System Test Engineering Lead

Viasat, Inc. • Carlsbad, CA

15h • Hybrid

About The Position

Lead and supervise a cross-functional test engineering team developing, integrating the ground portion of, and testing a next-generation government satellite terminal supporting military programs. This people-management and hands-on technical role guides team members, sets test strategy, creates and reviews test documentation, and oversees lab setup for system testing. The role also provides system test support across product families, focusing on functional, performance, and robustness testing.

The position is hybrid and can be based in the Carlsbad, California; Reston, Virginia; or Germantown, Maryland office. Employees must work in the office three days per week. Travel may be up to 20%. U.S. citizenship, an active U.S. Secret Clearance, and the ability to obtain a U.S. Top Secret Clearance are required.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of experience crafting test requirements, test plans, test cases, and methodologies for complex systems, with demonstrated experience leading or supervising engineering teams or test efforts.
• Solid understanding of technical and process aspects of product design, with the ability to evaluate products using design and functional documentation.
• Experience with lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, power supplies, and boundary scan to evaluate and help fix systems.
• Experience with networking, the OSI model, and L2/L3 technologies such as MAC, TCP/IP, and UDP.
• Experience as a test lead on a program and in people management with direct reports.
• Experience debugging and fixing Linux-based products.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or an equivalent STEM degree.
• U.S. citizenship.
• Active U.S. Secret Clearance and ability to obtain a U.S. Top Secret Clearance.
• Ability to travel up to 20%.
• Ability to work in the office three days per week.

Nice To Haves

• Experience managing or leading technical teams and test campaigns.
• Experience with space hardware or satellite communication terminals.
• Experience with a programming or scripting language such as Python, C/C++, Java, or another language.
• Familiarity with requirements traceability tools such as DOORS or JAMA.
• Experience with wireless communications, satellite communications systems (SATCOM), or radio frequency systems.
• Graduate degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or an equivalent STEM degree.
• Active Top Secret Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, mentorship, and direct supervision to the system test team, supporting technical execution and professional growth.
• Oversee preparation of test plans, procedures, and customer requirements to guide development and construction of custom test hardware and automation using company and industry standards.
• Develop and execute test cases as a hands-on technical contributor.
• Oversee manual and automated testing against software releases.
• Direct debugging of test setups and software configurations to ensure high-quality releases.
• Collaborate with systems engineering, software development, project engineers, program leadership, and test team members on test planning, resource allocation, and execution.
• Oversee lab buildup for system testing.

Benefits

• The compensation package may include additional cash or stock incentives.
• Medical, financial, and other benefits focused on holistic health and wellness are available, depending on the position offered.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager