ViaSat

Mechanical Engineer - Antenna Systems

ViaSat$120K — $190K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of experience in precision positioner or electromechanical RF design.
  • Proficiency with CAD tools, specifically SolidWorks.
  • Expertise in GD&T applications in design and manufacturing.
  • Background in design for manufacturability across various processes.
  • Experience in performing thermal, structural, and tolerance analyses.
  • Familiarity with finite element modeling techniques.
  • Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
  • US Citizenship required for government position.
  • Willingness to travel up to 10%.
  • Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering is advantageous.

Responsibilities

  • Collaborate with a diverse engineering team to create innovative solutions.
  • Design and sustain positioning systems and electromechanical RF structures.
  • Manage multiple concurrent projects in military and commercial sectors.
  • Own specific workstreams and ensure proactive problem-solving.
  • Engage in key product lifecycle phases including design and testing.
  • Participate in comprehensive analyses and evaluations for product reliability.
  • Support integration and environmental testing efforts.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health and wellness benefits.
  • Opportunity for additional cash or stock incentives.
  • Strong focus on holistic health and wellness initiatives.
  • Supportive team environment fostering professional growth.
  • Potential for hands-on experience across various phases of product development.
Full Job Description
What you'll do

In this role, you will work closely with a collaborative, high-performing team of Mechanical Engineers to develop innovative solutions! You will design, improve, and sustain precision positioning systems-including motors, gearboxes, gearing, and encoders-as well as electromechanical RF structures such as reflectors, feeds, and flat panel arrays, with a focus on reliability and customer success.

You will contribute to multiple projects simultaneously, supporting both military and commercial hardware, while building depth in system design and product development. You will take ownership of defined workstreams and deliver results with a proactive, diligent approach to problem-solving and strong communication within multi-functional teams.

The day-to-day

You will partner with Mechanical, Systems, RF, Digital, and Test Engineers, as well as Operations Personnel, to develop comprehensive antenna systems solutions. This role offers opportunities to grow your technical expertise while contributing to end-to-end system solutions. Your responsibilities will span key phases of the product lifecycle, including conceptual design, trade studies, prototyping, detailed design and documentation, tolerance analysis, and participation in thermal and structural evaluations. You will also support integration activities, environmental testing, and field efforts, gaining hands-on experience across the full development process.

What you'll need

  • 5+ years of experience in precision positioner design, electromechanical RF design, or similar work.
  • Experience with CAD tools such as SolidWorks.
  • Knowledge of proper application of GD&T in design and manufacturing.
  • Experience with design for manufacturability for the following processes: casting, weldment, sheet metal, and precision machining
  • Ability to create and review thermal, structural, and tolerance analyses
  • Knowledge of finite element modeling techniques and software.
  • Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or similar engineering field.
  • US Government position. US Citizenship required.
  • Ability to travel up to 10%.

What will help you on the job

  • Masters of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
  • Experience with the following CAD tools: SolidWorks, Solid Edge, and Creo.
  • Experience with the following analysis tools: ANSYS, NASTRAN, and Thermal Desktop.
  • Experience with Ground Station Antenna Systems
  • Experience with Phased Array Antenna structural and thermal solutions.
  • Experience with design at low to medium levels of production.
  • Knowledge and application of government and military standards.

Salary range

$120,500.00 - $190,000.00 / 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 $149,500.00- $224,500.00/ 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.

About ViaSat

ViaSat is a global communications company that provides satellite and wireless networking technology, services, and solutions. The company was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Carlsbad, California. ViaSat offers a range of products and services, including satellite broadband internet, in-flight Wi-Fi, and secure networking systems for government and military customers. The company has more than 6,200 employees and operates in over 50 countries. ViaSat is publicly traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol VSAT.
Learn more about ViaSat
Size
7,000 employees
Market Cap
$2.2 billion
Industry
Net Income
-$2 million
Founded
1986
5 Year Trend
+12.3%
Revenue
$2.2 billion
NASDAQ

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