Technical Director, Aviation Sector

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Job Description:

Technical Director, Aviation Sector | Parsons Corporation

Shape the Future of Global Aviation Modernization

Parsons is seeking an exceptional Technical Director, Aviation Sector to serve as the senior technical authority for one of the most consequential missions in critical infrastructure: the modernization of air traffic management, aviation weather, and national airspace systems worldwide.

This is a highly visible, externally facing technical leadership position at the center of how Parsons partners with the FAA, international air navigation service providers (ANSPs), airports, the Department of Defense, and leading aviation technology OEMs to modernize the systems that keep the skies safe.

If you are a recognized technical leader in CNS/ATM, aviation weather, air traffic management, or safety-critical systems integration — someone who has earned credibility with government and industry customers through demonstrated delivery, not just theory — this role offers the scope, autonomy, and mission impact to make your mark on the next generation of aviation infrastructure.

Why This Role Matters

Aviation modernization is entering a pivotal decade. Aging infrastructure, growing airspace complexity, emerging technologies like AI and digital engineering, and the integration of new entrants such as UAS and UAM are converging to reshape how air traffic is managed and how aviation weather is sensed, processed, and delivered to operational decision-makers.

As Technical Director, you will be the person customers, executives, and engineering teams turn to when the technical stakes are highest: when a modernization program needs a credible architecture, when a proposal needs technical teeth, when an integration risk needs to be surfaced early, or when a customer needs to trust that Parsons understands their mission as well as they do.

What You'll Be Doing

Setting Technical Direction

• Define and evolve the Aviation Sector's technical strategy, translating business and customer mission needs into executable plans.
• Assess which emerging technologies (AI, digital engineering, cloud, advanced data platforms) are genuinely ready for safety-critical aviation use — and which are not.
• Establish Parsons as the technically credible, vendor-neutral partner for complex aviation integration challenges.

Serving as Technical Authority for CNS/ATM and Aviation Weather

• Provide senior technical leadership across communications, navigation, surveillance, air traffic management, ATC automation, and airspace operations.
• Guide the technical approach to aviation weather sensing, forecasting, and dissemination, and its integration into ATM and airport decision-support systems.
• Evaluate competing architectures, technologies, and vendor claims with operational rigor.

Leading Complex Systems Integration

• Provide technical oversight for multi-system, multi-site, multi-vendor programs — from architecture through deployment and cutover.
• Instill engineering discipline across requirements, configuration management, interface control, and verification/validation.
• Surface integration risks early, before they become cost, schedule, or safety problems.

Driving Program and Pursuit Success

• Provide technical leadership to major programs, captures, and proposals across FAA, international ANSP, airport, DoD, and OEM opportunities.
• Serve as a technical escalation point for difficult architecture, integration, or delivery challenges.
• Ensure what gets proposed is what can actually be delivered.

Engaging Customers and Industry

• Build trusted relationships with FAA, international civil aviation authorities, ANSPs, airports, DoD organizations, and OEM partners.
• Represent Parsons at industry forums and executive briefings as a senior technical voice.
• Translate customer and market insight into recommendations for talent, partnerships, and investment.

Establishing Technical Governance

• Lead independent technical reviews, architecture reviews, and readiness assessments.
• Promote disciplined, phased delivery with clear readiness gates for safe, predictable modernization in live operational environments.
• Ensure schedule or commercial pressure never compromises safety, security, or quality.

Building Technical Talent and Capability

• Define the sector's technical capability model and close critical skill and succession gaps.
• Recruit, mentor, and retain senior technical professionals; build career paths for chief engineers and architects.

Driving Innovation Responsibly

• Lead practical application of digital engineering, AI, and enterprise data integration in regulated, safety-critical environments.
• Clearly distinguish what's ready for operational deployment from what's still experimental.

What Success Looks Like

• Established a clear, actionable technical strategy for the Aviation Sector.
• Strengthened Parsons' technical credibility with the FAA, ANSPs, airports, DoD, and international customers.
• Improved the technical realism and competitiveness of major proposals.
• Built repeatable playbooks for systems integration, testing, and operational transition.
• Grown a deeper bench of CNS/ATM and aviation weather technical leadership.
• Contributed directly to new contract awards and strategic growth.

What Required Skills You'll Bring

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, aviation, meteorology, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent demonstrated experience.
• 25+ years of progressive experience in aviation systems, aerospace, CNS/ATM, aviation weather, air traffic management, systems engineering, defense aviation, or a closely related field.
• Local to DC Preferred, but can work anywhere.
• 10+ years of senior technical or engineering leadership experience.
• Deep, demonstrated technical experience in CNS/ATM, air traffic management, aviation weather, or closely related safety-critical aviation systems.
• Experience leading complex systems integration, enterprise architecture, modernization, deployment, or sustainment efforts.
• Direct experience working with FAA, ANSP, civil aviation authority, airport, DoD, OEM, or major systems-integrator customers.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary technical teams and influence across organizational and customer boundaries.
• Experience supporting major captures, proposals, or strategic customer engagements.
• Exceptional written, verbal, briefing, and executive communication skills.
• Ability to obtain and maintain required government or customer clearances, where applicable.

What Desired Skills You'll Bring

• Master's degree in systems engineering, aerospace/electrical/computer engineering, computer science, aviation, meteorology, or business.
• Direct experience with FAA/NAS modernization or comparable international ATM modernization programs.
• Experience integrating aviation weather capabilities into ATM, airport, or airspace decision-support systems.
• Experience with large-scale, multi-site, multi-vendor aviation deployments.
• Experience with digital engineering, model-based systems engineering, AI/ML, cloud computing, or enterprise data integration.
• Experience leading distributed, matrixed, or multi-partner technical organizations.
• Experience with strategic partnerships, technology licensing, or capability acquisitions.
• Professional Engineer, INCOSE, PMP, Agile, cloud, or cybersecurity certifications.
• Established professional reputation and network within CNS/ATM, aviation weather, or global ATM modernization communities.

Security Clearance Requirement:

None This position is part of our Federal Solutions team. The Federal Solutions segment delivers resources to our US government customers that ensure the success of missions around the globe. Our intelligent employees drive the state of the art as they provide services and solutions in the areas of defense, security, intelligence, infrastructure, and environmental. We promote a culture of excellence and close-knit teams that take pride in delivering, protecting, and sustaining our nation's most critical assets, from Earth to cyberspace. Throughout the company, our people are anticipating what’s next to deliver the solutions our customers need now. Salary Range: $200,600.00 - $383,500.00 This position is eligible for incentive compensation. We value our employees and want our employees to take care of their overall wellbeing, which is why we offer best-in-class benefits such as medical, dental, vision, paid time off, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), 401(k), life insurance, flexible work schedules, and holidays to fit your busy lifestyle! This position will be posted for a minimum of 3 days and will continue to be posted for an average of 30 days until a qualified applicant is selected or the position has been cancelled. Parsons is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected status. We truly invest and care about our employee’s wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest—APPLY TODAY!

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