{"id":3247740,"url":"https://alion.io/job/viasat-senior-software-engineer-5g-devices","title":"Senior Software Engineer - 5G Devices","company":{"id":1758272,"name":"Viasat","domain":"viasat.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/viasat-com","size_band":"201-500","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Jibe","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":32,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":1,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":38,"computed_at":"2026-11-01T06:10:25Z"}},"role":"Backend","role_family":"Backend","seniority":"senior","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Carlsbad, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":165000,"max":260500,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":260500},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":8,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Agile","optional":false},{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"JTAG Debuggers","optional":false},{"name":"Linux","optional":false},{"name":"Scrum","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-20T17:29:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-25","last_verified_at":"2026-11-01T15:58:35Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":11,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":11},"description":"About usOne 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.\nWhat you'll do\nThe Viasat Access Edge Terminal Software team is responsible for the design, development, delivery and support of software running on embedded satellite terminal products (Ka-band, L-band, 5G) that are used in aviation, maritime, residential and other sectors.\nWe are seeking an 5G Devices Senior Software Engineer to design and develop modular software platforms for user equipment (UE) and customer premises equipment (CPE). This role focuses on device-side software architecture, integrating industry-leading 5G chipsets with custom satellite and networking capabilities to create hybrid connectivity solutions for various markets including automotive, aviation, and maritime.\nNote - This position focuses on device/UE software architecture and is distinct from RAN (gNodeB/base station) or 5G Core network roles. Candidates should have device-side, client-side, or CPE development experience rather than network infrastructure expertise.\nThe day-to-day\nModular Software Architecture & Design\nDesign and implement modular software architectures with reusable building blocks, for devices that operateon NTN with Viasat'ssatellites\nDevelop software abstraction layers (HAL) and middleware that decouple application logic from modem hardware implementations\nCreate flexible, configurable software frameworks that support multiple device variants (many devices could have capabilities in addition to 5G, based on the target market), form factors, and deployment scenarios\nDefine clear interfaces and APIs between software modules to enable independent development, testing, and evolution of components\nBalance architectural flexibility with performance requirements in resource-constrained embedded environments\n5G Chipset Integration & Device Driver Development\nIntegrate 5G modem solutions from industry-leading vendors (Qualcomm, MediaTek, Intel) into device platforms and develop reference designs \nDevelop and maintain device drivers within the Linux kernel that support modem interfaces used in 5G technology (PCIe, USB, SDIO, UART) \nImplement low-level software to control modem initialization, configuration, power management, and runtime behavior\nWork with vendor Board Support Packages (BSP) and customize them for Viasat'sspecific hardware and use case requirements\nResolve challenging hardware-software integration faults \nOptimizeperformance for latency, throughput, power consumption, and system stability\nReference Design Development\nDesign and maintainreference software architectures that serve as templates for partner-developed devices\nCreate comprehensive SDK packages including libraries, sample code, documentation, and build tools for OEM/ODM partners\nDevelop \"golden reference\" implementations demonstratingguidelines for building 5G NTN enabled devices compatible with Viasat’snetwork\nProvidetechnical guidance and support to external device manufacturers using reference designs\nEnsure reference architectures are well-documented, maintainable, and follow industry standards (3GPP, GSMA)\nBalance reference design completeness with flexibility to accommodate diverse partner and market requirements\nSystem Integration & Validation\nCollaborate with hardware engineering teams to define device architecture and hardware-software interfaces\nDevelop test frameworks and validation suites for 5G device software components\nConduct performance analysis, profiling, and optimization of end-to-end device software stack\nSupport field trials and customer deployments, slving issues and implementing fixes\nMulti-Functional Leadership\nPartner with chipset vendor Field Application Engineers (FAEs) to leveragevendor expertiseand resolve technical issues\nCollaborate with product management to translate business requirements into technical architectures\nWork with application teams to ensure software building blocks meet upper-layer software needs\nMentor software engineers on 5G device technologies, driver development, and embedded systems best practices\nContribute to technical roadmaps and technology evaluation for future 5G device platforms\nWhat you'll need\nBachelor's degreeor equivalent work experiencein Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related technical field\n8+ years of experience in embedded software development for wireless communication devices\n5+ years of hands-on experience with 5G/LTE modem integration or device-side cellular protocol implementations\nProven track recordof architecting and delivering commercial 5G UE or CPE products\nDeep understanding of 5G NR device architecture, including RF, baseband, and application processor subsystems\nHands-on experience integrating 5G modem chipsets from vendors like Qualcomm, MediaTek, Intel, or Samsung\nKnowledge of 3GPP UE protocol stacks (NAS, SDAP, RRC, PDCP, RLC, MAC, PHY layers from device perspective)\nFamiliarity with 5G NR physical layer procedures, MIMO techniques, carrieraggregation.\nUnderstanding of regulatory requirements (FCC, CE, carrier certifications) for 5G devices\nExpert-level proficiencyin C/C++ for embedded systems and system-level programming\nStrong experience with Linux kernel development, including device driver implementation and kernel module debugging\nSolid understanding of hardware interfaces: PCIe, USB, SDIO, SPI, I2C, GPIO\nExperience with Android BSP development or embedded Linux distributions (Yocto, Buildroot)\nProven expertisein writing Linux kernel device drivers (character devices, network drivers, platform drivers)\nExperience with kernel synchronization primitives, memory management, DMA, and interrupt handling\nAbility to debug kernel-level issues using tools like ftrace, perf, crash dumps, and JTAG debuggers\nKnowledge of device tree, ACPI, and platform-specific hardware initialization\nDemonstrated ability to design modular, maintainable software architectures for complex embedded systems\nExperience creating SDKs, reference designs, or platform software used by external partners\nStrong documentation skills for technical specifications, architecture documents, and API references\nUnderstanding of software design patterns, abstraction techniques, and interface design principles\nStrong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to debug complex hardware-software interactions\nExcellent communication skills to collaborate with chipset vendors, partners, and internal stakeholders\nExperience with Agile/Scrum development methodologies\nAbility to work effectively in a fast-paced, cross-functional team environment\nUS Citizenship or permanent residence required\nWhat will help you on the job\nExperience with satellite-terrestrial convergence or hybrid connectivity systems\nExpertisein optimizingsoftware for resource-constrained hardware \nExperience with 5G IoT devices (NB-IoT, LTE-M) or industrial 5G applications\nBackground in wireless protocol testing and certification processes\nContributions to open-source projects related to wireless communications or embedded Linux\nKnowledge of secure boot, trusted execution environments (TEE), and embedded security practices\nSalary range\n$165,000.00 - $260,500.00 / annually.\nFor 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 $205,000.00- $307,000.00/ annually\nAt 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.\nEEO Statement\nViasat 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.\nModular Software Architecture & Design\nDesign and implement modular software architectures with reusable building blocks, for devices that operateon NTN with Viasat'ssatellites\nDevelop software abstraction layers (HAL) and middleware that decouple application logic from modem hardware implementations\nCreate flexible, configurable software frameworks that support multiple device variants (many devices could have capabilities in addition to 5G, based on the target market), form factors, and deployment scenarios\nDefine clear interfaces and APIs between software modules to enable independent development, testing, and evolution of components\nBalance architectural flexibility with performance requirements in resource-constrained embedded environments\n5G Chipset Integration & Device Driver Development\nIntegrate 5G modem solutions from industry-leading vendors (Qualcomm, MediaTek, Intel) into device platforms and develop reference designs \nDevelop and maintain device drivers within the Linux kernel that support modem interfaces used in 5G technology (PCIe, USB, SDIO, UART) \nImplement low-level software to control modem initialization, configuration, power management, and runtime behavior\nWork with vendor Board Support Packages (BSP) and customize them for Viasat'sspecific hardware and use case requirements\nResolve challenging hardware-software integration faults \nOptimizeperformance for latency, throughput, power consumption, and system stability\nReference Design Development\nDesign and maintainreference software architectures that serve as templates for partner-developed devices\nCreate comprehensive SDK packages including libraries, sample code, documentation, and build tools for OEM/ODM partners\nDevelop \"golden reference\" implementations demonstratingguidelines for building 5G NTN enabled devices compatible with Viasat’snetwork\nProvidetechnical guidance and support to external device manufacturers using reference designs\nEnsure reference architectures are well-documented, maintainable, and follow industry standards (3GPP, GSMA)\nBalance reference design completeness with flexibility to accommodate diverse partner and market requirements\nSystem Integration & Validation\nCollaborate with hardware engineering teams to define device architecture and hardware-software interfaces\nDevelop test frameworks and validation suites for 5G device software components\nConduct performance analysis, profiling, and optimization of end-to-end device software stack\nSupport field trials and customer deployments, slving issues and implementing fixes\nMulti-Functional Leadership\nPartner with chipset vendor Field Application Engineers (FAEs) to leveragevendor expertiseand resolve technical issues\nCollaborate with product management to translate business requirements into technical architectures\nWork with application teams to ensure software building blocks meet upper-layer software needs\nMentor software engineers on 5G device technologies, driver development, and embedded systems best practices\nContribute to technical roadmaps and technology evaluation for future 5G device...","description_format":"text","description_chars":14472,"description_truncated":true,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":8,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":true},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Satellite Communications","Mobile Networks"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-25T19:20:14Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"US","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"H-1B filings in 12 months: 32 · green card filings: 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