Systems Engineer, Radio Access Network – GX

On May 31, 2023, Viasat completed its acquisition of Inmarsat, combining the teams, technologies and resources of the two companies to create a new global communications partner.

About Viasat

Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. With offices in 24 countries around the world, our mission shapes how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate and connect. Viasat is developing the ultimate global communications network to power high-quality, reliable, secure, affordable, fast connections to positively impact people's lives anywhere they are—on the ground, in the air or at sea, while building a sustainable future in space.

Global Operations

The Global Operations (GO) plays a vital role managing the services that keep our business running and delivering to our customers. GO consists of the following functions including: Satellite operations, Network Operations, Capacity fulfilment, Customer support, Field Services, Service assurance, Labs and Portfolio programs and processes.

Primary role purpose:

Based out of our Seattle office, the Systems Engineer will be responsible for the Operational Systems Engineering aspect of the GX Radio Network Subsystems, on a global scale, thus it will be covered by more than 15 ground stations to gateway traffic.

The role is essential for managing the Radio Access part of the GX radio network subsystems to fulfil the 24/7 on-call support to operations. Work with our Technology teams and vendors to bring new RAN features into operation. Test and verify any new upgrades in the lab and preproduction system. The Systems Engineer will also have to coordinate and interface externally with manufacturers, to follow up on any bug fixes and make sure the vendor support is provided promptly and efficiently to operations and engineering, to meet all the SLAs and availability requirements. The successful candidate will be responsible also, for providing operational technical support to any Network Operations, Customer Care and Business portfolio enquiry that requires UT Core Module and Network systems combined troubleshooting.

The successful candidate will have to travel periodically to the manufacturer and Satellite Access Station facilities. You will be responsible for ensuring that the system is manufactured, assembled, verified, validated and functions per the requirements of the contract, to be able to perform the following operations engineering tasks.

Key Responsibilities:

• Advanced disciplinary expertise acting as functional/sector specialist
• Work with Technology teams and other stakeholders to validate, test and deploy software and hardware upgrades in production
• Test and validate the functionalities of the new releases before and after deploying them to production
• Create procedures for Network Operations and site operators to follow and maintain proper systems behaviour
• Work on resolving complex issues that may impact multiple areas
• Take ownership of both internal and external relationships receiving direction in the form of objectives
• On-call duty, providing 24/7 engineering support for GX Radio network, globally
• Responding to Network Operations and Customer Service enquiries and provide solutions promptly
• Troubleshoot any RAN-related problems (H/W or Systems), ensuring all agreed SLAs and availability figures are met
• Raise support cases with vendors and manage the bug fix implementation with minimum traffic impact
• Interact with vendor Development teams to validate and cascade new software and configuration settings into the live network safely
• Provide regular traffic, network performance and test reports to Business Unit teams and SLA reports analysis
• Perform preventive maintenance and maintain H/W availability for all redundancy schemes
• Actively participate in RDT functionality by implementing Change Requests and preparing all sites for new s/w and patch roll-out
• Support the integration and operation of the safety services (Maritime and Aero safety service) with the Radio network

Essential Knowledge and Skills:

• A relevant University degree and/or considerable post-graduate experience in systems engineering management, including any telecommunication system design, test and implementation exposure
• Knowledge of network design, integration and testing issues associated with satellite access stations, operating in the L/Ka/Ku band, providing VSAT and IPTV services
• Good knowledge of DVB-S2/ACM and TDMA
• Good knowledge of modulation, coding and understanding of 3GPP
• Good knowledge of protocol analysing tools and RF measurement techniques
• Ability to create and update Link Budgets
• Experience working directly with prime contractors
• Experience in working within an operational 24x7 environment
• Methodical approach to work with sufficient commitment and drive to complete tasks, even where adverse conditions are encountered
• Ability to generate innovative solutions for customer excellence
• Strong analytical skills and fluency in English
• Proven interpersonal and negotiating skills
• Ability to organise and coordinate the workload efficiently
• Ability to work independently and willingness to travel overseas

Desirable Knowledge and Skills:

• MSc/MEng in a relevant technical degree (Telecommunications / Electronics Engineering)
• Experience in an operational technical environment or product development position within the satellite communications industry
• Proven experience in providing robust technical advice and solutions to customers in a commercial or business unit community
• Clear and concise communication skills; ability to articulate technical material to both technical and non-technical audience
• Scripting and any proven software engineering and database management capabilities
• Cisco CCNA, Cisco Certified Network Associate
• Systems engineering expertise and project management
• Experience in FPGA, micro-processing and A/D-D/A system architectures

Additional Information

You must be eligible to work in this location advertised.

Our culture and ways of working

Our values define our culture and represent what we believe in. Viasat employees aspire to behaviours that support our values, which create a stronger working environment and lie at the heart of our continued success as an organisation.

• Customer – we provide a unique value to our customers
• Accountability – we take ownership, we deliver results, and we keep our promises
• Respect – we collaborate, we embrace and celebrate diversity and we value difference
• Excellence – we create bold solutions for our customers and put quality at the heart of everything we do

We also value and encourage a healthy work-life balance, so we offer flexible working wherever possible. Depending on the operational requirements of your job and your team, we can offer compressed hours (nine-day fortnight), hybrid office-remote working, and flexibility during your working day to take care of personal commitments.

Diversity

We want the best people for the job, and we warmly welcome applications from you if you're suitably qualified and eligible, regardless of your sex, gender, age, race, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, gender identity, neurodiverse qualities, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy, or maternity status.

We are signed up to the Halo Hair Code, which aims to protect employees who come to work with natural hair and protective hairstyles associated with their racial, ethnic, and cultural identities.

To give you the best experience possible during your application process and interview, we can make adjustments. For example, if you're visually impaired we'll happily meet you locally and help you find your way to our office, or if you have neurodiverse qualities, we can provide you with additional support to help you prepare for your interview. Please let our Resourcing Team know if there are any ways in which we can support you.