Chief Engineer: Defense Antenna Modernization & Sustainment

Viasat; Duluth (GA); On-site; USD 225,000 - 337,000; Full time

Job summary

Viasat is seeking a Chief Engineer to serve as the technical authority for government communications and antenna systems programs. You will lead the technical execution of sustainment and modernization efforts involving RF antenna systems, ground infrastructure, cybersecurity, software, and mission systems.

You will guide system lifecycle, oversee cross-functional teams, and interface with government customers and prime contractors to ensure reliable, secure, and operational systems.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of systems engineering, architecture, chief engineering, or technical leadership experience
• Experience as Chief Engineer, Lead Systems Engineer or Technical Director
• Strong knowledge of systems engineering processes and lifecycle development
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Experience with requirements development, baselines, CM, and engineering change processes
• Experience leading technical reviews and customer engagements
• Strong understanding of integration and evaluation for complex hardware/software systems
• Experience managing technical risk and resolving operational issues
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills
• US Government position; US Citizenship required; Active DoD TS/SCI Clearance

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical authority across complex sustainment and modernization programs
• Lead systems engineering activities supporting advanced antenna systems, RF communications, network, software, and mission architectures
• Provide strategic technical leadership for sustainment, modernization, cybersecurity, RAM, and lifecycle support
• Lead technical decision making for system modifications, upgrades, and architecture evolution
• Chair and participate in technical reviews and customer reviews
• Lead risk identification, mitigation planning, and execution through the program lifecycle
• Direct cross-functional engineering teams across systems, software, RF, hardware, cybersecurity, test, field engineering, and logistics
• Act as senior technical interface with government customers, large primes, subcontractors, and users
• Support integration, verification, validation, and operational tests for new capabilities
• Evaluate field issues and provide leadership during fault investigations and corrective actions
• Guide RAMS, obsolescence management strategies
• Ensure baseline integrity via requirements and configuration management
• Support capture and business development for sustainment opportunities
• Mentor engineering teams and foster technical excellence

Skills

Systems engineering

Technical leadership

Requirements development

Lifecycle development

Reviews & inspections

Risk management

Cross-functional leadership

DoD/customer engagement

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Physics/CS

Job description

Viasat is seeking a Chief Engineer to serve as the technical authority for government communications and antenna systems programs. You will lead the technical execution of sustainment and modernization efforts involving RF antenna systems, ground infrastructure, cybersecurity, software, and mission systems.

You will guide system lifecycle, oversee cross-functional teams, and interface with government customers and prime contractors to ensure reliable, secure, and operational systems.