Viasat

Overview

Viasat is seeking a highly motivated Senior Mechanical Engineer to join their growing space infrastructure team, contributing to the design, development, qualification, and production transition of mechanical systems for next-generation satellite platforms.

Responsibilities

• Support and contribute to mechanical design and development efforts for satellite structures, mechanisms, electronics packaging, and deployable systems.
• Evaluate trade studies and develop engineering solutions that balance performance, schedule, cost, and risk.
• Support mechanical subsystem design from concept development through qualification, production, integration, and on-orbit support.
• Perform structural, thermal, vibration, shock, and environmental analyses to validate flight hardware designs.
• Develop engineering requirements, specifications, drawings, procedures, and qualification plans.
• Participate in hardware development, integration, testing, and anomaly resolution activities.
• Contribute to Design Reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR) and present technical data to program leadership.
• Collaborate closely with systems, thermal, electrical, manufacturing, reliability, and supply chain teams to ensure successful product execution.
• Evaluate new technologies, materials, and manufacturing processes to improve product capability.
• Serve as a key technical contributor in spacecraft mechanical engineering.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 7+ years of mechanical engineering experience, including experience developing spaceflight hardware.
• Demonstrated experience developing mechanical systems, with a strong background in spaceflight hardware.
• Hands-on experience contributing to mechanical subsystem development for spacecraft, satellites, launch vehicles, or other aerospace systems.
• Solid understanding of structural, thermal, dynamic, and environmental requirements for space applications.
• Experience designing flight hardware using CAD tools such as Creo, SolidWorks, NX, or equivalent.
• Experience with engineering analysis tools including ANSYS, Nastran, Simcenter, Thermal Desktop, or equivalent.
• Experience with environmental qualification and acceptance testing, including vibration, shock, thermal vacuum, and thermal cycling.
• Ability to solve complex technical problems with guidance as needed.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including presentation of technical data.
• Experience working within cross-functional product development teams.
• U.S. Citizenship required.

Additional Information

• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field is helpful.
• Experience with small satellite, broadband constellation, or spacecraft bus development programs is beneficial.
• Experience with composite structures, lightweight design, and deployable mechanisms is advantageous.
• Knowledge of launch vehicle interfaces and spacecraft integration processes is useful.
• Familiarity with DFM/DFA principles and aerospace hardware production is a plus.
• Experience with Teamcenter, Windchill, or other PLM systems is helpful.
• Experience supporting suppliers and contract manufacturers is beneficial.
• Knowledge of spaceflight standards, workmanship requirements, and environmental qualification methodologies is useful.
• Experience supporting root cause investigations and corrective actions is advantageous.