Principal Systems Engineer - Product Development

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:

At Viasat UK our team provides industry leading, government approved Data at Rest encryption solutions to government and defence organisations, globally. Our capability extends into multiple systems and platforms within a myriad of domains, providing versatile projects and exciting opportunities. Viasat UK is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to lead the technical definition and delivery of our advanced security devices and work across multiple Information Assurance development projects.

Are you an exceptional Senior Systems Engineer ready to step up into a Principal role? Or a highly technical Electronics/Software Engineer looking to claim full architectural ownership of a physical product line? This is a high-visibility, hands-on role where you will define product features, architect end-to-end solutions, and serve as the Technical Lead on key projects. You will work side-by-side with our Technical Project Managers to guide a skilled team of electronics, FPGA, software, and mechanical engineers from concept to deployment.

The day-to-day:

System Architecture & Definition: Act as the technical authority for product features, system behavior, and inter-disciplinary design trade-offs.

Requirements Engineering: Lead the elicitation, structuring, and management of technical requirements using tools like IBM DOORS across all engineering disciplines.

Engineering Leadership: Guide the development team throughout the product lifecycle, spotting technical risks early, investigating root causes, and driving them to resolution.

Lifecycle & Qualification: Oversee full product verification, validation, and complex environmental qualification processes from concept to customer acceptance.

Bids & Estimates: Support the commercial team by producing robust engineering estimates for competitive bid activities.

Customer Discussions: Interface directly with defence customers to clarify or modify requirements and ensure the developed product satisfies the end need.

What you'll need:

Background: 7+ years of experience in the defence, aerospace, or space sectors developing physical electronic/software products.

Education: A degree-level qualification in Engineering, Electronic Design, Computer Science, Physics, or a relevant technical field.

Experience: Proven track record of delivering complex technical solutions across the systems engineering lifecycle (including requirements management, system design, architecture, and verification).

Skills: Strong system-level thinking with the ability to easily converse with specialists across hardware, software, FPGA, and mechanical domains.

Communication: Elite technical documentation skills and the confidence to negotiate technical requirements directly with defence customers.

Nationality & Security: Due to UK eyes-only projects, candidates must hold sole British Nationality and hold, or be eligible to achieve, UK DV Clearance.

What will help you on the job:

Ability to handle complexity, uncertainty, and competing program demands.

Demonstrable experience of problem-solving skills and applying system-level thinking.

Proficiency with system design languages (e.g., SysML, UML) and techniques (e.g., use case analysis, trade studies).

Direct experience with defence standards (e.g., DEF STAN, MIL-STD) for environmental and EMC testing.

Experience estimating engineering hours and writing technical proposals for bid activities.

Familiarity with the NCSC CAPS assurance process.