R&D Automation Systems Engineer

Role

Purpose

To Contribute and support R&D initiatives related to the deployment of next-generation Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems. including analyzing & documenting complex requirements, participating in thorough vendor evaluations, and supporting the testing and validation of cloud-native, Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) platforms. ensuring that systems align with SANS operational needs to deliver Air Traffic Control services in a safe, efficient, scalable, and cyber-resilient manner, within set KPI’s, agreed budgets and adopted policies and procedures.

Key

Accountability

Areas

Key

Activities

ATM System development & Architecture definition

• Support the development of the SANS Engineering Masterplan for ATM Automation systems and ensure that all needs are captured and addressed at relevant strategic and business planning milestones
• Define, document, and maintain ATM systems requirements and Scope of Works (SOWs), ensuring alignment with approved ATM architecture standards, interoperability requirements, international masterplans (e.g., SESAR and FAA), and applicable operational, safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Assist Senior Architects and ATM Systems Chief in assessing the impact of changes in ATS procedures and airspace structure on current and planned ATM systems utilizing Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) frameworks (e.g., Capella, Enterprise Architecture) to simulate operational impacts and structural behavior
• Coordinate with other ANSPs for technical interfacing integration and communication focusing specifically on SWIM and interoperability protocols (AIXM, FIXM, WXXM) and the technical integration of ATM Data Service Provider (ADSP) cross-border models.
• Participate in and introduce Working Papers in international and regional conferences and ICAO panels related to ATM systems.
• Coordinate with other SANS Departments to ensure the compatibility of ATM systems designs with current and future CNS/ATM systems and infrastructure.
• Participate in system (SDR), preliminary (PDR) and critical (CDR) design review meetings
• Coordinate with other SANS Departments to ensure the compatibility of ATM systems designs with current and future CNS/ATM systems and infrastructure, ensuring that all transversal constraints—Safety, Cybersecurity, Human Factors, and Network Performance—are strictly adhered to throughout the development lifecycle.

Vendor Assessment & Acquisition Strategy

• Conduct the technical evaluation of prospective ATM Automation system vendors, executing due diligence and assessment of compliance against system requirements to qualify vendors’ maturity in delivering genuine cloud-native microservices versus legacy re-platforming.
• Develop, maintain, and analyze rigorous Vendor Scorecards tracking critical Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as Reliability, Availability, Mean Time to Recovery (MTTR), etc.
• Participate in reviewing and evaluating technical proposals for other CNS systems, ensuring proposed solutions avoid vendor lock-in and align with the ANSP's strategic roadmap for multi-vendor interoperability
• Participate in the R&D validations, ATM system testing, commissioning and hand-over of ATM systems projects and ensure that the delivered system meets all the requirements in terms of specifications and performance
• Support maintenance activities of ATM systems as needed to ensure that all systems are operating effectively
• Monitor on-site activities to ensure being completed as per agreed specifications and quality standards, and taking appropriate action in case of any deviation
• Participate in the analysis of systems trouble reports (STRs) and conduct required modification programs and systems change process (SCPs)
• Advise ATM Systems Chief of any potential impact of on-going projects on ATC service delivery

Policies, Processes and Procedures

• Conduct day-to-day activities while ensuring compliance to policies and procedures
• Contribute to the identification of opportunities for continuous improvement of systems, processes taking into account leading practices, changes in business environment, cost reduction and productivity improvement

Knowledge

and

Experience

• No priorexperience is required.

Education

and

Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent is required