Senior Staff Mechanical Engineer

ViaSat Inc.; Tempe (AZ); On-site; USD 181,000 - 285,000; Full time

Job summary

Viasat is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead the design, development, qualification, and production transition of complex satellite hardware for next‑generation platforms. You will guide cross-functional teams across engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain, providing strategic direction and mentoring engineers.

You will own mechanical subsystems from concept through qualification and on‑orbit support, directing analyses, testing, and critical design reviews.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• 12+ years of mechanical engineering experience in spaceflight hardware development.
• Proven leadership for major mechanical subsystems on spacecraft, satellites, or launch vehicles.
• Expertise in structural, thermal, dynamic, and environmental requirements for space applications.
• Proficient CAD skills in Creo, SolidWorks, or NX.
• Experience with analysis tools (ANSYS, Nastran, Simcenter, Thermal Desktop).
• Experience with environmental qualification testing (vibration, TVAC, thermal cycling).
• Able to lead root-cause investigations and drive problem resolution.
• Excellent communication skills with executive audiences.
• U.S. Citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for satellite structures, mechanisms, electronics packaging, and deployable systems.
• Lead trade studies and establish engineering solutions balancing performance, schedule, cost, and risk.
• Own mechanical subsystems from concept through qualification, high-rate production, and launch support.
• Oversee structural, thermal, vibration, shock, and environmental analyses for flight hardware.
• Define engineering requirements, standards, and qualification strategies across programs.
• Lead hardware development, integration, testing, and anomaly resolution.
• Lead design reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR) with program leadership.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Aerospace engineering

Creo

SolidWorks

NX

ANSYS

Nastran

Leadership

Communication

US Citizenship

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Master's or Doctorate (preferred)

Tools

Teamcenter

Windchill

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

ViaSat is seeking a highly motivated and seasoned Principal Mechanical Engineer to join our growing space infrastructure team. In this role, you will provide top-tier technical leadership and strategic direction for the design, development, qualification, and production transition of complex mechanical systems and hardware for next-generation satellite platforms.

As a subject matter expert, you will oversee critical, high-impact mechanical programs across the full product lifecycle, driving cutting-edge solutions for highly challenging spaceflight applications. You will serve as a recognized technical leader and key cross‑functional partner collaborating across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and executive program leadership, while actively mentoring and developing engineering talent across the organization.

The day-to-day

In this role, you will lead and architect projects and programs of paramount scope, scale, and complexity, applying advanced engineering principles to deliver highly reliable, manufacturable, and cost-effective spacecraft hardware.

You will:

• Provide technical leadership for the design and architecture of satellite structures, mechanisms, electronics packaging, and complex deployable systems.
• Independently define broad technical challenges, lead trade studies, and establish overarching engineering solutions that balance peak performance, schedule, cost, and risk management.
• Drive complete mechanical subsystem ownership from strategic concept development through qualification, high-rate production, launch integration, and on-orbit support.
• Direct advanced structural, thermal, vibration, shock, and environmental analyses to validate next-generation flight hardware.
• Establish baseline engineering requirements, specifications, standards, procedures, and comprehensive qualification strategies across programs.
• Spearhead critical hardware development, integration, test execution, and complex anomaly/root-cause resolution activities.
• Lead executive Design Reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR) and serve as a trusted technical advisor to program leadership and key stakeholders.
• Foster deep cross-functional collaboration with systems, thermal, electrical, manufacturing, reliability, and supply chain teams to ensure flawless execution.
• Pioneer the evaluation and implementation of emerging technologies, novel materials, and advanced manufacturing processes to scale capabilities.
• Provide strategic mentorship, coaching, and technical guidance to staff, mid-level, and junior engineers across teams.

What you'll need

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Extensive professional experience in mechanical engineering (typically 12+ years), with a strong track record of successful spaceflight hardware development.
• Demonstrated experience providing top-level technical leadership for major mechanical subsystems on spacecraft, satellites, launch vehicles, or advanced aerospace platforms.
• Deep mastery of structural, thermal, dynamic, and environmental requirements tailored for complex space applications.
• Advanced expertise in designing flight hardware using industry-standard CAD platforms (e.g., Creo, SolidWorks, NX).
• Extensive experience with advanced engineering analysis software (e.g., ANSYS, Nastran, Simcenter, Thermal Desktop).
• Mastery of environmental qualification and acceptance testing methodologies, including vibration, shock, thermal vacuum (TVAC), and thermal cycling.
• Proven autonomy to independently solve highly complex, ambiguous technical problems with minimal high-level direction.
• Superior communication skills with a strong history of presenting technical recommendations and program status to executive management and key customers.
• Extensive experience guiding multidisciplinary, cross-functional engineering teams.
• U.S. Citizenship required

What will help you on the job

• Master's degree or Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• Recognized expertise in small satellite, broadband constellation, or spacecraft bus development programs.
• Specialized expertise in advanced composite structures, ultra-lightweight design, and complex deployable mechanisms.
• Comprehensive understanding of launch vehicle interfaces, primary payload integration, and spaceport operations.
• Advanced command of DFM/DFA principles and design for mass-production/scaling of aerospace hardware.
• Expert knowledge of enterprise PLM systems (e.g., Teamcenter, Windchill).
• Deep experience directing strategic suppliers, contract manufacturers, and external vendors.
• Expert familiarity with industry spaceflight standards, high-reliability workmanship standards, and qualification methodologies.
• Proven track record of leading major root-cause investigations and corrective action boards (CAB).
• Extensive background in formal leadership, engineering mentorship, and talent development.

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. If you would like to request an accommodation on the basis of disability for completing this on-line application, please click here.