Electrical Engineering Technical Lead - Antenna Systems

Viasat, Inc.•Duluth, GA

8h•Onsite

About The Position

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.

Requirements

10+ years of dynamic experience in antenna systems / RF systems / electrical engineering with demonstrated technical leadership.
Strong command of antenna system engineering principles: EIRP, G/T, sidelobes, linearity, noise figure, gain, VSWR, and system-level tradeoffs.
Strong understanding of RF and satellite communications theory and how it translates into practical product requirements.
Demonstrated proficiency in antenna and RF testing, including selecting correct measurement approaches and using relevant test equipment to characterize performance.
Experience with detailed RF validation of components (amplifiers, switches, filters, interconnects, etc.).
Working knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements (e.g., FCC, ETSI, ITU).
Practical familiarity with RF hardware and integration elements: waveguide, cabling, filters, power dividers, terminations, etc.
Strong problem-solving ability for isolating and resolving complex system issues across hardware/software/test boundaries.
Ability to support multiple concurrent developments and sustaining efforts; capable of developing contingency plans to protect schedules.
Experience creating cost and schedule estimates for proposals and sustaining work.
Excellent communication, documentation rigor, and organizational skills.
BS in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field (or equivalent experience).
Ability to support up to 20% travel (averaged annually).
Onsite role in Duluth, GA

Nice To Haves

Experience with millimeter-wave bands.
Depth in phased array antenna design and test.
Strong mechanical integration proficiency (packaging constraints, thermal/mechanical impacts on RF performance).
Experience with antenna manufacturing and production processes, and design-for-manufacture practices.
Experience collaborating with supply chain on supplier selection, technical evaluations, and make vs. buy trade studies.
Demonstrated experience implementing engineering standards, automation, or toolchain modernization (especially with EPLAN and/or AI automation).

Responsibilities

Serve as the technical lead for antenna technology, spanning L-band through Ka-band (and higher bands as applicable).
Own the allocation, traceability, and optimization of system requirements across LRUs and subsystems to meet performance, reliability, cost, and schedule.
Provide technical direction across antenna architectures, including phased arrays and other sophisticated solutions, selecting the most efficient system approach aligned to market opportunity.
Define and institutionalize antenna system electrical design standards, design rules, review checklists, and documentation expectations (schematics, harnessing, grounding, EMC/EMI practices, test requirements, etc.).
Establish standard processes for requirements flow-down, design verification, and acceptance criteria, ensuring repeatable design quality across programs.
Lead technical reviews and act as a multi-functional point of contact for blocking issues related to complex build decisions and trade studies.
Identify and implement automation driven by sophisticated technologies that accelerate electrical engineering workflows. Examples are requirements to develop traceability, schematic linting/QA, auto-generation of test procedures, build reuse, BOM normalization, and change impact analysis.
Build a roadmap for model-based and data-driven design practices that measurably improve engineering throughput and reduce defects.
Drive EPLAN adoption and integration across the electrical build lifecycle of antenna systems (libraries, templates, part data strategy, revision control, manufacturing outputs).
Enable seamless handoffs between engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain by improving data integrity, configuration control, and documentation consistency.
Partner with integration/test teams to define RF test strategies, validation methods, and solving approaches for antenna systems.
Ensure compliance with relevant regulatory and standards bodies (e.g., FCC, ETSI, ITU, as applicable), including documentation readiness and test evidence.
Maintain awareness of antenna system innovations and guide technology insertion plans to keep products competitive.
Be recognized as a technical authority in engagements with external antenna providers and suppliers, influencing design maturity, qualification approach, and make/buy decisions.
Mentor and develop engineers—especially early-career talent—through coaching, design reviews, and creation of learning pathways.
Promote a culture of high ownership, visibility, continuous improvement, and willingness to change.