Senior Spacecraft Systems Architect

ViaSat Inc.; North Dakota; On-site; USD 181,000 - 285,000; Full time

Job summary

Viasat is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Systems Engineer to lead and integrate complex spacecraft systems across the full lifecycle. You will guide architecture, payload-to-bus integration, and interface management, while coordinating with subsystems, flight software, mission operations and suppliers to deliver high‑performing space systems.

You will shape mission objectives into executable engineering strategies, mentor junior engineers, and participate in reviews and program leadership

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline (Aerospace/Systems/EE/ME/Physics/CE).
• 10+ years of experience developing spacecraft, satellites or complex aerospace systems.
• Experience leading spacecraft architecture, requirements development, integration, and verification.
• Experience across multiple engineering disciplines and influencing technical decisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead/oversee spacecraft architecture development and system trade studies.
• Drive payload-to-bus integration and resolve system-level challenges.
• Develop, decompose, allocate and maintain mission, vehicle, subsystem, and interface requirements.
• Own spacecraft interface management and ensure clear definitions across subsystems.
• Develop spacecraft architecture models using MBSE and SysML.
• Maintain system-level technical budgets (mass, power, thermal, etc.).
• Lead cross-functional integration across ADCS, EPS, propulsion, thermal, comms, payload, software and mission ops.
• Translate mission objectives into actionable architectures and verification strategies.
• Support CONOPS, operational scenarios, fault management, automation, and contingency plans.
• Lead/Support technical investigations, trade studies and architecture analyses.

Skills

Systems engineering

Technical leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace, systems, electrical, mechanical, physics, computer engineering or related field

Advanced degree in aerospace or systems engineering

Tools

SysML

MBSE tools

Python

MATLAB

STK

Job description

Viasat is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Systems Engineer to lead and integrate complex spacecraft systems across the full lifecycle. You will guide architecture, payload-to-bus integration, and interface management, while coordinating with subsystems, flight software, mission operations and suppliers to deliver high‑performing space systems.

You will shape mission objectives into executable engineering strategies, mentor junior engineers, and participate in reviews and program leadership