About usOne 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 doThe Program Architect helps launch new space programs by creating the technical, digital, and operational foundations needed for success. You will shape how programs begin, how teams work together, and how digital, engineering, and manufacturing systems fit into a coherent plan. This role brings structure to early development, builds clear roadmaps, and sets up the tools and processes that enable teams to move with confidence and speed. Your work will directly enable engineering velocity across the organization.
The day-to-day- Develop program architectures that outline system structure, development flow, digital ecosystems, manufacturing assumptions, and operational concepts
- Build startup frameworks for new programs including tool selection, digital thread structure, configuration practices, and early integration planning
- Work across mechanical, RF, software, AIT, ground, and operations teams to ensure early program structure aligns with mission goals
- Establish digital engineering foundations including modeling standards, simulation environments, data flow patterns, and traceability structures
- Partner with industrial and manufacturing engineering to create factory layout concepts, simulation studies, capacity assessments, production assumptions, and early producibility evaluations
- Support automation and workflow-design studies to identify opportunities that streamline execution and reduce cycle time
- Contribute to R&D planning by evaluating emerging technologies and mapping research into program roadmaps
- Build multi-year development roadmaps that integrate engineering maturity, manufacturing capability growth, digital tool progression, and resource planning
- Support make, buy, and partner decisions with organized system-level assessments
- Help identify early constraints, key drivers, and simple, effective paths that keep programs moving quickly
- Facilitate program reviews, document decisions, and ensure consistent follow-through across engineering and operations
- Communicate program architecture, digital strategy recommendations, and roadmap updates clearly to leadership and technical teams
- Promote fast, focused engineering execution by removing friction, improving clarity, and ensuring teams have the right tools and workflows to accelerate delivery
What you'll need- 5 years of experience in industrial engineering, systems engineering, digital engineering, manufacturing engineering, operations engineering, or program architecture
- Experience contributing to engineering or manufacturing workflows, digital tools, factory studies, or early program structures
- Experience with process modeling, simulation tools, capacity studies, or facility layout development
- Ability to collaborate across mechanical, RF, software, AIT, ground, and operations teams
- Experience developing assumptions, evaluating alternatives, and creating structured plans for complex engineering efforts
- Strong analytical skills and the ability to organize information, anticipate constraints, and design clear solution paths
- Strong communication skills for technical teams, leadership, suppliers, and partners
What will help you on the job- Familiarity with digital transformation, digital manufacturing, analytics, or data-driven decision making
- Experience evaluating automation opportunities or developing smart-factory concepts
- Experience supporting early program startup, factory planning, or architectural definition
- Ability to quickly learn new tools, processes, or engineering methods
- Strong relationship-building skills and comfort operating across diverse engineering and manufacturing teams
- A practical, structured approach to problem solving and an ability to steer teams toward the most effective path forward
- A mindset oriented toward fast execution, continuous improvement, and finding the quickest workable path without sacrificing clarity or quality
Salary range$177,500.00 - $280,000.00 / 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 $221,000.00- $331,000.00/ 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
EEO StatementViasat 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.
Never miss an opportunity! Create an alert based on the job you applied for.
