ViaSat

Software Engineer, Early Career

ViaSat$95K — $150K *
Information Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field
  • 0-3 years relevant professional experience
  • Proficiency in at least one major coding language (Python, Java, C++, or Go)
  • Ability to understand and restructure complex legacy code
  • Familiarity with Large Language Models (LLMs) and their impact on SDLC
  • Commitment to 'Shift-Left' testing principles

Responsibilities

  • Utilize AI (Claude) for refactoring and modernizing legacy code
  • Develop prompts for AI to generate secure and context-aware code
  • Implement reviews and unit tests for AI-generated code
  • Generate technical documentation and architectural diagrams from source code using LLMs
  • Identify software bottlenecks and suggest improvements with AI assistance
  • Collaborate with senior architects on aligning refactored code with technical roadmap

Benefits

  • Participation in Graduate Development Program for early career support
  • Flexible work environment with potential for onsite/hybrid roles
  • Relocation assistance available depending on eligibility
Full Job Description
What you'll do

As a Software Engineer at Viasat, you will be at the forefront of a new era of software development. You won't just be writing code; you will be "teaching" and guiding AI models to transform existing codebases. This role focuses on utilizing Claude (Anthropic) to analyze, refactor, and document legacy code, ensuring our systems are scalable, efficient, and maintainable.

The day-to-day

  • AI-Driven Refactoring: Use Claude to identify patterns in legacy codebases and generate refactored versions that adhere to modern design patterns and clean code principles.
  • Prompt Engineering: Develop and refine sophisticated prompts to ensure the AI generates high-quality, secure, and context-aware code improvements.
  • Validation & Testing: Implement a "Human-in-the-Loop" workflow by rigorously reviewing AI-generated code and writing comprehensive unit tests to ensure functional parity between old and new systems.
  • Documentation: Utilize LLMs to automatically generate technical documentation, API schemas, and architectural diagrams from existing source code.
  • Performance Optimization: Identify bottlenecks in current software and work with Claude to suggest and implement algorithmic improvements.
  • Collaboration: Work closely with senior architects to ensure that AI-refactored code aligns with the long-term technical roadmap.

Additional Information:

  • This position is located onsite. Viasat embraces a flexible work environment and onsite/hybrid work is determined by individual roles and teams. Relocation assistance is available pending eligibility.
  • As an Early Career hire, you will participate in our Graduate Development Program during your first 12+ months at Viasat. This program is designed to support your transition from university to the workplace through dedicated mentorship, building relationships with your cohort of new grad hires, technical upskilling, soft skills development and more to ensure you're set up for success as you begin your professional journey with Viasat
  • Viasat offers the following pre-determined start date options for incoming US Early Career hires (limited exceptions available)
    • Monday, July 13, 2026
    • Monday, August 3, 2026
    • Monday, September 7, 2026


What you'll need

  • Education: Completion of a Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field.
  • Experience: 0-3 years of relevant professional experience
  • Foundational Coding: Proficiency in at least one major language (e.g., Python, Java, C++, or Go) and a solid understanding of data structures and algorithms.
  • Analytical Mindset: An ability to read and understand complex, "spaghetti" code and visualize how it should be restructured.
  • AI Curiosity: Familiarity with Large Language Models (LLMs) and an interest in how generative AI is changing the software development lifecycle (SDLC).
  • Quality Focus: A strong belief in "Shift-Left" testing and the importance of catching defects early through automated testing.

What will help you on the job

  • Experience with Prompt Engineering or fine-tuning LLMs for technical tasks.
  • Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and how to integrate AI tools into automated workflows.
  • Contributions to open-source projects or a portfolio demonstrating refactoring projects.
  • Knowledge of DevOps principles and containerization (Docker/Kubernetes).

Salary range

$95,000.00 - $150,000.00 / 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 $118,000.00- $177,000.00/ 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 careers.viasat.com/LifeAtViasat/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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