Senior AI&T Engineer - Phased Array Test
Viasat, Inc.
Tempe, Arizona
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:Viasat’s Space Infrastructure Team designs, builds, and operates satellites that deliver global connectivity in demanding environments. Your work within the integration and test team will directly impact payload performance, schedule, and on‑orbit mission success.
This role is for a Senior AI&T (Assembly Integration and Test) Engineer focusing on Array RF Testing.
In this role, you will lead RF test development and validation for advanced space based phased array communications payloads. You will be responsible for defining how array performance is characterized, verified, and productionized across engineering and flight builds. This role sits at the intersection of RF design, systems engineering, and test, with primary responsibility for validating phased array performance.
You will design and deploy scalable RF test solutions capable of measuring full-array and subarray performance, translating system requirements into repeatable validation strategies. This includes driving verification of key antenna metrics such as radiation patterns, EIRP, G/T, SNR, EVM, ACLR, beam steering accuracy, and calibration stability.
You will work closely with the product design teams, located in both Europe and the US, to interpret module requirements and turn them into corresponding test plans and test equipment requirements. You will work closely with systems engineering and manufacturing teams to ensure array performance meets specification across temperature, environmental stress, and production variation.
The day-to-day:Architecture & Validation Strategy
Develop and maintain RF test architectures for active phased array systems
Define validation strategies for beamforming, calibration, and performance at unit and integrated‑payload levels
Test Solution Development & Automation
Design and implement test solutions for radiation pattern measurement, conducted RF validation, and over‑the‑air characterization
Develop automation software in Python or similar languages to control units under test, instrumentation, and data systems
Data Analysis & Troubleshooting
Analyze RF data to assess gain, linearity, noise performance, phase coherence, and beam steering accuracy
Drive root‑cause analysis of RF performance issues and provide design feedback to improve yield and robustness
Support environmental and qualification testing from an RF performance standpoint
Operate as a hands‑on engineer, moving between architecture discussion, detailed RF debug, and data‑driven performance analysis
Cross‑Functional Collaboration & Scalability
Interface with mechanical, digital, firmware, and manufacturing teams to ensure test coverage supports production scalability
Present performance results and technical trade studies to engineering leadership
- 8+ years experience in RF test and validation
- Experience with space-based or high-reliability phased array systems (satellite, radar, or equivalent)
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent experience
- Deep understanding of antenna arrays, beamforming concepts, and RF signal chains
- Strong experience with RF test equipment including spectrum analyzers, vector signal analyzers, vector signal generators, and network analyzers.
- Strong experience with over-the-air testing (near field and far field)
- Demonstrated experience architecting automated RF test systems
- Experience troubleshooting complex RF systems and driving root cause to resolution
- U.S. citizenship required
- Ability to travel up to 10%
- Demonstrated end‑to‑end ownership of complex test systems, from concept through deployment, with clear accountability for outcomes
- Experience with active electronically steered arrays and digital beamforming architectures
- Background in over-the-air (OTA) test methodologies and compact range or near-field measurement systems
- Familiarity with calibration strategies for large scale arrays
- Experience supporting environmental qualification testing of spaceflight RF hardware
- Experience transitioning RF test solutions from engineering development to production environments
- Ability to operate effectively in cross-functional, schedule-driven programs
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
.
About the Company
Viasat, Inc.
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.
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
- See What We Do at ViaSat - an Interactive Graphic
- Read Recent Articles About ViaSat
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).
HistoryViaSat 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.