ViaSat

Test Engineer

ViaSat$99K — $157K *
Tempe, AZ 85281In-Person
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience.
  • 4+ years in environmental testing, including vibration and thermo-vacuum procedures.
  • Strong mechanical engineering skills to design test fixtures and interpret specifications.
  • Proficiency with test equipment like vibration tables and thermal vacuum chambers.
  • Demonstrated leadership in mentoring test engineers and technicians.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills for conveying technical data.
  • US citizenship and availability for up to 10% travel required.

Responsibilities

  • Provide engineering support for Viasat product testing, focusing on space-qualified hardware.
  • Assist with environmental tests and analyze performance data.
  • Diagnose and resolve anomalies in environmental performance testing.
  • Collaborate with manufacturers to maintain and calibrate testing equipment.
  • Ensure quality standards for all space hardware are met.
  • Guide and mentor technicians and junior engineers in testing practices.
  • Act as the liaison between engineering and the production floor to improve communication.
  • Identify improvements to increase efficiency in the testing process.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health and wellness benefits.
  • Opportunities for cash or stock incentives based on performance.
  • Support for professional development and continuous learning.
  • Collaborative work environment that promotes innovation and teamwork.
Full Job Description
What you'll do

We are thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for an onsite Test Engineer to join our dynamic team in Tempe, AZ!

You will provide hands-on engineering support to diagnose and resolve complex performance anomalies-such as thermal, vibration, and vacuum issues-while leading a team of technicians and junior engineers toward consistent testing excellence. Beyond technical troubleshooting, you will collaborate with contract manufacturers to maintain specialized equipment, optimize testing lifecycles, and advocate for the resources needed to ensure the timely delivery of flight-ready modules.

The day-to-day

  • Provide comprehensive engineering support for the production of Viasat products, specifically focusing on space-qualified hardware.
  • Assist the Design and Systems Engineering teams in conducting environmental tests and analyzing performance data.
  • Diagnose and resolve technical issues related to environmental performance (e.g., thermal, vibration, or vacuum testing anomalies).
  • Collaborate with contract manufacturers to ensure all specialized test equipment is properly maintained and calibrated.
  • Ensuring all space hardware meets strict quality and performance benchmarks.
  • Provide daily guidance and technical leadership to technicians and junior test engineers to ensure consistent testing standards.
  • Act as the primary point of contact between the Engineering team and the production floor to streamline communication.
  • Identify and implement process changes to increase efficiency in the testing lifecycle.
  • Evaluate and advocate for necessary resource needs to ensure the timely delivery of flight-ready modules.
  • Work alongside manufacturing partners to identify potential production bottlenecks and develop proactive solutions.

What you'll need

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, or an Associate degree supplemented by equivalent professional experience.
  • 4+ years of experience in environmental testing, specifically including hands-on work with vibration, thermo-vacuum, and pyroshock test procedures.
  • Experience in environmental testing, specifically including hands-on work with vibration, thermo-vacuum, and pyroshock test procedures.
  • Success in this role requires strong mechanical engineering skills to design specialized test fixtures and the technical literacy to interpret complex environmental specifications.
  • Proficiency in operating and managing specialized hardware, including vibration tables, temperature chambers, thermal vacuum (TVAC) chambers, and various data logging systems.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and provide technical direction to other test engineers and technicians.
  • Strong interpersonal skills are essential, with a proven ability to communicate technical data clearly in both verbal and written formats.
  • US government position. US citizenship required.
  • Up to 10% travel required.

What will help you on the job

  • Knowledge of environmental test as it pertains to RF and electronic products.
  • Ability to perform mechanical design in Solidworks, AutoCad, or related design tools.
  • Strong understanding of thermodynamics and mechanical stress analysis.

Salary range

$99,500.00 - $157,000.00 / 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 $123,500.00- $185,500.00/ 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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