence or similar tools.
• Knowledge of FAA deployment processes and operational readiness requirements.
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills with a track record of delivering complex projects on time and within budget.

Target Salary Range

$146,000 - $234,000. 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.

Benefits Statement

Peraton offers eligible employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, health savings account, short/long term disability, EAP, parental leave, 401(k), paid time off (PTO) for vacation, and company paid holidays. A full listing of available benefits can be viewed at https://www.careers.peraton.com/benefits.

Application Statements

The application period for the job is estimated to be 30 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates. By applying to this job, you are expressing interest in the role and the Company. During the review of your application, you may be required to participate in an on-camera interview, as well as participate in a process to verify your identity. Use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools of any kind during Peraton interviews is strictly prohibited unless the candidate has obtained prior written authorization. All interview responses must be the candidate’s own.

EEO

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