Lead Systems Architect, High-Speed Modems
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 29, 2026. First seen by Alion on Oct 8, 2026. Viasat scores A on the Alion truth index.
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.
What you'll do
You will play a key role in defining, architecting, and leading the development of advanced high-speed communications modem solutions for space, optical, and terrestrial communications applications. This role is focused on system-level architecture, requirements ownership, technical leadership, and integration across multidisciplinary development teams. You will provide technical direction to hardware, FPGA, ASIC, software, and systems engineering teams while serving as a primary technical interface to customers and subcontractors.
The day-to-day
- Define and maintain end-to-end modem and communications system architectures
- Manage system and subsystem requirements, including decomposition, allocation, and traceability
- Lead trade studies involving waveform design and implementation approaches
- Provide technical leadership across FPGA, ASIC, hardware, software, and systems engineering teams
- Coordinate internal and subcontractor modem development activities
- Interface directly with customers and support technical reviews
- Lead system integration, verification, and validation activities
- Identify and manage technical risks and performance margins
- Support major design reviews and proposal activities
- Support proposal development by constructing detailed Basis of Estimates (BOEs) and maintaining program execution cadence across key milestones.
What you'll need
- Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or related technical field (Master’s preferred)
- 8+ years of experience in developing complex algorithm for modem design or system architecture definition, design, integration, and testing
- Expertise in digital modem timing recovery, frequency acquisition and recovery, AGC, carrier/phase recovery, and FEC
- Working knowledge of modern digital communications systems, DSP, and modem design
- Knowledge of Ethernet, optical transport networking, framing, and data formatting standards
- Experience modeling modem algorithms using MATLAB, Python, C, or C++
- Experience implementing or guiding modem implementations in FPGA and/or ASIC technologies
- Ability to lead multidisciplinary technical teams
- Strong customer-facing communication skills
- U.S. Citizenship
- Ability to Obtain Active Top Secret Clearance
- Ability to travel up to 10%
What will help you on the job
- Active Top Secret security clearance
- Experience designing satellite, optical, or terrestrial communications systems
- Experience leading modem architecture and technical teams
- Free-space optical communications experience
- 100G+ communications ASIC experience
- Space systems and payload experience
- Familiarity with CCSDS, DVB-S2X, Ethernet, and optical networking protocols
- MBSE and requirements-based verification experience
Salary range
$141,500.00 - $224,000.00 / annually.
For specific work locations within San Jose, the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, the base pay range for this role is $176,000.00- $264,000.00/ annually
At Viasat, we consider many factors when it comes to compensation, including the scope of the position as well as your background and experience. Base pay may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Additional cash or stock incentives may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position offered. Learn more about Viasat’s comprehensive benefit offerings that are focused on your holistic health and wellness at https://careers.viasat.com/benefits.
EEO Statement
Viasat is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, seeking to create a welcoming and diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, genetics, age, or veteran status or any other applicable legally protected status or characteristic. If you would like to request an accommodation on the basis of disability for completing this on-line application, please click here.
- Define and maintain end-to-end modem and communications system architectures
- Manage system and subsystem requirements, including decomposition, allocation, and traceability
- Lead trade studies involving waveform design and implementation approaches
- Provide technical leadership across FPGA, ASIC, hardware, software, and systems engineering teams
- Coordinate internal and subcontractor modem development activities
- Interface directly with customers and support technical reviews
- Lead system integration, verification, and validation activities
- Identify and manage technical risks and performance margins
- Support major design reviews and proposal activities
- Support proposal development by constructing detailed Basis of Estimates (BOEs) and maintaining program execution cadence across key milestones.
- Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or related technical field (Master’s preferred)
- 8+ years of experience in developing complex algorithm for modem design or system architecture definition, design, integration, and testing
- Expertise in digital modem timing recovery, frequency acquisition and recovery, AGC, carrier/phase recovery, and FEC
- Working knowledge of modern digital communications systems, DSP, and modem design
- Knowledge of Ethernet, optical transport networking, framing, and data formatting standards
- Experience modeling modem algorithms using MATLAB, Python, C, or C++
- Experience implementing or guiding modem implementations in FPGA and/or ASIC technologies
- Ability to lead multidisciplinary technical teams
- Strong customer-facing communication skills
- U.S. Citizenship
- Ability to Obtain Active Top Secret Clearance
- Ability to travel up to 10%