Airway Transportation Systems Specialist

Airway Transportation Systems Specialist

The Airway Transportation Systems Specialist applies experience and expert technical knowledge of air traffic management to ensure the National Airspace System (NAS) technical systems, operations, and procedures used for airport and air traffic control and/or power, communication, surveillance, automation, and/or other types of air navigation services support the safe and efficient movement of aircrafts. Develops policies, processes, and training that identify and mitigate operational non-compliance, safety risks, and fatigue issues. Serves as a senior project manager for large, challenging work activities to develop new concepts, systems, or innovative approaches. Develops solutions to resolve unprecedented situations that adversely affect crucial components of the NAS by modifying existing or emerging technologies. Provides guidance and instruction to address diverse, complex issues that often overlap programs in other lines of business and that affect strategic Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs.

Uses extensive experience installing and maintaining aviation electronic equipment such as radars, communication and weather system equipment in a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) terminal or en route air traffic facilities. Leads highly complex and challenging activities to maintain networking systems, servers, software, and protect critical infrastructure. Integrates the results of investigations, safety evaluations, testing, and risk management into an in-depth strategy for operations in terminal and en route air traffic facilities. Utilizes automated systems such as the Operational Risk Management (ORM)/independent Risk Management Checklist (IRMC) to evaluate and determine risk. Serves as the technical expert in certification, periodic maintenance, and equipment coordination and logging procedures to develop policies and training criteria. Evaluates non-compliance and safety risks associated with National Airspace System (NAS) technical events and develops recommendations to mitigate identified risks, address underlying causal factors, and improve strategies for preventing or minimizing service interruptions and system outages.

Analyzes safety data to formulate and recommend organizational positions on major agency activities to senior managers. Represents the FAA as a senior technical authority for major projects and programs. Identifies and resolves issues that often cross organizational boundaries, including unions and external stakeholders related to Safety Management Systems, and develops recommendations to address complex aviation safety issues. Prepares technical safety reports to inform management decisions in strategic planning. Reviews reports for external departments such as the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Office of Inspector General (OIG). Prepares and coordinates responses to Congressional, OIG, Office of Management and Budget, and General Accountability Office inquiries as required. Develops and evaluates innovative concepts, methodologies, and policy recommendations to strengthen system reliability, improve operational continuity, and enhance the effectiveness of NAS programs and processes.

Contacts are both internal and external. Represents the FAA as a senior technical authority for safety initiatives to ensure compliance, reduce risk, and enact corrective actions by identifying and addressing relevant trends in Flight Plan Safety goals. Works with customers at high organization levels both inside and outside the FAA to resolve highly complex issues to ensure the integrity of the NAS.

Works independently and has broad discretion to ensure alignment with organizational objectives and policies. Identifies and justifies the resources needed to accomplish large work activities. The work is typically reviewed for success in achieving desired results. The work directly supports the objectives of the agency and the safe and continual operation of the NAS.