Director, Mechanical & Thermal Engineering

Viasat, Inc.•Carlsbad, CA

11h

About The Position

Viasat is shaping the future of global connectivity through advanced satellite systems that deliver high capacity, resilient communications across the globe. As satellite architecture continues to evolve toward higher throughput, greater complexity, and faster development cycles, robust mechanical and thermal engineering is critical to mission success. From payload instruments and antenna systems to spacecraft structures and thermal control, mechanical and thermal systems form the backbone that enables performance, reliability, and manufacturability at scale. Viasat is seeking a Director of Mechanical & Thermal Engineering to lead the teams responsible for mechanical and thermal design across both spacecraft bus and payload systems. This role sets technical direction, drives execution on flight critical hardware, and ensures tight integration across disciplines, programs, and production environments. You will play a key leadership role in delivering reliable, high performance satellite systems - from early architecture through on orbit operations - while building a strong engineering culture focused on rigor, accountability, and execution. Mechanical and Thermal Engineering is central to delivering Viasat’s next generation space systems with speed, reliability, and scalability. As Director, you will lead a multidisciplinary organization responsible for the mechanical and thermal aspects of spacecraft and payload development across multiple programs. Your leadership will help teams navigate complex trades between performance, mass, cost, schedule, and producibility, while ensuring designs are robust from initial concept through qualification and flight.

Requirements

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field (M.S. or Ph.D. preferred).
10+ years of experience in mechanical and/or thermal engineering for spacecraft or complex aerospace systems.
5+ years of engineering leadership experience managing and developing high performing teams.
Demonstrated ownership of mechanical and/or thermal subsystems through qualification, flight, or production.
Strong background in: Structural design and analysis, Thermal control design and modeling, Mechanisms and deployables, GD&T and tolerance analysis, Materials and manufacturing processes
Proficiency with CAD and analysis tools (e.g., NX, Creo, ANSYS, NASTRAN, Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, or equivalent).
Hands on experience with integration, environmental testing, and failure/anomaly investigation.
Experience with engineering documentation, configuration management, and change control.
Ability to drive clarity in complex, cross disciplinary engineering environments.
Strong communication skills with both technical teams and executive stakeholders.
25% travel.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading mechanical and thermal engineering across both payload and spacecraft bus.
Familiarity with high power payloads, antennas, RF structures, and thermal challenges.
Experience supporting high rate or multi program development environments.
Comfort operating in environments where system maturity evolves through iterative design, test, and flight learning.
A leadership style that balances technical rigor with pragmatic execution.
Passion for mentoring engineers and building scalable organizations.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage the Mechanical and Thermal Engineering organization supporting spacecraft buses and payload systems, including: Spacecraft structures and mechanisms, Payload mechanical design and packaging, Passive and active thermal control systems, Mechanical electrical integration and interfaces, Structural, thermal, and coupled analysis
Set the technical vision and strategy for mechanical and thermal architectures across current and future satellite programs.
Drive execution from concept development through design, analysis, fabrication, integration, test, and on orbit support.
Partner closely with systems engineering, payload, RF, avionics, propulsion, manufacturing, supply chain, and program management to ensure seamless integration and delivery.
Own mechanical and thermal requirements flow down, trade studies, design margins, and verification approaches.
Guide and chair design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR), anomaly reviews, and configuration control boards.
Ensure designs meet environmental qualification requirements, including vibration, shock, thermal vacuum, and launch vehicle compatibility.
Oversee design for manufacture and design for assembly (DFM/DFA) efforts to support production rate, cost, and quality objectives.
Support hardware bring up, integration, environmental test, and on orbit anomaly resolution.
Develop and mentor engineering leaders and individual contributors, building a high performing and collaborative organization.
Establish and maintain engineering standards, best practices, and lifecycle processes across mechanical and thermal domains.
Serve as a technical representative to customers, partners, and internal leadership for mechanical and thermal engineering topics.