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 Viasat is seeking a full-time experienced payload systems engineer to join the spacecraft resident team. The successful candidate will be engaged in the design, development, manufacturing, integration, test, and in-orbit delivery of communication payloads for Viasat’s next generation satellites. Based at our resident office in Toulouse, the successful candidate will work closely with the satellite manufacturer and payload/antenna suppliers located around the world. The position will involve detailed understanding of Viasat’s spacecraft technical requirements and effectively engaging with the spacecraft manufacturer and suppliers to ensure that the design complies with the necessary requirements and adheres to industry standards. This will entail working very closely with payload and subsystem counterparts at a detailed design level and following the assembly, integration, and test campaigns through system-level and in-orbit testing. The successful candidate should have direct and relatable experience working with payload systems through all phases of the design lifecycle. The candidate will work collaboratively and constructively with contractors’ staff on a day-to-day basis and be comfortable negotiating in situations where a contractual mandate may not exist. Inter-divisional collaboration with other Viasat departments (ie ground segment, regulatory, operations, and network engineering) will be part of this role. Viasat is looking for people who thrive in a diverse and challenging work environment, who are receptive to change and who wholeheartedly embrace the opportunity to take responsibility for themselves and the company’s ongoing success. Note that the position will require frequent travel or work outside normal business hours due to the global nature of the spacecraft programme. The day-to-day Support spacecraft resident team, payload manager, and chief engineer in the development, manufacturing, test and in-orbit testing of communication payloads, and attend relevant meetings and reviews with both Viasat internal and external stakeholders. Perform analysis/trade-offs and generate bottoms-up payload budget calculations to ensure the optimum design of the communications payload in line with specifications, and in coherency with system design and platform interfaces. Identify, monitor, and report critical areas throughout the design, construction and test phases of the payload and safeguard Viasat interests in case of technical or programmatic issues arising during each phase of the lifecycle (including in orbit test campaigns). Work collaboratively with the spacecraft contractor to guide and refine technical solutions while still ensuring compliance to spacecraft performance requirements; where this may be challenging, the candidate must be able to constructively develop and/or assess technical trades and understand the operational consequences of design decisions. Actively manage contractor/suppliers towards sound technical resolution and timely closure of payload subsystem technical nonconformances, including understanding and acceptance of operational consequences. Provide payload and system-level design recommendations to support mission requirements definition and capacity planning decisions, including supporting new business initiatives and participating in technology assessments/contract negotiations. Contribute to end-to-end systems design: link analysis, system capacity, payload architectures and performances and payload/antenna technologies trade studies. What you'll need Essential Knowledge and Skills: University degree or equivalent in Engineering (MSc) At least 10 years’ direct experience in satellite payload design, manufacture, integration and test from equipment level through to spacecraft level. At least 5 years’ experience in communications payload design and related requirements drivers for GEO payloads, including design, production, acceptance, anomaly resolution, and operational (in-orbit) experience. Experience with L-band payloads and/or navigation payloads considered a plus. Good knowledge on mobile oriented communications payload technology and related operations: flexible/digitally processed payloads supporting dynamic bandwidth and power allocation in multi-spot architectures. Experience working at or with spacecraft manufacturers and unit suppliers, with knowledge of industry best-practices, including knowledge of and experience working with ECSS/ESA/NASA/MIL standards. Good knowledge of all technologies associated with communications payloads, including LNAs, TWTA’s, SSPA’s, filters, frequency generators, converters, digital payload processors, active antennas and MPAs. Good knowledge of TTC and payload compatibility assessment processes. Ability to undertake analysis and verification of supplier data and ground + in-orbit performance data (e.g. coverage, G/T, EIRP, linearity etc), through the use of relevant software tools and ability to develop additional tool capabilities. Prevention by design, analysis and test of passive intermodulation and multipaction. Technical background in satellite communication and end to end system performance: modulation and coding, link budgets, communication protocols. Knowledge of beam forming, including system level implementation of digital beamforming would be a plus. Excellent writing/verbal communication and reporting skills; Demonstrable capability to successfully deliver quality and on-time work; Teamwork and resilience under pressure Language: Fluency (written and oral) in English. Ability to communicate comfortably in French and/or Spanish is a plus. Regular travel and working outside of the base location (for example, at the satellite manufacturer, with suppliers, or at the AIT facilities) will be required What will help you on the job Desirable Knowledge and Skills: Knowledge of Inmarsat and Viasat satellites and the wider satcom mobility market Multi-cultural awareness; experience of working in, and with, a wide variety of cultures in a global environment. Ability to work with globally-scattered cross-functional teams Ability to present complex contexts in a simple way and raise action points with clarity Personal qualities needed to succeed on the job: Forward-thinking, energetic, self-taught and self-motivated with a “can-do” attitude to actively contribute Analytical and highly curious individual to approach ideas from many different angles Comfortable operating in a dynamic environment Objective, rational and multidisciplinary thinking Organized and conscientious Passionate High degree of integrity and accountability Provide and receive candid feedback Ability to address problems quickly and take action or report EEO Statement 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 on-line application, please click here.