Senior Systems Architect, UE Terminal NTN Platform

Viasat; Germantown (MD); On-site; USD 181,000 - 285,000; Full time

Job summary

Viasat is seeking a Senior Systems Architect for the UE Terminal NTN Platform to join our onsite team in Carlsbad, CA. You will drive end-to-end UE architecture for the NTN platform and translate product goals into concrete requirements across NTN and TN.

You will also evaluate modems, chipsets, and reference designs, coordinate with vendors and OEMs, and define validation strategies to ensure 3GPP Rel-19/20 NTN compliance. Travel up to 20% may be required.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in wireless communications, cellular devices, or system architecture.
• Strong knowledge of LTE and 5G NR technologies.
• Deep understanding of UE architecture, modem chipsets, RF systems, and device integration.
• Demonstrated experience defining system architectural requirements to UE requirements.
• Senior individual contributor with proven architectural authority.
• Experience working with chipset vendors, OEMs, and network partners.
• Strong problem-solving and technical leadership skills.
• Integration experience qualifying a UE in a 3GPP environment.
• Product Engineering experience to participate in Product Roadmap strategic discussions.
• Previous experience providing cost and schedule estimates for both new proposals and sustaining activities.
• Ability to support multiple simultaneous projects and self-prioritize.
• Excellent communication, organizational and collaboration skills.
• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or other related engineering discipline.
• Availability to support up to 20% travel

Responsibilities

• Engage with 5G NR NTN terminal product teams and translate product and customer requirements into UE system requirements.
• Specify UE terminal requirements related to NTN access, mobility, roaming, network selection, behavior, and power management.
• Align with chipset vendors, OEMs, and network vendors on feasible UE terminal implementations for IoT, RedCap and eRedCap.
• Drive system-level hardware and software trade-off discussions.
• Support lab, field, and commercial integration and readiness through E2E validation strategies and success criteria.
• Define UE validation and test strategies.
• Troubleshoot hardware, software, RF, and network integration issues.
• Support certification activities including PTCRB, GCF, OTA, and carrier acceptance testing.
• Ensure interoperability with NTN and terrestrial networks.

Skills

LTE & 5G NR

UE Architecture

System Architecture

Vendor Collaboration

Technical Leadership

3GPP Environment

Proposal Cost/Schedule

Multi-Project Management

Communication Skills

Education

B.S. in Electrical Engineering or Physics

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 thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for an onsite Senior Systems Architect, UE Terminal NTN Platform to join our dynamic team in Carlsbad, CA!

User Equipment (UE) Architecture & Roadmap

• Represent the UE Terminal group in the end-to-end system infrastructure architecture for Viasat's D2D NTN platform, spanning UE, RAN, Core Network, and interworking functions.
• Accountable for architectural inputs into the platform roadmap, that impact the UE Terminal, ensuring standards compliance, feature priorities and system/RAN constraints.
• Represent the UE Terminal team in end-to-end system architecture discussions.
• Translate product goals into clear architectural principles, interfaces, and assumptions across NTN and TN.

• Define UE Terminal features required to support alignment with 3GPP Rel-19/20 NTN specifications.
• Identify gaps or ambiguities in standards and propose deployable, standards-compliant solutions.
• Develop technical requirements and architectural solutions for NTN-enabled devices.

Standards & Industry Engagement

• Leverage 3GPP system architecture expertise to ensure alignment with evolving NTN standards.
• Provide guidance on standards interpretation and implementation.
• Drive alignment with chipset vendors, OEMs, operators, and standards organizations.

The day-to-day

UE Terminal Product Definition

• Engage with 5G NR NTN terminal product teams and
• Translate product and customer requirements into UE system requirements.
• Specify UE terminal requirements related to NTN access, mobility, roaming, network selection, behavior, and power management
• Align with chipset vendors, OEMs, and network vendors on feasible UE terminal implementations for multiple applications such as IoT, RedCap and eRedCap.
• Drive system-level hardware and software trade-off discussions.

Chipset Evaluation & Selection

• Evaluate and benchmark NTN-capable modems, chipsets, and reference designs.
• Analyze vendor roadmaps, feature support, and standards compliance.
• Lead technical engagement with chipset vendors and device manufacturers.
• Support platform selection and technology investment decisions.

Integration, Test & Validation

• Support lab, field, and commercial integration and readiness through E2E validation strategies and success criteria ensuring the UE Terminal is operating per the 3GPP Rel-19/20 NTN standards.
• Define UE validation and test strategies.
• Troubleshoot hardware, software, RF, and network integration issues.
• Support certification activities including PTCRB, GCF, OTA, and carrier acceptance testing.
• Ensure interoperability with NTN and terrestrial networks.

What you’ll need

• 10+ years of experience in wireless communications, cellular devices, or system architecture.
• Strong knowledge of LTE and 5G NR technologies.
• Deep understanding of UE architecture, modem chipsets, RF systems, and device integration.
• Demonstrated experience defining system architectural requirements to UE requirements.
• Senior individual contributor with proven architectural authority.
• Experience working with chipset vendors, OEMs, and network partners.
• Strong problem-solving and technical leadership skills.
• Integration experience qualifying a UE in a 3GPP environment.
• Product Engineering experience to participate in Product Roadmap strategic discussions.
• Previous experience providing cost and schedule estimates for both new proposals and sustaining activities
• Ability to support multiple simultaneous projects and self-prioritize.
• Excellent communication, organizational and collaboration skills.
• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or other related engineering discipline
• Availability to support up to 20% travel (averaged over time)

What will help you on the job

• Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or other related engineering discipline
• Experience with 5G NTN, satellite communications, or Direct-to-Device systems.
• Experience with smartphones, IoT devices, RedCap, eRedCap, or NB-IoT.
• Familiarity with 3GPP standards and standardization activities.
• Experience with PTCRB, GCF, carrier certification, and OTA testing.
• Direct involvement in NTN or satellite communications product launches.

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.