Senior Systems Engineer - Space, Viasat Government

Accountabilities:: Support the development of mission architectures, mission concepts, and system-level trade studies for complex space systems. Develop, allocate, maintain, and trace mission, spacecraft, subsystem, and interface requirements throughout the system lifecycle. Contribute to mission planning, operational concepts, and spacecraft Concept of Operations (CONOPS) development. Support Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) activities using SysML-based tools and methodologies. Contribute to spacecraft architecture development and payload-to-bus integration activities. Coordinate technical interfaces across spacecraft, payload, software, and ground systems to ensure effective system integration. Support verification and validation planning, system-level verification, and mission-readiness assessments. Participate in Assembly, Integration & Test (AI&T), integration and testing activities, environmental testing, and other system-level verification efforts. Support Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), mission simulation, Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP), In-Orbit Testing (IOT), and anomaly-resolution activities. Support technical interactions with suppliers and subcontractors, including design reviews and technical assessments. Identify technical issues, dependencies, and risks and contribute to practical engineering solutions. Participate in major program reviews, including System Requirements Review (SRR), Preliminary Design Review (PDR), Critical Design Review (CDR), Test Readiness Review (TRR), Operational Readiness Review (ORR), and Flight Readiness Review (FRR). Mentor junior engineers and contribute to engineering process improvements, technical documentation, and team knowledge-sharing. Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline. 5–10+ years of experience in aerospace, spacecraft systems, mission engineering, or a closely related engineering field. Demonstrated experience with requirements development, systems integration, interface management, verification, or related systems engineering activities. Working familiarity with spacecraft subsystems and technologies such as ADCS, electrical power systems (EPS), propulsion, thermal systems, communications, payloads, and flight software. Experience with MBSE, SysML, or equivalent systems modeling methodologies. Familiarity with engineering and analysis tools such as Python, MATLAB, STK, GMAT, Ansys, or comparable tools. Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary engineering teams. U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance are required. A Master’s degree in a related discipline is preferred. Experience with LEO, MEO, GEO, or distributed satellite architectures is advantageous. Experience supporting AI&T, launch campaigns, LEOP, or IOT is a plus. Familiarity with Jama, DOORS, Cameo, MagicDraw, or other SysML-based requirements and modeling tools is beneficial. Experience working with suppliers, subcontractors, or distributed engineering teams is valued. Background in SATCOM, RF systems, networking, sensing systems, or government space programs is a plus. Benefits: Salary: $120,500–$190,000 annual base salary range. Location-specific salary: For qualifying work locations within the San Jose, San Francisco Bay Area, and New York City metropolitan areas, the annual base salary range is $149,500–$224,500. Additional compensation: Depending on the position and individual circumstances, the overall compensation package may include additional cash or stock incentives. Healthcare: Access to medical and other health and wellness benefits designed to support employees’ overall well-being. Financial benefits: A range of financial and other benefits may be available depending on the position offered. Remote flexibility: Remote work opportunity within the United States, excluding North Dakota, Vermont, and Rhode Island. Career development: Opportunities to work on complex space systems and collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering experts. Technical growth: Exposure to advanced systems engineering methodologies, mission architectures, spacecraft technologies, simulations, and verification activities. Mission impact: Opportunity to contribute to government and space programs involving critical mission capabilities across the systems lifecycle.