Viasat, Inc. logo

Systems Engineer, Space Infrastructure

Viasat, Inc.
  • Tempe, Arizona
  • $180,500–$285,000 Per Year
  • Full-time
2 days ago

Job Description

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:

We are seeking an experienced Systems Engineer to provide technical leadership and end‑to‑end ownership of space system definition and analysis. This role is responsible for defining system architectures, owning technical budgets, and leading requirements development across the full system lifecycle.

 

The Systems Engineer serves as a central technical authority, integrating subsystem teams, guiding system trade studies, and ensuring disciplined execution of requirements, analyses, and verification planning.

The day-to-day:
  • Own end‑to‑end space system technical budgets, including mass, power, data, performance, margins, and system constraints
  • Lead space system architecture definition and technical trade studies to guide design decisions
  • Develop, author, and maintain system‑level technical artifacts including SRDs, TRDs, and related specifications
  • Drive requirements decomposition, allocation, and requirements burndown across all subsystems
  • Ensure traceability between mission objectives, system requirements, subsystem designs, and verification plans
  • Provide technical leadership across cross‑functional engineering teams to resolve system‑level issues and interfaces
  • Lead system participation in major lifecycle reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, readiness reviews)
  • Define system‑level verification and validation strategies in partnership with integration and test teams
  • Identify, assess, and manage system‑level risks, assumptions, and margin posture
  • Produce clear, concise technical documentation and briefings to support engineering and leadership decision‑making
  • Mentor other systems engineers and contribute to improving systems engineering practices and standards
What you'll need:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field, or equivalent professional experience
  • 10+ years experience in systems engineering supporting complex space or aerospace systems
  • Proven experience owning and managing space system technical budgets and analyses
  • Demonstrated expertise in writing and controlling system level requirements and specifications
  • Strong command of systems engineering processes across the full development lifecycle
  • Ability to independently define complex problems, drive solutions, and influence technical outcomes without direct authority
  • Excellent technical communication skills, including senior level design and risk discussions
What will help you on the job:
  • Deep experience with space system architectures and subsystem integration
  • Familiarity with model‑based systems engineering and requirements management tools
  • Background in high‑reliability, mission‑critical system development
  • Ability to balance technical rigor with programmatic constraints
  • A systems‑level mindset with strong attention to margins, interfaces, and verification closure
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

careers@viasat.com

.

 

Numbers & Facts

LocationTempe, Arizona
Job TypeFull-time
IndustryTelecommunications Services
Salary$180,500–$285,000 Per Year
Company Size2,500 to 4,999 employees
Year Founded1986
Websitehttp://www.viasat.com/company/about/about-viasat

About Company

Digital Communication Products for Commercial and Government Markets

ViaSat produces innovative satellite and other digital communication products that enable fast, secure, and efficient communications to any location. We bring today’s new communication applications to people out of reach of terrestrial networks, in both the commercial and government sectors, with a variety of networking products and services.

Here you’ll find a company that is always asking,” What’s next?”, with the vertically integrated set of technologies to push the limits of what is possible for your system and service performance.

Products:

  • Satellite networks for fixed-site and mobile communications
  • Satellite antenna systems
  • Wireless datalinks and terminals for combat situational awareness
  • Cybersecurity and Information Assurance for military networking and encrypted data storage
  • Mobile IP networking for soldiers
  • Communication microprocessor chipsets
  • Application and communication acceleration
  • Satellite network and RF system design
  • Communication simulation and training systems

Services:

  • Global mobile satellite services for government and commercial aircraft, vehicles, and seagoing vessels
  • Satellite Internet access and other broadband services for consumers, business, and government customers in the U.S.
Recognized for Innovation, Growth, and Stability

With these past awards, ViaSat is well known as a successful, innovative, high-growth company:

  • World Technology Network - 2013 Winner, Communications Technology Award for high-capacity satellite system
  • Arthur C. Clarke Foundation - Innovator Award, CEO Mark Dankberg
  • Edison Awards 2013 - Bronze award for communications innovation
  • Popular Science 2012 "Best of What's New" for Exede Internet and high-capacity satellite system
  • Satellite Research and Markets - 2012 Visionary Executive of the Year
  • Society of Satellite Professionals International (SSPI) - 2012 Industry Innovator
  • TechAmerica - 2011 American Technology Award in the Telecommunications
  • Space News "Top 50 Space Companies"
  • San Diego Magazine "Made In San Diego: 11 Cool Companies"
  • Mark Dankberg American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) "2008 Aerospace International Communications Award"
  • Hannover Fairs ISCe2004 Satellite Industry Award for Innovation and Technology
  • Mark Dankberg Via Satellite “2003 Satellite Executive of the Year”
  • Defense Systems "Super 75"
  • DefenseNews "Top 100 Defense Contractors"
  • DefenseNews "Fast Track 50"
  • Washington Technology "Top 100 Federal Prime Contractors"
  • Three-time INC. 500 prior to going public in 1996


Surpassing 2,900 Employees and $1 Billion in Sales

The company employs over 2,900 professional and support personnel. The largest department is engineering, with many holding graduate degrees in electrical engineering or computer science. Annual revenues hit a record $1.1 billion during the most recently completed fiscal year (ended March 29, 2013).

History

ViaSat is part of the well-known Linkabit Corporation “family-tree” that spawned hundreds of San Diego area telecom startups, including Qualcomm, General Instruments, and Titan. Founded in 1986 by three former M/A-Com Linkabit employees, ViaSat is publicly traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol VSAT. Go to the History, Timeline or Industry Innovation & Firsts pages for more details.

To find out more about ViaSat, use the links on this page to explore our Web site.
Note: ViaSat Inc. is a separate company from and is not affiliated with Viasat Broadcasting, owned by Modern Times Group, Sweden.



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