Senior Technical Project Engineer – Multidisciplinary Development Programs

Viasat, Inc.

Carlsbad, California

JOB DETAILS
SALARY
$141,500–$224,000 Per Year
SKILLS
Communication Skills, Computer Firmware, Corrective Action, Data Processing, Electrical Engineering, Embedded Systems, Field Trials, Hardware-Software Integration, Integration Testing, Leadership, Mechanical Testing, Mentoring, Organizational Skills, Performance Testing, Problem Solving Skills, Product Development, Product Lifecycle, Project Engineering, Project/Program Management, Risk, Risk Management, Root Cause Analysis, System Architecture, System Integration (SI), System Test, Systems Analysis, Systems Engineering, Systems Maintenance, Team Lead/Manager, Technical Leadership, Technical Support, Test Strategy, Testability, Traceability, Trade Studies, Validation Testing, Willing to Travel
LOCATION
Carlsbad, California
POSTED
4 days ago
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 a Senior Engineer to operate in a Project Engineer role on a fast‑paced, multidisciplinary development program. This role requires strong systems‑level thinking, broad technical capability, and the ability to coordinate complex engineering efforts across hardware, software, integration, and test!

 

While deep sensing expertise is not required on day one, the ideal candidate has the technical foundation, curiosity, and systems perspective to quickly grow into the role of a sensing‑focused Project Engineer, owning technical direction and cross‑domain integration for sensing‑driven systems.

 

You will serve as a technical integrator and leader—driving alignment across teams, leading technical tradeoffs, and ensuring focused execution from concept through delivery

The day-to-day:

Technical Leadership & System Integration

  • Act as the Project Engineer for a major development effort, owning system‑level technical coordination across multiple engineering disciplines.
  • Define and maintain system architectures, interfaces, and technical requirements, ensuring consistency and traceability.
  • Lead technical trade studies and decision‑making across performance, risk, schedule, and cost.
  • Grow into ownership of sensing‑related architectures, interfaces, and performance as program needs evolve.

Multidisciplinary Engineering Execution

  • Work across hardware, firmware, software, mechanical, and test teams to ensure end‑to‑end system performance.
  • Identify and resolve cross‑domain technical issues, particularly at integration and interface boundaries.
  • Guide design decisions to support testability, reliability, manufacturability, and scalability.

Path to Sensing Ownership

  • Rapidly develop understanding of sensor technologies, data acquisition, and system‑level sensing performance relevant to the program.
  • Partner with subject‑matter experts to build depth in sensing systems and eventually assume broader sensing technical leadership.
  • Translate sensing‑related behaviors and constraints into clear system requirements and integration strategies.

Program Execution & Technical Planning

  • Partner closely with program management to support technical planning, milestone definition, and risk management.
  • Provide clear technical feedback to schedules, resourcing, and build/test strategies.
  • Track technical readiness and integration maturity across program phases.

Team Coordination & Mentorship

  • Coordinate efforts across multiple engineering teams and disciplines in a matrixed environment.
  • Mentor engineers in systems thinking and disciplined development practices.
  • Serve as a trusted technical point of contact for engineering leadership and customers.

Testing & Validation

  • Support definition of system‑level test and validation strategies, including integration and performance testing.
  • Assist with root‑cause analysis of complex system issues and guide corrective actions.
  • Ensure test results and field data feed back into design improvements.
What you'll need:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Software, Systems, or related field); Master’s preferred.
  • 8-12+ years of demonstrated ability in complex system or product development.
  • Proven track record to lead or coordinate multidisciplinary technical efforts.
  • Strong systems engineering fundamentals, including requirements, interfaces, and integration.
  • Ability to learn new technical domains quickly and operate effectively in ambiguous environments.
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to align diverse technical teams.
  • Able to travel up to 25% travel domestically 
  • Must be able to work out of our office in Carlsbad, CA or Tempe, AZ.
  • Able to come into the office 3 days a week; hybrid role.
What will help you on the job:
  • Prior experience working with sensor‑enabled or data‑driven systems, even if not as a specialist.
  • Background in embedded systems, controls, data processing, or system integration.
  • Experience operating in a Project Engineer, Lead Engineer, or Technical Lead role.
  • Experience delivering products through full product lifecycle

#LI-VSAT 

Salary range: $141,500.00 - $224,000.00 / 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 $176,000.00- $264,000.00/ 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

.

 

About the Company

V

Viasat, Inc.

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.



COMPANY SIZE
2,500 to 4,999 employees
INDUSTRY
Telecommunications Services
FOUNDED
1986
WEBSITE
http://www.viasat.com/company/about/about-viasat