Principal Systems Engineer - Algorithms and Systems

Viasat, Inc.•Carlsbad, CA

About The Position

Join a fast-paced team within Viasat’s Government as a Principal Systems Engineer. In this role, you will serve as a senior technical leader for advanced communication and sensing systems. You will lead system-level architecture, design, and analysis for advanced communication and sensing systems, ensuring robust performance across diverse mission scenarios. You will lead the development and validation of algorithms in signal processing, digital communications, and control/estimation for mission-critical applications. You will drive waveform design and adaptation, including trade studies and performance analysis to shape innovative solutions for emerging technologies. You will collaborate across disciplines—including systems engineering (requirements), firmware, software, and integration & test—to deliver integrated solutions from concept through deployment. You will provide technical direction across programs: define technical roadmaps, identify risk areas early, and guide mitigation strategies to keep development aligned with customer and stakeholder needs. You’ll be at the center of algorithmic development and system integration for complex systems. Your responsibilities will include translating mission objectives into end-to-end technical solutions, ensuring alignment with requirements and performance goals. You will lead modeling and simulation efforts to support architecture decisions, system trades, performance prediction, and optimization. You will guide algorithm implementation in firmware and software, bridging theoretical models with practical deployment. You will participate in system bring-up and integration, troubleshooting and optimizing performance during hardware/software integration phases. You will partner with analysis and requirements teams to maintain consistency and traceability throughout the development lifecycle. You will mentor engineers and lead technical reviews to strengthen engineering rigor and elevate team execution.

Requirements

Master’s or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related discipline, with emphasis on Control Theory, Signal Processing, and/or Digital Communications.
15+ years of experience in algorithmic system design, modeling/simulation, and deployment for complex systems.
Proficiency in programming for algorithm development and simulation (e.g., C/C++, MATLAB, Python).
Deep expertise in RF systems and waveform design, including trade studies and performance analysis.
Demonstrated ability to perform system-level analysis, translating high-level requirements into actionable technical designs and implementation plans.
Strong communication skills, capable of delivering technical briefings and collaborating across multi-disciplinary teams.
U.S. citizenship required.
Active Top Secret (TS) clearance within the last 2 years required.

Nice To Haves

Hands-on experience with digital hardware platforms (processors, memory, FPGAs/CPLDs, microcontrollers, networking interfaces).
Familiarity with systems engineering processes, including requirements flow-down, verification, and validation.
Experience collaborating with geographically distributed teams, driving integration across hardware, software, and algorithmic domains.
Background in modeling and simulation tools supporting trade studies and performance optimization for complex system architectures.
TS/SCI or SAP access (if applicable to program needs).

Responsibilities

Lead system-level architecture, design, and analysis for advanced communication and sensing systems, ensuring robust performance across diverse mission scenarios.
Lead the development and validation of algorithms in signal processing, digital communications, and control/estimation for mission-critical applications.
Drive waveform design and adaptation, including trade studies and performance analysis to shape innovative solutions for emerging technologies.
Collaborate across disciplines—including systems engineering (requirements), firmware, software, and integration & test—to deliver integrated solutions from concept through deployment.
Provide technical direction across programs: define technical roadmaps, identify risk areas early, and guide mitigation strategies to keep development aligned with customer and stakeholder needs.
Translating mission objectives into end-to-end technical solutions, ensuring alignment with requirements and performance goals.
Leading modeling and simulation efforts to support architecture decisions, system trades, performance prediction, and optimization.
Guiding algorithm implementation in firmware and software, bridging theoretical models with practical deployment.
Participating in system bring-up and integration, troubleshooting and optimizing performance during hardware/software integration phases.
Partnering with analysis and requirements teams to maintain consistency and traceability throughout the development lifecycle.
Mentoring engineers and leading technical reviews to strengthen engineering rigor and elevate team execution.