Modeling & Simulation Engineer - Communication & Sensing Systems

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

Join a fast-paced team within Viasat's Government Space and Emerging Technologies group as a Lead Systems Engineer focused on Modeling & Simulation (M&S). In this role, you will:

• Lead the development and execution of modeling, simulation, and analysis activities for advanced communication and sensing systems.
• Develop mission-level and system-level simulation environments used to evaluate concepts, architectures, algorithms, and operational trade spaces.
• Guide performance analysis efforts spanning communications, sensing, networking, autonomy, and multi-domain mission applications.
• Lead quantitative trade studies and performance assessments used to inform system design decisions and customer recommendations.
• Support proposals, architecture studies, and customer engagements through rigorous technical analysis and modeling-based evidence.
• Support sensing system algorithm development and/or communication system physical layer development

The day-to-day

You'll be at the center of mission analysis, system performance assessment, and technical leadership.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing and maintaining mission-level, system-level, and subsystem-level simulation environments representing communication and sensing system performance.
• Leading architecture trade studies using simulation and quantitative analysis to evaluate performance, cost, technical risk, and operational effectiveness.
• Building and executing digital twins and representative mission simulations to support system development, demonstration, and customer evaluation.
• Performing sensitivity analyses, Monte Carlo assessments, uncertainty analyses, and performance characterization across realistic operational scenarios.
• Partnering with project engineers and technical leads to ensure simulation results directly inform design decisions, integration planning, and risk mitigation activities.
• Supporting verification and validation efforts through model correlation, simulation-based test planning, and comparison of predicted versus measured system performance.
• Delivering high-quality technical reports, analysis products, engineering documentation, and customer-facing briefings.
• Leverage Generative AI tools to enhance your day to day productivity.

What you'll need

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in modeling, simulation, mission analysis, performance assessment, or system engineering for complex communications, RF, sensing, defense, or space systems.
• Strong understanding of systems engineering principles and their application to simulation-driven system development.
• Experience developing mission-level, system-level, performance simulation frameworks, and high fidelity link simulations used to support technical decision making.
• Experience conducting architecture trade studies, statistical analyses, performance assessments, and operational effectiveness studies.
• Proficiency with simulation and analysis tools such as MATLAB, Simulink, Python, STK, AFSIM, custom simulation environments, or equivalent modeling frameworks.
• Experience working with large data sets and translating analysis results into actionable engineering recommendations.
• Strong communication and leadership skills, including experience briefing technical findings to engineering leadership, customers, and government stakeholders.
• Current (or within the last 2 years) Top Secret clearance (SCI eligibility) and willingness to travel up to 10%.

What will help you on the job

• Experience developing and validating digital twins and high-fidelity operational simulations.
• Expertise in communications systems, RF propagation, sensing systems, electronic warfare, signal processing, autonomy, or networking performance analysis.
• Experience with simulation verification, validation, accreditation, and uncertainty quantification methodologies.
• Experience supporting hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), software-in-the-loop (SIL), and system-level integration activities.
• Familiarity with distributed simulation environments and large-scale mission analysis frameworks.
• Experience supporting defense customers through mission analysis, operational assessments, concept evaluations, and capability studies.
• Experience collaborating with geographically distributed engineering and analysis teams.
• Experience as the technical authority for simulation-driven engineering across hardware, firmware, software, RF, and algorithm development teams.
• Advanced graduate education in engineering, applied mathematics, physics, operations research, or related analytical disciplines.

Salary range

$141,500.00 - $224,000.00 / 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 $176,000.00- $264,000.00/ 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 https://careers.viasat.com/benefits.
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.