Senior Technical Project Engineer - Multidisciplinary Development Programs

Viasat; Carlsbad (CA); Hybrid; USD 141,500 - 224,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Hybrid work model

Flexible work hours

Job summary

Viasat, located in Carlsbad, CA, is seeking a Senior Engineer to serve as Project Engineer on a fast-paced development program. Candidates should possess strong systems-level thinking and broad technical capability, ensuring complex engineering efforts are coordinated effectively.

The ideal applicant will lead technical trade-offs and be responsible for integrating hardware, software, and testing processes. A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and 8-12 years of experience in system or product development are essential.

Qualifications

• 8-12+ years of experience in complex system or product development.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary technical efforts.
• Ability to learn new technical domains quickly.

Responsibilities

• Act as the Project Engineer for major development efforts.
• Define and maintain system architectures and technical requirements.
• Lead technical trade studies across performance and risk.

Skills

Systems engineering fundamentals

Technical leadership

Communication skills

Sensor technologies

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's degree in Engineering

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 to operate in a Project Engineer role on a fastpaced, multidisciplinary development program. This role requires strong systems-level thinking, broad technical capability, and the ability to coordinate complex engineering efforts across hardware, software, integration, and test!

While deep sensing expertise is not required on day one, the ideal candidate has the technical foundation, curiosity, and systems perspective to quickly grow into the role of a sensing-focused Project Engineer, owning technical direction and crossdomain integration for sensing-driven systems.

You will serve as a technical integrator and leader-driving alignment across teams, leading technical tradeoffs, and ensuring focused execution from concept through delivery.

The day-to-day

Technical Leadership & System Integration

• Act as the Project Engineer for a major development effort, owning system-level technical coordination across multiple engineering disciplines.
• Define and maintain system architectures, interfaces, and technical requirements, ensuring consistency and traceability.
• Lead technical trade studies and decisionmaking across performance, risk, schedule, and cost.
• Grow into ownership of sensing-related architectures, interfaces, and performance as program needs evolve.

Multidisciplinary Engineering Execution

• Work across hardware, firmware, software, mechanical, and test teams to ensure end-to-end system performance.
• Identify and resolve cross-domain technical issues, particularly at integration and interface boundaries.
• Guide design decisions to support testability, reliability, manufacturability, and scalability.

Path to Sensing Ownership

• Rapidly develop understanding of sensor technologies, data acquisition, and system-level sensing performance relevant to the program.
• Partner with subject matter experts to build depth in sensing systems and eventually assume broader sensing technical leadership.
• Translate sensing-related behaviors and constraints into clear system requirements and integration strategies.

Program Execution & Technical Planning

• Partner closely with program management to support technical planning, milestone definition, and risk management.
• Provide clear technical feedback to schedules, resourcing, and build/test strategies.
• Track technical readiness and integration maturity across program phases.

Team Coordination & Mentorship

• Coordinate efforts across multiple engineering teams and disciplines in a matrixed environment.
• Mentor engineers in systems thinking and disciplined development practices.
• Serve as a trusted technical point of contact for engineering leadership and customers.

Testing & Validation

• Support definition of system-level test and validation strategies, including integration and performance testing.
• Assist with root‑cause analysis of complex system issues and guide corrective actions.
• Ensure test results and field data feed back into design improvements.

What you’ll need

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Software, Systems, or related field); Master’s preferred.
• 8‑12+ years of demonstrated ability in complex system or product development.
• Proven track record to lead or coordinate multidisciplinary technical efforts.
• Strong systems engineering fundamentals, including requirements, interfaces, and integration.
• Ability to learn new technical domains quickly and operate effectively in ambiguous environments.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to align diverse technical teams.
• Able to travel up to 25% domestically.
• Must be able to work out of our office in Carlsbad, CA or Tempe, AZ.
• Able to come into the office 3 days a week; hybrid role.

What will help you on the job

• Prior experience working with sensor‑enabled or data‑driven systems, even if not as a specialist.
• Background in embedded systems, controls, data processing, or system integration.
• Experience operating in a Project Engineer, Lead Engineer, or Technical Lead role.
• Experience delivering products through full product lifecycle.

Salary range

$141,500.00 - $224,000.00 / 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 $176,000.00 - $264,000.00 / 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.

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 online application, please click here.