{"id":3247752,"url":"https://alion.io/job/viasat-senior-staff-mechanical-engineer","title":"Senior Staff Mechanical Engineer","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":"2026-10-31T05:58:55Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"staff","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Tempe, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":180500,"max":285000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":285000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":12,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"ANSYS","optional":false},{"name":"Nastran","optional":false},{"name":"SolidWorks","optional":false},{"name":"Thermal Desktop","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-19T19:22:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-25","last_verified_at":"2026-10-31T20:38:53Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":12,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":12},"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\nViaSat is seeking a highly motivated and seasoned Senior Staff Mechanical Engineer to join our growing space infrastructure team. In this role, you will provide top-tier technical leadership and strategic direction for the design, development, qualification, and production transition of complex mechanical systems and hardware for next-generation satellite platforms.\nAs a subject matter expert, you will oversee critical, high-impact mechanical programs across the full product lifecycle, driving cutting-edge solutions for highly challenging spaceflight applications. You will serve as a recognized technical leader and key cross-functional partner collaborating across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and executive program leadership, while actively mentoring and developing engineering talent across the organization.\nThe day-to-day\nIn this role, you will lead and architect projects and programs of paramount scope, scale, and complexity, applying advanced engineering principles to deliver highly reliable, manufacturable, and cost-effective spacecraft hardware.\nYou will:\nProvide technical leadership for the design and architecture of satellite structures, mechanisms, electronics packaging, and complex deployable systems.\nIndependently define broad technical challenges, lead trade studies, and establish overarching engineering solutions that balance peak performance, schedule, cost, and risk management.\nDrive complete mechanical subsystem ownership from strategic concept development through qualification, high-rate production, launch integration, and on-orbit support.\nDirect advanced structural, thermal, vibration, shock, and environmental analyses to validate next-generation flight hardware.\nEstablish baseline engineering requirements, specifications, standards, procedures, and comprehensive qualification strategies across programs.\nSpearhead critical hardware development, integration, test execution, and complex anomaly/root-cause resolution activities.\nLead executive Design Reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR) and serve as a trusted technical advisor to program leadership and key stakeholders.\nFoster deep cross-functional collaboration with systems, thermal, electrical, manufacturing, reliability, and supply chain teams to ensure flawless execution.\nPioneer the evaluation and implementation of emerging technologies, novel materials, and advanced manufacturing processes to scale capabilities.\nProvide strategic mentorship, coaching, and technical guidance to staff, mid-level, and junior engineers across teams.\nWhat you'll need\nBachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.\nExtensive professional experience in mechanical engineering (typically 12+ years), with a strong track record of successful spaceflight hardware development.\nDemonstrated experience providing top-level technical leadership for major mechanical subsystems on spacecraft, satellites, launch vehicles, or advanced aerospace platforms.\nDeep mastery of structural, thermal, dynamic, and environmental requirements tailored for complex space applications.\nAdvanced expertise in designing flight hardware using industry-standard CAD platforms (e.g., Creo, SolidWorks, NX).\nExtensive experience with advanced engineering analysis software (e.g., ANSYS, Nastran, Simcenter, Thermal Desktop).\nMastery of environmental qualification and acceptance testing methodologies, including vibration, shock, thermal vacuum (TVAC), and thermal cycling.\nProven autonomy to independently solve highly complex, ambiguous technical problems with minimal high-level direction.\nSuperior communication skills with a strong history of presenting technical recommendations and program status to executive management and key customers.\nExtensive experience guiding multidisciplinary, cross-functional engineering teams.\nU.S. Citizenship required\nWhat will help you on the job\nMaster's degree or Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.\nRecognized expertise in small satellite, broadband constellation, or spacecraft bus development programs.\nSpecialized expertise in advanced composite structures, ultra-lightweight design, and complex deployable mechanisms.\nComprehensive understanding of launch vehicle interfaces, primary payload integration, and spaceport operations.\nAdvanced command of DFM/DFA principles and design for mass-production/scaling of aerospace hardware.\nExpert knowledge of enterprise PLM systems (e.g., Teamcenter, Windchill).\nDeep experience directing strategic suppliers, contract manufacturers, and external vendors.\nExpert familiarity with industry spaceflight standards, high-reliability workmanship standards, and qualification methodologies.\nProven track record of leading major root-cause investigations and corrective action boards (CAB).\nExtensive background in formal leadership, engineering mentorship, and talent development.\nSalary range\n$180,500.00 - $285,000.00 / 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 $224,500.00- $336,500.00/ 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.\nIn this role, you will lead and architect projects and programs of paramount scope, scale, and complexity, applying advanced engineering principles to deliver highly reliable, manufacturable, and cost-effective spacecraft hardware.\nYou will:\nProvide technical leadership for the design and architecture of satellite structures, mechanisms, electronics packaging, and complex deployable systems.\nIndependently define broad technical challenges, lead trade studies, and establish overarching engineering solutions that balance peak performance, schedule, cost, and risk management.\nDrive complete mechanical subsystem ownership from strategic concept development through qualification, high-rate production, launch integration, and on-orbit support.\nDirect advanced structural, thermal, vibration, shock, and environmental analyses to validate next-generation flight hardware.\nEstablish baseline engineering requirements, specifications, standards, procedures, and comprehensive qualification strategies across programs.\nSpearhead critical hardware development, integration, test execution, and complex anomaly/root-cause resolution activities.\nLead executive Design Reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR) and serve as a trusted technical advisor to program leadership and key stakeholders.\nFoster deep cross-functional collaboration with systems, thermal, electrical, manufacturing, reliability, and supply chain teams to ensure flawless execution.\nPioneer the evaluation and implementation of emerging technologies, novel materials, and advanced manufacturing processes to scale capabilities.\nProvide strategic mentorship, coaching, and technical guidance to staff, mid-level, and junior engineers across teams.\nBachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.\nExtensive professional experience in mechanical engineering (typically 12+ years), with a strong track record of successful spaceflight hardware development.\nDemonstrated experience providing top-level technical leadership for major mechanical subsystems on spacecraft, satellites, launch vehicles, or advanced aerospace platforms.\nDeep mastery of structural, thermal, dynamic, and environmental requirements tailored for complex space applications.\nAdvanced expertise in designing flight hardware using industry-standard CAD platforms (e.g., Creo, SolidWorks, NX).\nExtensive experience with advanced engineering analysis software (e.g., ANSYS, Nastran, Simcenter, Thermal Desktop).\nMastery of environmental qualification and acceptance testing methodologies, including vibration, shock, thermal vacuum (TVAC), and thermal cycling.\nProven autonomy to independently solve highly complex, ambiguous technical problems with minimal high-level direction.\nSuperior communication skills with a strong history of presenting technical recommendations and program status to executive management and key customers.\nExtensive experience guiding multidisciplinary, cross-functional engineering teams.\nU.S. Citizenship required","description_format":"text","description_chars":9823,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":12,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Satellite Communications","Launch Services","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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