Lead Systems Architect, High-Speed Modems

Viasat; United States; On-site; USD 142,000 - 264,000; Full time

Job summary

Viasat is seeking a senior technical architect to lead the development of high‑speed modem solutions for space, optical, and terrestrial links. You will own system architecture, define requirements, and guide cross‑functional teams across hardware, FPGA, ASIC, and software domains.

Ideal candidates have 8+ years in modem design or system architecture, strong DSP and MATLAB/C/C++ skills, and the ability to engage customers while leading multidisciplinary teams. U.S.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field; Master’s preferred.
• 8+ years in modem design or system architecture with testing experience.
• Expertise in timing recovery, frequency acquisition, AGC, carrier/phase recovery, and FEC.
• Working knowledge of DSP and modern digital comms systems.
• Experience with MATLAB, Python, C or C++ for modem algorithms.
• Experience in FPGA/ASIC implementations and leading technical teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain end-to-end modem and communications system architectures.
• Manage system and subsystem requirements with traceability.
• Lead trade studies for waveform design and implementation approaches.
• Provide technical leadership across FPGA, ASIC, hardware, software, and systems teams.
• Coordinate modem development activities with internal and subcontractors.
• Interface with customers and support technical reviews.
• Lead system integration, verification, and validation activities.
• Identify and manage technical risks and performance margins.
• Support major design reviews and proposal activities.
• Construct Basis of Estimates (BOEs) and maintain program cadence.

Skills

Modem design

System architecture

DSP

MATLAB

Python

C/C++

FPGA/ASIC experience

Leadership

Customer-facing communication

U.S. Citizenship

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering/Computer Engineering/Computer Science/Physics

Master's degree preferred

Tools

MATLAB

Python

C/C++

FPGA toolchains

ASIC design tools

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

You will play a key role in defining, architecting, and leading the development of advanced high-speed communications modem solutions for space, optical, and terrestrial communications applications. This role is focused on system-level architecture, requirements ownership, technical leadership, and integration across multidisciplinary development teams. You will provide technical direction to hardware, FPGA, ASIC, software, and systems engineering teams while serving as a primary technical interface to customers and subcontractors.

The day-to-day

• Define and maintain end-to-end modem and communications system architectures
• Manage system and subsystem requirements, including decomposition, allocation, and traceability
• Lead trade studies involving waveform design and implementation approaches
• Provide technical leadership across FPGA, ASIC, hardware, software, and systems engineering teams
• Coordinate internal and subcontractor modem development activities
• Interface directly with customers and support technical reviews
• Lead system integration, verification, and validation activities
• Identify and manage technical risks and performance margins
• Support major design reviews and proposal activities
• Support proposal development by constructing detailed Basis of Estimates (BOEs) and maintaining program execution cadence across key milestones.

What you'll need

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or related technical field (Master's preferred)
• 8+ years of experience in developing complex algorithm for modem design or system architecture definition, design, integration, and testing
• Expertise in digital modem timing recovery, frequency acquisition and recovery, AGC, carrier/phase recovery, and FEC
• Working knowledge of modern digital communications systems, DSP, and modem design
• Knowledge of Ethernet, optical transport networking, framing, and data formatting standards
• Experience modeling modem algorithms using MATLAB, Python, C, or C++
• Experience implementing or guiding modem implementations in FPGA and/or ASIC technologies
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary technical teams
• Strong customer-facing communication skills
• U.S. Citizenship
• Ability to Obtain Active Top Secret Clearance
• Ability to travel up to 10%

What will help you on the job

• Active Top Secret security clearance
• Experience designing satellite, optical, or terrestrial communications systems
• Experience leading modem architecture and technical teams
• Free-space optical communications experience
• 100G+ communications ASIC experience
• Space systems and payload experience
• Familiarity with CCSDS, DVB-S2X, Ethernet, and optical networking protocols
• MBSE and requirements-based verification experience

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 here.