Chief Engineer, Defense Antenna Systems Sustainment & Modernization

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

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

As a Chief Engineer at Viasat, you will serve as the technical authority for mission-critical government communications and antenna system programs supporting national security customers. You will lead the technical execution of complex sustainment and modernization efforts involving advanced RF antenna systems, ground communications infrastructure, cybersecurity, software, networking, and integrated mission systems.

The day-to-day

Ensure system performance, availability, modernization, and mission success throughout the program lifecycle while providingtechnical leadership across geographically distributed teams to ensure that these critical systems remain reliable, secure, supportable, and operationally effective in support of government missions.

• Serve as the primary technical authority across complex sustainment and modernization programs.
• Lead systems engineering activities supporting advanced antenna systems, RF communications systems, network infrastructure, software applications, and supporting mission architectures.
• Provide strategic technical leadership for system sustainment, modernization, cybersecurity, reliability, maintainability, and lifecycle support initiatives.
• Lead technical decision making for system modifications, upgrades, engineering changes, and architecture evolution.
• Chair and participate in technical reviews including System Requirements Reviews, design reviews, Configuration Control Boards, technical interchange meetings, and customer reviews.
• Lead technical risk identification, mitigation planning, and execution throughout the program lifecycle.
• Direct cross-functional engineering teams including systems, software, RF, hardware, cybersecurity, test, field engineering, and logistics personnel.
• Act as the senior technical interface with government customers, large Prime contractors, subcontractors, and operational users.
• Support integration, verification, validation, and operational test activities for new capabilities and system enhancements.
• Evaluate field performance issues and provide technical leadership during fault investigations, corrective actions, and mission-impacting events.
• Guide reliability, maintainability, availability, DMSMS, and obsolescence management strategies.
• Ensure technical baseline integrity through disciplined requirements management and configuration management practices.
• Support capture and business development activities related to sustainment and modernization opportunities.
• Mentor engineering teams and foster technical excellence across the organization.

What you'll need

• 10+ years of systems engineering, architecture, chief engineering, or technical leadership experience supporting complex defense systems
• Demonstrated experience serving as a Chief Engineer, Lead Systems Engineer or Technical Director
• Strong knowledge of systems engineering processes and lifecycle development methodologies
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Validated experience with requirements development, technical baselines, configuration management, and engineering change processes
• Experience leading technical reviews and customer-facing engineering engagements
• Strong understanding of integration and evaluation processes for complex hardware and software systems
• Demonstrated experience managing technical risk and resolution of complex operational issues
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills
• Bachelors degree in Engineering, Physics, Computer Science or equivalent technical experience
• US Government position. US Citizenship required

• Active DoD TS/SCI Clearance

• Ability to travel up to 25%

What will help you on the job

• Passion for solving challenging technical problems in support of critical national security missions
• Master's degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related discipline
• Strong customer engagement skills and an ability to communicate complex technical concepts to technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Experience supporting SIGINT, SATCOM, ISR, Space, or other National Security missions
• Experience with large RF antenna systems, ground terminals, telemetry systems, or satellite communications infrastructure
• Knowledge of systems sustainment, logistics support, operational availability, and lifecycle engineering practices
• Experience supporting DoD, Intelligence Community, or other national security customers
• Knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks, RMF, ATO processes, and secure system design
• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)
• Familiarity with DMSMS and obsolescence management
• Experience with software-intensive systems and DevSecOps methodologies
• Knowledge of Reliability, Availability, Maintainability (RAM) analysis and sustainment engineering

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.