Chief Engineer, Defense Antenna Systems Sustainment & Modernization

Viasat, Inc.•Duluth, GA

About The Position

As a Chief Engineer at Viasat, you will serve as the technical authority for mission-critical government communications and antenna system programs supporting national security customers. You will lead the technical execution of complex sustainment and modernization efforts involving advanced RF antenna systems, ground communications infrastructure, cybersecurity, software, networking, and integrated mission systems.

Requirements

10+ years of systems engineering, architecture, chief engineering, or technical leadership experience supporting complex defense systems
Demonstrated experience serving as a Chief Engineer, Lead Systems Engineer or Technical Director
Strong knowledge of systems engineering processes and lifecycle development methodologies
Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams
Validated experience with requirements development, technical baselines, configuration management, and engineering change processes
Experience leading technical reviews and customer-facing engineering engagements
Strong understanding of integration and evaluation processes for complex hardware and software systems
Demonstrated experience managing technical risk and resolution of complex operational issues
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills
Bachelors degree in Engineering, Physics, Computer Science or equivalent technical experience
US Government position. US Citizenship required
Active DoD TS/SCI Clearance
Ability to travel up to 25%

Nice To Haves

Passion for solving challenging technical problems in support of critical national security missions
Master's degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related discipline
Strong customer engagement skills and an ability to communicate complex technical concepts to technical and non-technical stakeholders
Experience supporting SIGINT, SATCOM, ISR, Space, or other National Security missions
Experience with large RF antenna systems, ground terminals, telemetry systems, or satellite communications infrastructure
Knowledge of systems sustainment, logistics support, operational availability, and lifecycle engineering practices
Experience supporting DoD, Intelligence Community, or other national security customers
Knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks, RMF, ATO processes, and secure system design
Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)
Familiarity with DMSMS and obsolescence management
Experience with software-intensive systems and DevSecOps methodologies
Knowledge of Reliability, Availability, Maintainability (RAM) analysis and sustainment engineering

Responsibilities

Ensure system performance, availability, modernization, and mission success throughout the program lifecycle while providing technical leadership across geographically distributed teams to ensure that these critical systems remain reliable, secure, supportable, and operationally effective in support of government missions.
Serve as the primary technical authority across complex sustainment and modernization programs.
Lead systems engineering activities supporting advanced antenna systems, RF communications systems, network infrastructure, software applications, and supporting mission architectures.
Provide strategic technical leadership for system sustainment, modernization, cybersecurity, reliability, maintainability, and lifecycle support initiatives.
Lead technical decision making for system modifications, upgrades, engineering changes, and architecture evolution.
Chair and participate in technical reviews including System Requirements Reviews, design reviews, Configuration Control Boards, technical interchange meetings, and customer reviews.
Lead technical risk identification, mitigation planning, and execution throughout the program lifecycle.
Direct cross-functional engineering teams including systems, software, RF, hardware, cybersecurity, test, field engineering, and logistics personnel.
Act as the senior technical interface with government customers, large Prime contractors, subcontractors, and operational users.
Support integration, verification, validation, and operational test activities for new capabilities and system enhancements.
Evaluate field performance issues and provide technical leadership during fault investigations, corrective actions, and mission-impacting events.
Guide reliability, maintainability, availability, DMSMS, and obsolescence management strategies.
Ensure technical baseline integrity through disciplined requirements management and configuration management practices.
Support capture and business development activities related to sustainment and modernization opportunities.
Mentor engineering teams and foster technical excellence across the organization.