Mechanical Engineer Jobs at Viasat with Visa Sponsorship
Viasat's Mechanical Engineer roles span satellite hardware, RF systems, and defense electronics, with responsibilities ranging from thermal analysis to structural design. Viasat has an established sponsorship track record for engineering functions, making it a realistic target for international candidates on work visas.
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Get Access To All JobsAbout us:
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:
We are looking for a Communications Systems Engineer to join our Engineering team! As a Communications Systems Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in developing next generation satellite systems for GEO and NGSO satellite constellations and ground systems. This position entails actively contributing to the development of systems including end-to-end architecture, analysis, simulation, and verification of both standards-based and customized communication systems. You will be a part of a group who is responsible for the performance of our current and future systems. The position centers on wireless physical layer and MAC (media access control) layer but knowledge of higher layers is a plus.
The day-to-day:
- Work within a focused team to propose, develop, simulate, analyze, and test various systems and subsystems used for wireless satellite communications systems.
- Support and react to industry standardization activities such as 3GPP as needed.
- Create and maintain RF or optical link budgets and estimate overall link and system capacity.
- Develop and analyze specification and requirements.
- Work autonomously and collaboratively within a dynamic, fast-paced environment, where quick turnarounds are essential to team success.
- Documentation responsibilities encompass managing requirements using Jama, fulfilling tasks documented in Jira, and preparing and reviewing design documents.
- Participate in peer reviews of software, hardware, and architecture.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
- BA/BS in an engineering field or equivalent experience. Advanced degree and/or proven experience preferred.
- Expertise in communications systems, coding theory, estimation theory, control theory, signal processing, and modern system architecture.
- Ability to conceptualize, invent, develop, implement, and test sophisticated communications systems.
- Proven track record of interacting with interdisciplinary technical teams across multiple projects, performing analysis, making trade-off decisions, and applying formal project management techniques.
- Written and verbal communication skills, including technical review presentation skills.
- Ability to work autonomously with minimal instruction, balanced with the ability to seek assistance when needed.
- US citizenship or right to work in USA preferred.
- Up to 10% travel is required.
WHAT WILL HELP YOU ON THE JOB:
- Expertise with MATLAB or python data analysis and simulation frameworks.
- Knowledge of analog and RF hardware designs, higher layer protocols, and AI/ML (artificial intelligence/machine learning).
- Experience with Jama and Jira.
SALARY RANGE:
- Salary range: $95,000.00 - $149,500.00 / 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 $117,500.00 - $176,500.00 / 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.
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 online application, please click here.
About us:
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:
We are looking for a Communications Systems Engineer to join our Engineering team! As a Communications Systems Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in developing next generation satellite systems for GEO and NGSO satellite constellations and ground systems. This position entails actively contributing to the development of systems including end-to-end architecture, analysis, simulation, and verification of both standards-based and customized communication systems. You will be a part of a group who is responsible for the performance of our current and future systems. The position centers on wireless physical layer and MAC (media access control) layer but knowledge of higher layers is a plus.
The day-to-day:
- Work within a focused team to propose, develop, simulate, analyze, and test various systems and subsystems used for wireless satellite communications systems.
- Support and react to industry standardization activities such as 3GPP as needed.
- Create and maintain RF or optical link budgets and estimate overall link and system capacity.
- Develop and analyze specification and requirements.
- Work autonomously and collaboratively within a dynamic, fast-paced environment, where quick turnarounds are essential to team success.
- Documentation responsibilities encompass managing requirements using Jama, fulfilling tasks documented in Jira, and preparing and reviewing design documents.
- Participate in peer reviews of software, hardware, and architecture.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
- BA/BS in an engineering field or equivalent experience. Advanced degree and/or proven experience preferred.
- Expertise in communications systems, coding theory, estimation theory, control theory, signal processing, and modern system architecture.
- Ability to conceptualize, invent, develop, implement, and test sophisticated communications systems.
- Proven track record of interacting with interdisciplinary technical teams across multiple projects, performing analysis, making trade-off decisions, and applying formal project management techniques.
- Written and verbal communication skills, including technical review presentation skills.
- Ability to work autonomously with minimal instruction, balanced with the ability to seek assistance when needed.
- US citizenship or right to work in USA preferred.
- Up to 10% travel is required.
WHAT WILL HELP YOU ON THE JOB:
- Expertise with MATLAB or python data analysis and simulation frameworks.
- Knowledge of analog and RF hardware designs, higher layer protocols, and AI/ML (artificial intelligence/machine learning).
- Experience with Jama and Jira.
SALARY RANGE:
- Salary range: $95,000.00 - $149,500.00 / 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 $117,500.00 - $176,500.00 / 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.
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 online application, please click here.
See all 40+ Mechanical Engineer at Viasat jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Mechanical Engineer Jobs at Viasat Jobs
Tailor your portfolio to satellite hardware
Viasat hires Mechanical Engineers for antenna assemblies, thermal management, and enclosure design in space and defense environments. Highlight experience with MIL-spec tolerances, vibration analysis, or deployable structures to stand out from general manufacturing candidates.
Clarify your security clearance eligibility early
Many Viasat Mechanical Engineer roles require or prefer a U.S. security clearance. Non-U.S. citizens are generally ineligible for clearances, so focus your applications on the unclassified commercial satellite and ground systems positions where sponsorship is more accessible.
Time your application around H-1B cap deadlines
If you need H-1B sponsorship, USCIS opens registration each March for an October 1 start date. Securing an offer well before February gives Viasat and their legal team enough runway to register you without missing the window.
Use Migrate Mate to filter Viasat openings by visa type
Viasat posts Mechanical Engineer roles across multiple product lines, and not all are equally sponsorship-friendly. Migrate Mate lets you filter directly for positions where Viasat has an active sponsorship history, so you spend time on roles that are realistic for your visa situation.
Verify your OPT or CPT start date against the role timeline
Viasat's hiring process for engineering roles typically runs several weeks from application to offer. If you're on F-1 OPT, confirm your authorization start date aligns with the expected onboarding date before accepting, since work before your EAD effective date is not permitted.
Request the LCA job title matches your actual duties
When Viasat files your Labor Condition Application with DOL, the certified job title and SOC code become part of your legal status. Ask HR to confirm the LCA reflects your real responsibilities, since a mismatch between your offer letter and LCA can complicate future PERM filings or extensions.
Mechanical Engineer at Viasat jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Mechanical Engineer at Viasat JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does Viasat sponsor H-1B visas for Mechanical Engineers?
Yes, Viasat sponsors H-1B visas for Mechanical Engineer roles, particularly within its commercial satellite and ground systems divisions. Sponsorship is more consistently available for roles that do not require a U.S. security clearance. Viasat works with immigration counsel to handle petition filing, so the process is employer-managed once you receive an offer.
How do I apply for Mechanical Engineer jobs at Viasat?
Apply directly through Viasat's careers portal or browse open positions filtered by sponsorship eligibility on Migrate Mate. When applying, target roles in commercial satellite hardware, antenna systems, or ground terminals, where sponsorship is most commonly offered. Tailor your resume to reflect hardware design experience relevant to the specific product line listed in the job description.
Which visa types does Viasat commonly use for Mechanical Engineers?
Viasat sponsors H-1B visas for most full-time Mechanical Engineer hires and supports F-1 OPT and CPT for students and recent graduates entering internship or new-grad roles. TN visas are available for Canadian and Mexican nationals in qualifying engineering roles. For longer-term employment, Viasat also pursues Green Card sponsorship through EB-2 or EB-3 PERM-based pathways for engineers who remain with the company.
What qualifications does Viasat expect for sponsored Mechanical Engineer roles?
Viasat typically looks for a bachelor's or master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field. Preferred experience includes thermal analysis, structural design, CAD tools such as CATIA or SolidWorks, and familiarity with aerospace or defense hardware standards. Roles in satellite payload or antenna hardware often value hands-on lab or integration experience alongside simulation work.
How do I understand the visa filing timeline once Viasat extends an offer?
After an offer is accepted, Viasat's legal team typically begins the Labor Condition Application process with DOL, which must be certified before an H-1B petition is filed with USCIS. Standard H-1B processing takes several months, while premium processing reduces that to 15 business days. Build your start date expectations around these filing windows, especially if the October 1 cap-subject start date applies to your situation.
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