Senior SATCOM Systems Engineer

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.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Systems Engineer to lead the design, development, and integration of advanced satellite communications solutions! In this role, you will be responsible for driving system architecture, defining requirements, and ensuring performance across complex, multi-disciplinary programs. The ideal candidate brings deep technical expertise, strong multi-functional leadership, and a proven ability to delivery high-reliability satcom solutions.

• Develop and own the end‑to‑end system architecture for communications solutions.
• Evaluate architecture trades, assess performance impacts, and define optimal system configurations to meet mission and business objectives.
• Create and maintain high‑level system diagrams, interface definitions, and technical baselines.

• Lead the development, decomposition, and management of system requirements across all program phases.
• Translate customer, regulatory, and mission needs into clear, verifiable requirements.
• Define and manage interfaces between subsystems, vendors, and multi‑functional engineering teams.
• Establish and maintain requirements traceability from concept through verification and validation.

• Serve as a technical authority and mentor for engineering teams, providing guidance on architecture, design decisions, and system performance.
• Lead engineering design reviews and present system approaches to internal partners, customers, and leadership.

• Support proposal development, technical estimates, and customer‑facing documentation.
• Communicate complex engineering concepts clearly and effectively to both technical and non‑technical audiences.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field.
• 7+ years of experience in satcom, telecommunications, aerospace, or related high‑complexity systems.
• Expertise in systems architecture and requirements development.
• Experience with systems engineering tools (e.g., JAMA, DOORS, Cameo).
• Excellent problem‑solving skills and demonstrated ability to lead cross‑functional technical efforts.
• Capable of engaging with internal and external Subject Matter Experts on technical problems, trade‑offs, and solutions.
• Ability to work out of our Carlsbad, CA or Germantown, MD office.
• US citizenship required.
• Must be able to obtain a United States Secret Clearance.

• Experience with GEO, MEO, and/or LEO satellite systems.
• Waveform design experience.
• Background in modeling and simulation (e.g., MATLAB).
• Relevant industry certification experience for environmental and system performance (MIL‑STD, WGS).
• Experience with technical product development, project lifecycle, and product management (requirement development, achievement reviews, testing, documentation, customer acceptance, etc.).

#LI-BBS

$ – $ / 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 $ – $ / 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

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.

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