Systems Architect, Ground Segment & Automation

Joshua Craig Johnson

Nancy, KY +1-425-***-**** ****.*******@****************.*** www.linkedin.com/in/joshuacraigjohnson/ https://github.com/SunbrightShinobi

Active US Passport, Expires Jan 2036

Professional Summary

Systems Engineer and Architect with 25+ years of experience spanning defense aerospace, UAS programs, and enterprise IT infrastructure. Proven track record leading ground segment architecture, configuration management, and systems integration for major programs including the US Navy Triton MQ-4C, UCAS-D, and Skydweller Aero. Deep expertise in secure network design, data center infrastructure, and automation — with hands-on experience from avionics bench to ground control system architecture. Former TS/SCI clearance holder. Experienced leading teams of 8–10 engineers across classified and commercial programs.

Core Competencies

System Architecture Hardware/Network Engineering Configuration Management

Business Continuity & Resiliency Planning Project Management

Troubleshooting

Automation & Scripting (Python, Bash, PowerShell, and LaTeX) Leadership & Team Building of (8-10) engineers/techs

Jira Confluence

Software (Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, Assured Compliance Assessment Solution [ACAS]) US DOD Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs)

Workstations, Servers, Radios, Network Switches, Routers, Firewalls, and Wireless Access Points

Key Accomplishments

Achieved an 85% increase in automation deployment and configuration management for US Navy Triton IFC 4 UAS program from previous manual methods, significantly improving customer satisfaction.

Resolved previous downtime impacts for US Navy Triton UAS program through effective configuration management to include multiple operating systems through fully ISO file creation for multiple operating systems and deployment in Git and Git-LFS

Awarded "Employee of the Month, Feb 2019" at Northrop Grumman for contributions to the Triton Program.

Converted Sphinx documentation via code to use the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) environment with upgrades including to use Git versus Subversion for configuration management and multiple new functionalities and a manual and source code for how to use

https://sunbrightshinobi.github.io/sphinx-manual/index.html

Education

Master of Advanced Study (Architecture-Based Enterprise Systems Engineering) University of California, San Diego Aug 2018

Bachelor of Science (Technical Management)

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Remote Jan 2012

Associate of Science (Aviation Maintenance)

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Remote Feb 2009

Certifications & Training

General Radio Telephone Operator’s License with Ship Radar Endorsement (FCC)

Former US Top Secret/SCI Security Clearance (Inactive since 03/2020)

CCENT – Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician (Expired 6/2/12)

CCNA – Cisco Certified Network Associate (Expired 6/13/12)

CompTIA Security+ - Issued Oct 2015 · (Expires Oct 2021)

Certified IPC Specialist – Association Connecting Electronics Industries

IPC/WHMA-A-620A Requirements and Acceptance for Cable and Wire Harness Assemblies – SN: 620A-S21096

J-STD-001 Requirements for Soldered Electrical and Electronic Assemblies – SN: J001-S63144, (Expired 06/2012)

Anthropic—Certificate of completion: Claude 101—Issued Jun 2026

Anthropic—Certificate of Completion: AI Fluency for Small Businesses—Issued Jun 2026

Anthropic—Certificate of Completion: Al Fluency Framework & Foundations—Issued Jun 2026

Professional Experience

Galaxy Forest Labs Owner &Primary Consultant galaxyforestlabs.xyz

Harrodsburg, KY (Remote)

Consultant (Jan 2026 – Present) providing Information Technology design & development and UAS system integration functions

Mental Health break due to a medical incident (Jun 2024 – Jan 2026)

Binarylandscapes Consulting Owner & Primary Consultant

Sunbright, TN (Remote) Kiln, Mississippi and Madrid, Spain

Payloads and Communication Engineer (Jun 2020 – June 2024) for Skydweller Aero S.L. customer provided payload, network, communications and COTS architecture. Systems engineering services including architecture diagrams, requirements review, test and verification plans and change board reviews. Development, integration and troubleshooting services for payload and communication systems including two labs.

Northrop Grumman

Mission Systems 2018 – 2020 Aerospace Systems 2011 – 2018 Technical Services 2010 – 2011

Staff Computer Systems Engineer (Feb 2018 – Jun 2020, San Diego, CA): Led the Triton MQ-4C UAS Ground Segment architecture and development for Windows and storage appliance and managed team of engineers for the project. System engineering functions such as development of architecture diagrams, requirements development and review and supported program Engineering and Change Board reviews.

Staff Computer Systems Engineer (Nov 2017 – Feb 2018, San Diego, CA and Beale AFB, CA): Supported information security network integration and COTS integration efforts for Common Mission Control Center (CMCC) program at Beale AFB including System Engineering using SysML. Performed ACAS scans of the system.

Electronics Engineer 5 (Jan 2017 – Nov 2017, San Diego, CA): Ground Infrastructure Lead Architect for Strategic Systems classified program. Provide architecture diagrams, requirements review and supported program Engineering and Change Board reviews. Selected data center equipment such as servers, workstations, network, and software.

Systems Engineer 4 (Jul 2014 – Jan 2017, San Diego, CA): Network and VMware development and engineering for Strategic Systems classified program

Systems Engineer 3 (Jun 2013 – Jul 2014, San Diego, CA): Network Systems development and engineering for Strategic Systems classified program

Systems Engineer 3 (Nov 2011 – Jun 2013, Patuxent River NAS, MD): Supported Mission Management and Communications systems for flight-test and engineering support for US Navy UCAS-D UAS Flight Test at Patuxent River NAS and ship-board deployments.

Field Technician 4 (Mar 2010 – Nov 2011, Webster Field, MD): Supported control and communications system for the MQ-8B UAS flight-test operations and maintenance. Performed as a plane captain for launching and recovery of UAS.

L3 Communications – Bluegrass Army Depot – Lexington, KY and Fort Lewis, WA

Field Engineer II (Feb 2007 – Mar 2010): Supported US Army Special Forces Military Performing wiring and avionics modifications, troubleshooting and testing for the Sikorsky MH-60 and MH-47 aircraft.

Lear Siegler Services – Lakehurst, NJ

Avionics Tech 2 (Apr 2006 – Apr 2007): Performing wiring and avionics modifications, troubleshooting and testing of systems for US Army UH-60 & HH-60 Blackhawk and US Air Force C-130 aircraft.

ViiSAGE/TransDigital Technologies INC. - Seattle, WA

Assistant Systems Administrator (Jan 2005 – Apr 2006): Provided IT support and passport printer maintenance for the Department of State, Seattle Passport Agency.

United States Marine Corps – MCBH Kaneohe Bay, HI, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan and Osan, South Korea

Sergeant (E-5), Avionics Technician and Marksmanship Coach (Dec 1999- Dec 2004): MOS Code: 6323, Technician and Collateral Duty Inspector performing avionics maintenance and quality assurance inspection on Sikorsky CH-53D aircraft and trained aircrew for flights. Instructed marines in AR-15 rifle and M-9 pistol marksmanship and safety

CJ’s Mobile Mechanic Service – Delta, PA

Assistant Diesel Mechanic (1995 -1999): Assisted in the scheduled Maintenance of diesel trucks and equipment

Technical Skills

Operating Systems: Windows Server, Windows 10 and 11, RHEL, UNIX, Solaris, Ubuntu, TrueNAS/FreeNAS, Apple MacOS and IOS, Android, Microsoft Windows for Linux

Virtualization: VMware vSphere ESXi, Proxmox, VirtualBox, Hyper-V

Containerization: Docker, Kubernetes

Networking: Cisco Technologies, ACI Fabric Systems, MikroTik, Teltonika, OpenVPN, Tailscale

Scripting and Development: Python, Bash, Power Shell, Git and Git-LFS, Gitlab, Github, Sphinx, LaTeX, RestructuredText, Markdown, Ansible

Software: Matlab, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Visio, Adobe Acrobat, LibreOffice, WinTAK

Hardware: Dell Workstations, Dell & HPE Servers and Storage, Intel/ASUS NUCs, Oracle Servers, Microsoft Surface devices, Apple MacBook and iPad/iPhone devices, Android devices, KG encryptors, ARC-210 radios, Persistent Systems MPU5 radios, Silvus StreamCaster radios, Tactical Targeting Network Technology (TTNT), Starlink, LoRA radios

Security: ACAS and STIGs implementation and Scans

System Engineering: DOORS, Polarian, Requirements, Jira, Confluence, Interface Control Definitions, Test and Verification planning, Generation of Schematics, SysML, Model-Based System Engineer

Electrical: Low Voltage including Power over Ethernet and automotive, 1-28VDC and High Voltage of 115/240VAC including inverters, battery chargers and solar.

Contact this candidate