Systems Engineer, Space Infrastructure

Viasat; Tempe (AZ); On-site; USD 181,000 - 337,000; Full time

Job summary

Viasat is seeking an experienced Systems Engineer to own end-to-end space system architectures and budgets. You will drive requirements, analysis, and verification planning across the full lifecycle, coordinating across subsystems and engineering teams to ensure disciplined execution.

The role requires a strong background in space systems, model-based approaches, and effective communication with leadership.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in systems engineering for complex space or aerospace systems.
• Proven experience owning and managing space system budgets and analyses.
• Writing and controlling system-level requirements and specifications.
• Strong systems engineering processes across the full development lifecycle.
• Excellent communication skills for senior design and risk discussions.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end space system budgets including mass, power, data and margins.
• Lead space system architecture definition and trade studies to guide design decisions.
• Develop and maintain system-level artifacts (SRDs, TRDs, specs).
• Drive requirements decomposition and burndown across subsystems.
• Ensure traceability from mission objectives to verification plans.
• Provide technical leadership across cross-functional teams to resolve issues.
• Lead system participation in lifecycle reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR).
• Define system-level verification and validation strategies with test teams.
• Identify and manage system-level risks and margins.
• Produce clear technical documentation and briefings for leadership.
• Mentor other systems engineers and improve practices.

Skills

Space systems engineering

Budget ownership

Requirements management

System-level architectures

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field

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 an experienced Systems Engineer to provide technical leadership and endtoend ownership of space system definition and analysis. This role is responsible for defining system architectures, owning technical budgets, and leading requirements development across the full system lifecycle.

The Systems Engineer serves as a central technical authority, integrating subsystem teams, guiding system trade studies, and ensuring disciplined execution of requirements, analyses, and verification planning.

The day-to-day

• Own endtoend space system technical budgets, including mass, power, data, performance, margins, and system constraints
• Lead space system architecture definition and technical trade studies to guide design decisions
• Develop, author, and maintain systemlevel technical artifacts including SRDs, TRDs, and related specifications
• Drive requirements decomposition, allocation, and requirements burndown across all subsystems
• Ensure traceability between mission objectives, system requirements, subsystem designs, and verification plans
• Provide technical leadership across crossfunctional engineering teams to resolve systemlevel issues and interfaces
• Lead system participation in major lifecycle reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, readiness reviews)
• Define systemlevel verification and validation strategies in partnership with integration and test teams
• Identify, assess, and manage systemlevel risks, assumptions, and margin posture
• Produce clear, concise technical documentation and briefings to support engineering and leadership decisionmaking
• Mentor other systems engineers and contribute to improving systems engineering practices and standards

What you'll need

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field, or equivalent professional experience
• 10+ years experience in systems engineering supporting complex space or aerospace systems
• Proven experience owning and managing space system technical budgets and analyses
• Demonstrated expertise in writing and controlling system level requirements and specifications
• Strong command of systems engineering processes across the full development lifecycle
• Ability to independently define complex problems, drive solutions, and influence technical outcomes without direct authority
• Excellent technical communication skills, including senior level design and risk discussions

What will help you on the job

• Deep experience with space system architectures and subsystem integration
• Familiarity with modelbased systems engineering and requirements management tools
• Background in highreliability, missioncritical system development
• Ability to balance technical rigor with programmatic constraints
• A systemslevel mindset with strong attention to margins, interfaces, and verification closure

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,