Lead Systems Engineer - Space, Viasat Government

About us

One team. Global challenges. Infinite opportunities. At Viasat, we're on a mission to deliver connections with the capacity to change the world. For more than 35 years, Viasat has helped shape how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the globe communicate. We're looking for people who think big, act fearlessly, and create an inclusive environment that drives positive impact to join our team.

What you'll do

As a Senior Spacecraft Systems Engineer, you will serve as a technical leader responsible for developing, integrating, verifying, and operating complex spacecraft systems that deliver critical mission capabilities. You will lead and/or oversee spacecraft architecture development, payload-to-bus integration, requirements definition and allocation, interface management, and mission-level systems engineering activities across the full spacecraft lifecycle.

You bring expertise in spacecraft design, mission operations, systems engineering, technical integration, and cross-functional leadership. You are comfortable defining system solutions in ambiguous environments, influencing technical direction across organizations, and translating business and mission objectives into executable engineering strategies.

In this role, you will collaborate across spacecraft subsystems, payloads, flight software, mission operations, ground systems, suppliers, and customers to deliver resilient and high-performing space systems while helping shape the future technical direction of the program

The day-to-day

You will be responsible for leading and directly contributing to spacecraft systems engineering activities. In this role, you will lead or oversee:

• Lead/Support Spacecraft architecture development, mission design activities, and system trade studies to optimize mission performance, affordability, reliability, and operational effectiveness.
• Lead/Support Payload-to-bus integration efforts and drive resolution of system-level technical challenges across spacecraft subsystems.
• Develop, decompose, allocate, and maintain mission, vehicle, subsystem, and interface requirements.
• Own spacecraft interface management activities and maintain interface definitions between spacecraft, payload, ground, launch, and external mission systems.
• Develop and maintain spacecraft architecture models using MBSE methodologies and SysML-based tools.
• Establish and maintain system-level technical budgets including mass, power, thermal, pointing, RF performance, data throughput, reliability, availability, and delta-v.
• Lead cross-functional integration across attitude determination and control systems (ADCS), electrical power system (EPS), propulsion, thermal, communications, payload, structures, software, cybersecurity, and mission operations teams.
• Translate mission objectives and stakeholder needs into actionable architectures, operational concepts, requirements, and verification strategies.
• Support development of mission CONOPS, operational scenarios, fault management approaches, automation strategies, and contingency plans.
• Lead/Support technical investigations, trade studies, and architecture analyses, providing recommendations to program leadership and engineering teams.
• Define and execute verification and validation strategies, compliance assessments, and mission readiness activities.
• Support spacecraft AI&T activities, environmental testing, launch campaigns, commissioning, In-Orbit Testing (IOT), and anomaly resolution.
• Lead/Support mission reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, ORR, and FRR while effectively communicating technical risks, decisions, and recommendations.
• Serve as a primary technical interface with government customers, mission partners, suppliers, and internal stakeholders.
• Mentor junior engineers and help establish engineering best practices, systems engineering rigor, and technical excellence across programs.
• Influence technical direction across multiple teams by identifying opportunities to improve system performance, reliability, maintainability, security, and mission success.

What you'll need

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of experience developing spacecraft, satellites, or other complex aerospace systems.
• Demonstrated experience leading spacecraft architecture, requirements development, integration, and verification activities.
• Experience working across multiple engineering disciplines and influencing technical decisions without direct authority.
• Strong understanding of spacecraft subsystems and mission operations concepts.
• Experience conducting technical trade studies and making architecture decisions based on mission objectives, cost, risk, and schedule considerations.
• Experience with requirements management, verification planning, interface definition, and systems integration.
• Experience with MBSE tools, SysML, and digital engineering methodologies.
• Familiarity with Python, MATLAB, STK, or similar engineering analysis tools.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex technical material to technical and executive audiences.
• U.S. Citizenship and ability to obtain or maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.

What will help you on the job

• Advanced degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field.
• Experience with LEO, GEO, MEO, proliferated architectures, or distributed satellite constellations.
• Experience developing mission architectures, CONOPS, mission planning systems, or autonomous spacecraft operations.
• Expertise with Cameo, SysML, Jama, DOORS, or other systems engineering toolsets.
• Experience supporting launch, commissioning, LEOP, IOT, and sustained mission operations.
• Background in RF communications, ground systems, network architectures, or space communications systems.
• Demonstrated success serving as a technical lead, lead systems engineer, mission engineer, or chief engineer on complex aerospace programs.
• Experience working directly with government customers and supporting major technical reviews

Salary range

$180,500.00 - $285,000.00 / annually. For specific work locations within San Jose, the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, the base pay range for this role is $224,500.00- $336,500.00/ annually

At Viasat, we consider many factors when it comes to compensation, including the scope of the position as well as your background and experience. Base pay may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Additional cash or stock incentives may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position offered. Learn more about Viasat's comprehensive benefit offerings that are focused on your holistic health and wellness at https://careers.viasat.com/benefits.

EEO Statement

Viasat is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, seeking to create a welcoming and diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, genetics, age, or veteran status or any other applicable legally protected status or characteristic. If you would like to request an accommodation on the basis of disability for completing this on-line application, please click here.