Project Engineer - Government Aviation

Viasat, Inc.•Carlsbad, CA

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. Viasat’s Government Aviation Team is looking for a Project Engineer to help with technical execution of our Government Aviation programs and captures. This will include completing the delivery of currently scoped developments as well as future functionality and enhancements to the existing programs, products, and services. You’ll help shape product vision and strategy by integrating market and customer feedback into a clear roadmap that drives engineering execution and full‑lifecycle SEIT activities. This wide‑ranging technical role includes leading design, development, system integration, delivery, and support while driving product vision, roadmap, and requirements strategy, and leading all aspects of full‑lifecycle SEIT activities not limited to requirements and architecture through integration, verification, validation, and sustainment Use or understanding of requirements tools (DOORS/Jama) to decompose requirements, conduct trade studies, manage change impacts, and maintain the technical baseline and configuration control Ability to coordinate Bill of Material (BOM) development and release processes using the Agile PLM platform, coordinating updates across engineering, production, and supply chain functions Lead and mentor multi‑disciplinary teams; collaborate with Government customers, partners, and internal stakeholders on highly technical topics Represent engineering in System Requirements Review (SRR)/ Preliminary Design Review (PDR)/ Critical Design Review (CDR) and other technical and programmatic level reviews as needed and coordinate formal system‑level testing and integration with customers Own engineering cost, schedule, and technical performance; lead staffing, budgets, scope; drive risk & opportunity management and technical reporting; and define performance measures and process rigor scaled to project complexity Coordinate with Production and Operations leadership to align schedules, address manufacturing risks, drive readiness for integration and delivery, and ensure execution against program commitments Comfortable working independently on complex challenges and bringing fresh, creative ideas and new technologies to the table Experienced in steering integrated Government‑Industry project teams and navigating stakeholder needs to deliver what’s realistically achievable Serve as engineering focal for proposals and Basis of Estimates (BOEs), collaborating with Program Management on price‑to‑win and executable plans

Requirements

10+ years’ experience in a technical satellite communication systems environment
Demonstrated technical SATCOM leadership experience
Solid experience with networking (IP networking, routing, firewalls)
Excellent problem‑solving and debugging skills, clear and effective communication, and a track record of collaborating across diverse technical and organizational teams, including internal stakeholders, vendors, subcontractors, and partners
Experience leading SEIT, understanding of Jama; presenting at SRR/PDR/CDR; accountability for engineering cost/schedule/TPMs, risk/opportunity management, EVM; and working in quick capability release environments
Ability to drive roadmap, strategy, and requirements management to achieve priorities
Understanding or experience with MIL-STD requirements and test methods
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science or equivalent experience
U.S. Government position. U.S. Citizenship required
Active DoD Secret Clearance or ability to obtain when administratively feasible
Ability to travel up to 50% both CONUS or OCONUS

Nice To Haves

Active DoD Secret Clearance
Experience in delivering communications systems for aviation customers, including platform integration
Expertise with commonly used communications and electrical test equipment (e.g. Oscilloscope, Spectrum Analyzer, Power Meter, traffic generator and others)
Hands on experience working with SATCOM terminals and communications solutions
Experience with Government standards and requirements, such as; WGS Certification requirements, MIL-STE-810, MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-1275, DO-160, and RMF

Responsibilities

Shape product vision and strategy by integrating market and customer feedback into a clear roadmap that drives engineering execution and full‑lifecycle SEIT activities.
Lead design, development, system integration, delivery, and support while driving product vision, roadmap, and requirements strategy, and leading all aspects of full‑lifecycle SEIT activities not limited to requirements and architecture through integration, verification, validation, and sustainment
Use or understanding of requirements tools (DOORS/Jama) to decompose requirements, conduct trade studies, manage change impacts, and maintain the technical baseline and configuration control
Coordinate Bill of Material (BOM) development and release processes using the Agile PLM platform, coordinating updates across engineering, production, and supply chain functions
Lead and mentor multi‑disciplinary teams; collaborate with Government customers, partners, and internal stakeholders on highly technical topics
Represent engineering in System Requirements Review (SRR)/ Preliminary Design Review (PDR)/ Critical Design Review (CDR) and other technical and programmatic level reviews as needed and coordinate formal system‑level testing and integration with customers
Own engineering cost, schedule, and technical performance; lead staffing, budgets, scope; drive risk & opportunity management and technical reporting; and define performance measures and process rigor scaled to project complexity
Coordinate with Production and Operations leadership to align schedules, address manufacturing risks, drive readiness for integration and delivery, and ensure execution against program commitments
Comfortable working independently on complex challenges and bringing fresh, creative ideas and new technologies to the table
Experienced in steering integrated Government‑Industry project teams and navigating stakeholder needs to deliver what’s realistically achievable
Serve as engineering focal for proposals and Basis of Estimates (BOEs), collaborating with Program Management on price‑to‑win and executable plans