Modeling & Simulation Engineer - Communication & Sensing Systems

Viasat, Inc.•Carlsbad, CA

About The Position

Join a fast-paced team within Viasat's Government Space and Emerging Technologies group as a Lead Systems Engineer focused on Modeling & Simulation (M&S). In this role, you will lead the development and execution of modeling, simulation, and analysis activities for advanced communication and sensing systems. You will develop mission-level and system-level simulation environments used to evaluate concepts, architectures, algorithms, and operational trade spaces. You will guide performance analysis efforts spanning communications, sensing, networking, autonomy, and multi-domain mission applications. You will lead quantitative trade studies and performance assessments used to inform system design decisions and customer recommendations. You will support proposals, architecture studies, and customer engagements through rigorous technical analysis and modeling-based evidence. You will also support sensing system algorithm development and/or communication system physical layer development.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
10+ years of experience in modeling, simulation, mission analysis, performance assessment, or system engineering for complex communications, RF, sensing, defense, or space systems.
Strong understanding of systems engineering principles and their application to simulation-driven system development.
Experience developing mission-level, system-level, performance simulation frameworks, and high fidelity link simulations used to support technical decision making.
Experience conducting architecture trade studies, statistical analyses, performance assessments, and operational effectiveness studies.
Proficiency with simulation and analysis tools such as MATLAB, Simulink, Python, STK, AFSIM, custom simulation environments, or equivalent modeling frameworks.
Experience working with large data sets and translating analysis results into actionable engineering recommendations.
Strong communication and leadership skills, including experience briefing technical findings to engineering leadership, customers, and government stakeholders.
Current (or within the last 2 years) Top Secret clearance (SCI eligibility) and willingness to travel up to 10%.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing and validating digital twins and high-fidelity operational simulations.
Expertise in communications systems, RF propagation, sensing systems, electronic warfare, signal processing, autonomy, or networking performance analysis.
Experience with simulation verification, validation, accreditation, and uncertainty quantification methodologies.
Experience supporting hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), software-in-the-loop (SIL), and system-level integration activities.
Familiarity with distributed simulation environments and large-scale mission analysis frameworks.
Experience supporting defense customers through mission analysis, operational assessments, concept evaluations, and capability studies.
Experience collaborating with geographically distributed engineering and analysis teams.
Experience as the technical authority for simulation-driven engineering across hardware, firmware, software, RF, and algorithm development teams.
Advanced graduate education in engineering, applied mathematics, physics, operations research, or related analytical disciplines.

Responsibilities

Lead the development and execution of modeling, simulation, and analysis activities for advanced communication and sensing systems.
Develop mission-level and system-level simulation environments used to evaluate concepts, architectures, algorithms, and operational trade spaces.
Guide performance analysis efforts spanning communications, sensing, networking, autonomy, and multi-domain mission applications.
Lead quantitative trade studies and performance assessments used to inform system design decisions and customer recommendations.
Support proposals, architecture studies, and customer engagements through rigorous technical analysis and modeling-based evidence.
Support sensing system algorithm development and/or communication system physical layer development.
Developing and maintaining mission-level, system-level, and subsystem-level simulation environments representing communication and sensing system performance.
Leading architecture trade studies using simulation and quantitative analysis to evaluate performance, cost, technical risk, and operational effectiveness.
Building and executing digital twins and representative mission simulations to support system development, demonstration, and customer evaluation.
Performing sensitivity analyses, Monte Carlo assessments, uncertainty analyses, and performance characterization across realistic operational scenarios.
Partnering with project engineers and technical leads to ensure simulation results directly inform design decisions, integration planning, and risk mitigation activities.
Supporting verification and validation efforts through model correlation, simulation-based test planning, and comparison of predicted versus measured system performance.
Delivering high-quality technical reports, analysis products, engineering documentation, and customer-facing briefings.
Leverage Generative AI tools to enhance your day to day productivity.