Senior Spectrum Engineer, Regulatory Affairs

Viasat; Carlsbad (CA); On-site; USD 180,500 - 336,500; Full time

Job summary

Viasat seeks a senior regulatory professional to bridge satellite engineering and international policy. You will champion technical interests on the world stage, ensuring licenses and market access while protecting spectrum assets essential to global connectivity.

The role involves coordinating with ITU, FCC, and other regulators, shaping standards, and advising executive leadership on regulatory opportunities and risks. Travel up to 10–20% may be required.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant professional experience.
• Master’s degree in electrical engineering, science, math or related technical discipline.
• Excellent knowledge of satellite communications systems and link budgets.

Responsibilities

• Lead regulatory analysis for satellite services and licensing globally.
• Prepare FCC filings and coordinate ITU/ITU/TELUS activities.
• Advise senior management on regulatory opportunities and risks.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams in business, technical and legal.

Skills

Regulatory experience

Foreign coordination

Programming and interference analysis

Education

Master’s degree in electrical engineering or related field

Tools

ITU SNS

FCC LMS

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 pivotal member of Viasat's global regulatory team, you will bridge the gap between cutting-edge satellite engineering and complex international policy. In this high-impact role, you will champion Viasat’s technical interests on the world stage, ensuring our global network expands smoothly and operates without harmful radio frequency interference.

You will serve as a key technical advocate and strategic advisor, translating highly complex spectrum constraints into actionable business intelligence for executive leadership. Whether you are spearheading bilateral coordination strategies with foreign administrations, modeling advanced interference scenarios, or helping shape next-generation standards at 3GPP and the ITU, your work will directly secure and protect the critical spectrum assets that power Viasat’s global connectivity.

The day-to-day

Lead and contribute to Viasat efforts in several of the following areas.

• Engineering analysis on spectrum and regulatory matters for satellite services, including:
• Preparation of FCC filings to apply for market access and licenses for Viasat satellites, Earth stations and services
• Technical aspects of market access and licensing activities globally
• International Telecommunication Union (ITU) frequency coordination of Viasat satellite networks in various frequency bands
• Meetings of regulatory committees and working groups on frequency allocation and spectrum sharing matters, for example within the ITU and CITEL

• Representing Viasat at
  • Frequency coordination meetings with other satellite operators and administrations
  • International meetings (ITU, CITEL, etc.) and U.S. national preparations for such meetings
  • Standardization bodies, such as 3GPP and ETSI
• Interacting with the FCC, Viasat’s ITU filing administrations and other spectrum regulators as required
• Advising Viasat’s market development, commercial and engineering teams, as well as senior management, on regulatory opportunities and risks
• Working closely with other teams within the company (business, technical, legal, etc.) in the above areas.

What you'll need

• 10+ years of relevant professional experience
• Master’s degree in electrical engineering, science, math or another related technical discipline
• Excellent knowledge of satellite communications systems, including link budgets, general radio theory and basic orbital mechanics
• Knowledge of the ITU Radio Regulations and related national regulations, including satellites coordination processes
• Knowledge and experience of FCC regulations and procedures
• Knowledge of non-satellite wireless products, services and technologies
• Understanding of policy and regulatory issues in the satellite sector, especially with regard to licensing and market access
• Programming and interference analysis skills
• Travel is required up to 10-20%
• US Citizenship is required

What will help you on the job

• Database Familiarity: Practical experience querying and navigating the ITU Space Network Systems (SNS) database or the FCC’s Licensing and Management System (LMS).
• Multi-Orbit & Next-Gen Architecture: Deep technical understanding of non-geostationary (NGSO) constellation dynamics, spectrum sharing paradigms, or emerging satellite-to-cell (Direct-to-Device) frameworks.

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.