Senior Signal Processing Engineer

Viasat; Tempe (AZ); On-site; USD 156,000 - 246,000; Full time

Job summary

Viasat is seeking a Senior Engineer to act as the principal investigator for a fast-paced, sensing-centric development program. You will lead mixed-fidelity simulation across sensor phenomenology, signal acquisition, processing pipelines, and system-level performance.

You will interface with customers, drive end-to-end simulation architecture, and mentor junior engineers in simulation methodology and signal processing. This role requires TS/SCI-ready credentials and travel up to 10%.

Qualifications

• 10+ years modeling and simulation of sensing or signal processing systems.
• Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink, Python (NumPy, SciPy, PyTorch) or equivalent; maintainable codebases.
• Experience as a principal investigator or technical lead on a U.S. government/defense program; direct customer interaction.

Responsibilities

• Lead mixed-fidelity simulation design, development, and validation for sensing systems.
• Define simulation architecture strategies for next-gen sensing designs and hardware/software partitioning.
• Develop physics-based models of sensing elements, noise sources, and interference conditions.
• Author validation plans and correlate outputs with hardware-in-the-loop, bench, and field tests.
• Maintain modular, version-controlled simulation repositories for continuous improvement.

Skills

Signal processing

Modeling & Simulation

Python

MATLAB/Simulink

Embedded processing

Customer interface

Education

Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering

Master's or PhD preferred

Tools

AFSIM

Python (NumPy, SciPy, PyTorch)

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

We are seeking a Senior Engineer who can operate as a Principal Investigator for a fast-paced digital signal processing sensing-centric development program! This role requires deep system-level expertise across high-fidelity simulation development and analysis for sensors, with knowledge of signal acquisition, embedded processing, software, hardware, integration, and test, paired with strong technical leadership and cross-team coordination.

You will serve as the technical authority for mixed-fidelity simulation development and analysis for sensing systems, driving end-to-end simulation architecture for our sensing elements through data processing and system-level performance. This role is hands-on and you will need to interface with customers while developing advanced simulation frameworks.

The day-to-day

Modeling and Simulation

• Lead the design, development, and validation of mixed-fidelity simulation frameworks spanning sensor phenomenology, signal acquisition, processing pipelines, and system-level performance
• Define simulation architecture strategies for next-generation sensing system designs, including sensor element selection, processing chain topology, and hardware/software partitioning
• Develop physics-based models of sensing elements, noise sources, and interference conditions relevant to the program domain
• Author simulation validation plans and establish correlation between simulation outputs and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), bench, and field test results
• Maintain modular, version-controlled simulation repositories, enabling continuous improvement in model coverage and fidelity

Signal Processing

• Develop and apply signal processing algorithms including detection, estimation, filtering, spectral analysis, and statistical performance characterization across relevant sensing domains
• Model signal chains from sensor to output, including noise, interference, and environmental effects that drive system performance margins
• Define and evaluate signal processing performance metrics and translate them into actionable guidance for hardware and embedded software teamsValidate signal processing models against measured data, identifying and closing fidelity gaps through iterative refinement

Team Coordination

• Serve as the principal investigator and technical lead for the simulation workstream, setting direction and ensuring alignment across algorithm, embedded software, hardware, and systems engineering teams
• Lead technical reviews including PDR, CDR, and similar program reviews; deliver simulation products and provide peer review of modeling efforts across the team
• Identify simulation capability gaps relative to program objectives and develop and execute roadmap improvements
• Mentor junior engineers in simulation methodology, signal processing fundamentals, and analysis best practices

Customer-Facing Experience

• Serve as the primary technical interface to customers on simulation methodology, modeling assumptions, uncertainty quantification, and system performance predictions
• Translate complex simulation results into concise findings and technical reports suitable for program leadership and customer review
• Support proposal efforts by defining simulation scope, articulating technical discriminators, and contributing to statement of work and basis-of-estimate documentation

What you’ll need

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Computer Engineering, or closely related field (MSEE or Ph.D. preferred)
• 10+ years of experience in modeling and simulation of sensing or signal processing systems, with demonstrated ownership of simulation frameworks on program development efforts
• Proficiency in simulation and analysis tools including MATLAB/Simulink, Python (NumPy, SciPy, PyTorch), or equivalent; experience structuring large-scale, maintainable simulation codebases
• Prior experience as a principal investigator or technical lead on a U.S. government or defense program, including direct customer interaction at technical interchanges and program reviews
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret / SCI security clearance
• Able to travel up to 10%
• Must be able to work out of the Carlsbad, CA office (preferred) or Tempe, CA office

What will help you on the job

• Master's or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline with a focus on signal processing, sensing systems, or applied electromagnetics
• Active TS/SCI security clearance
• Hands-on experience with multi-domain sensors (RF, EO/IR, acoustic, or lidar), including familiarity with phenomenological modeling approaches specific to those domains
• Experience with Operational Analysis tools such as AFSIM
• Background in embedded or real-time DSP implementations on FPGA or embedded CPU platforms, enabling high-fidelity simulation-to-hardware translation
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop simulation integrated with bench or field test infrastructure
• Familiarity with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) methodologies and system-level performance budgeting and error allocation
• Demonstrated track record of peer-reviewed publication, patent authorship, or equivalent technical contribution in sensing, signal processing, or simulation

What Success Looks Like

First 90 Days

You have internalized the program architecture, established relationships with key engineering and customer stakeholders, and identified three to five gaps in current simulation capability. You have a clear roadmap for addressing those gaps and have begun contributing directly to active simulation development efforts.

Six Months

You own the simulation framework end-to-end. Your models are producing validated performance predictions that the broader engineering team relies on to make design decisions. You have presented simulation results to customers with confidence, fielded their technical questions, and incorporated their feedback into the modeling approach.

One Year

Your simulation framework is a recognized asset to the program. Architecture decisions for next-generation sensing elements are being made with direct reference to your analysis. Junior engineers are growing under your mentorship, simulation-to-hardware correlation is established, and your work is influencing the direction of follow-on proposals and technology investments.

Longer Term

You are viewed by both the internal team and the customer as the go-to technical authority on sensing system simulation – someone whose analytical rigor reduces technical risk, accelerates design decisions, and consistently delivers insight that would not otherwise exist.

#LI-VSAT

Salary range

$156,000.00 - $246,000.00 / 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 $193,500.00- $290,500.00/ 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. If you would like to request an accommodation on the basis of disability for completing this on-line application, please click here.