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

The Viasat Access Edge Terminal Software team is responsible for the design, development, delivery and support of software running on embedded satellite terminal products (Ka-band, L-band, 5G) that are used in aviation, maritime, residential and other sectors.

We are seeking an 5G Devices Senior Software Engineer to design and develop modular software platforms for user equipment (UE) and customer premises equipment (CPE). This role focuses on device-side software architecture, integrating industry-leading 5G chipsets with custom satellite and networking capabilities to create hybrid connectivity solutions for various markets including automotive, aviation, and maritime.

Note - This position focuses on device/UE software architecture and is distinct from RAN (gNodeB/base station) or 5G Core network roles. Candidates should have device-side, client-side, or CPE development experience rather than network infrastructure expertise.

The day-to-day

Modular Software Architecture & Design

Design and implement modular software architectures with reusable building blocks, for devices that operate on NTN with Viasat's satellites

Develop software abstraction layers (HAL) and middleware that decouple application logic from modem hardware implementations

Create flexible, configurable software frameworks that support multiple device variants (many devices could have capabilities in addition to 5G, based on the target market), form factors, and deployment scenarios

Define clear interfaces and APIs between software modules to enable independent development, testing, and evolution of components

Balance architectural flexibility with performance requirements in resource-constrained embedded environments

5G Chipset Integration & Device Driver Development

Integrate 5G modem solutions from industry-leading vendors (Qualcomm, MediaTek, Intel) into device platforms and develop reference designs

Develop and maintain device drivers within the Linux kernel that support modem interfaces used in 5G technology (PCIe, USB, SDIO, UART)

Implement low-level software to control modem initialization, configuration, power management, and runtime behavior

Work with vendor Board Support Packages (BSP) and customize them for Viasat's specific hardware and use case requirements

Resolve challenging hardware-software integration faults

Optimize performance for latency, throughput, power consumption, and system stability

Reference Design Development

Design and maintain reference software architectures that serve as templates for partner-developed devices

Create comprehensive SDK packages including libraries, sample code, documentation, and build tools for OEM/ODM partners

Develop "golden reference" implementations demonstrating guidelines for building 5G NTN enabled devices compatible with Viasat’s network

Provide technical guidance and support to external device manufacturers using reference designs

Ensure reference architectures are well-documented, maintainable, and follow industry standards (3GPP, GSMA)

Balance reference design completeness with flexibility to accommodate diverse partner and market requirements

System Integration & Validation

Collaborate with hardware engineering teams to define device architecture and hardware-software interfaces

Develop test frameworks and validation suites for 5G device software components

Conduct performance analysis, profiling, and optimization of end-to-end device software stack

Support field trials and customer deployments, slving issues and implementing fixes

Multi-Functional Leadership

Partner with chipset vendor Field Application Engineers (FAEs) to leverage vendor expertise and resolve technical issues

Collaborate with product management to translate business requirements into technical architectures

Work with application teams to ensure software building blocks meet upper-layer software needs

Mentor software engineers on 5G device technologies, driver development, and embedded systems best practices

Contribute to technical roadmaps and technology evaluation for future 5G device platforms

What you'll need

Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related technical field

8+ years of experience in embedded software development for wireless communication devices

5+ years of hands-on experience with 5G/LTE modem integration or device-side cellular protocol implementations

Proven track record of architecting and delivering commercial 5G UE or CPE products

Deep understanding of 5G NR device architecture, including RF, baseband, and application processor subsystems

Hands-on experience integrating 5G modem chipsets from vendors like Qualcomm, MediaTek, Intel, or Samsung

Knowledge of 3GPP UE protocol stacks (NAS, SDAP, RRC, PDCP, RLC, MAC, PHY layers from device perspective)

Familiarity with 5G NR physical layer procedures, MIMO techniques, carrier aggregation.

Understanding of regulatory requirements (FCC, CE, carrier certifications) for 5G devices

Expert-level proficiency in C/C++ for embedded systems and system-level programming

Strong experience with Linux kernel development, including device driver implementation and kernel module debugging

Solid understanding of hardware interfaces: PCIe, USB, SDIO, SPI, I2C, GPIO

Experience with Android BSP development or embedded Linux distributions (Yocto, Buildroot)

Proven expertise in writing Linux kernel device drivers (character devices, network drivers, platform drivers)

Experience with kernel synchronization primitives, memory management, DMA, and interrupt handling

Ability to debug kernel-level issues using tools like ftrace, perf, crash dumps, and JTAG debuggers

Knowledge of device tree, ACPI, and platform-specific hardware initialization

Demonstrated ability to design modular, maintainable software architectures for complex embedded systems

Experience creating SDKs, reference designs, or platform software used by external partners

Strong documentation skills for technical specifications, architecture documents, and API references

Understanding of software design patterns, abstraction techniques, and interface design principles

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to debug complex hardware-software interactions

Excellent communication skills to collaborate with chipset vendors, partners, and internal stakeholders

Experience with Agile/Scrum development methodologies

Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, cross-functional team environment
US Citizenship or permanent residence required

What will help you on the job

Experience with satellite-terrestrial convergence or hybrid connectivity systems

Expertise in optimizing software for resource-constrained hardware

Experience with 5G IoT devices (NB-IoT, LTE-M) or industrial 5G applications

Background in wireless protocol testing and certification processes

Contributions to open-source projects related to wireless communications or embedded Linux

Knowledge of secure boot, trusted execution environments (TEE), and embedded security practices

#LI-GS1

Salary range

$165,000.00 - $260,500.00 / 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 $205,000.00- $307,000.00/ 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.

About the company

Viasat provides high-speed satellite internet access for residential, business, and government customers, especially in areas where traditional broadband is limited. The service works by connecting customers to a global high-capacity satellite network through subscription-based plans (with different speeds and data allowances) and is supported by customer hardware such as modems and antennas. In addition to consumer internet, Viasat signs contracts with government and enterprise clients for specialized communication solutions. Compared with some competitors, Viasat relies on a broad satellite network to reach remote regions worldwide and serves a diverse mix of customers, including households, businesses, and government entities, sometimes offering savings on selected plans. The company’s goal is to provide reliable, high-speed internet connectivity across the globe, expanding access to underserved areas through its satellite technology and services.

Company Size

5,001-10,000

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Carlsbad, California

Founded

1986

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

September 23, 2026 USMC MECS2 award added a $42 million task order.
ViaSat-3 F2 entered service September 17, boosting Americas aviation and residential capacity.
Reuters reported a July 16, 2026 jury awarded Viasat $229 million against Kioxia.

What critics are saying

Viasat carried $6.6 billion debt on March 31, 2026, with 2027 maturities looming.
Western Digital and other patent cases keep legal costs and cash uncertainty elevated.
Starlink's airline wins threaten Viasat's premium mobility pricing and route share by 2027.

What makes ViaSat unique

ViaSat-3 constellation finished September 2026, tripling global bandwidth and resilience.
Inmarsat Government gives Viasat multi-orbit, multi-band managed services across defense and mobility.
Equatys with Space42 targets shared direct-to-device infrastructure, not single-operator satellites.

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Benefits

Hybrid Work Options

Growth & Insights and Company News

6 month growth

1 year growth

2 year growth

SatelliteProME

Oct 22nd, 2026

Viasat launches Maxwell spacecraft to demo NASA satellite communications.

Viasat launches Maxwell spacecraft to demo NASA satellite communications. Viasat will showcase its multi-band, multi-orbit space relay solutions offering resilient, always-on LEO connectivity for government and commercial missions. Viasat has advanced its satellite communications demonstration programme for NASA with the successful launch of the Maxwell spacecraft, marking a key milestone in efforts to deliver faster, more reliable connectivity for low Earth orbit (LEO) missions. The spacecraft lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on October 20. ET aboard SpaceX's Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission. Built by Rocket Lab, Maxwell will support Viasat's work under NASA's Communications Services Project (CSP), which aims to demonstrate commercial satellite communication services for future space missions. The mission forms part of two CSP contracts awarded to Viasat, with a combined value of $81m. It supports NASA's transition towards commercial communications solutions as the agency prepares to retire its Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) fleet. Over the next five months, with testing scheduled to continue through March 2027, Viasat's government space team will conduct on-orbit tests to demonstrate the capabilities of its Ka-band and L-band satellite relay services. The technology is designed to provide low-latency communications, allowing spacecraft operators to access mission data, issue commands and manage operations with fewer delays. The demonstration will target the growing demand for reliable, on-demand connectivity as low Earth orbit satellite constellations, Earth observation programmes, scientific missions and military space activities expand. By enabling faster data transfers and continuous spacecraft communications, the services could support time-sensitive operations for both government and commercial customers. Viasat's payload includes a space-qualified Ka-band terminal designed to access its high-capacity ViaSat-3 satellite network, alongside an L-band terminal that connects to the company's global L-band network. These geostationary orbit relay systems are intended to provide on-demand access to mission-critical data and enable real-time telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) operations throughout a spacecraft's orbit. The demonstration will also test direct-to-ground communications through Viasat's Real-Time Earth Ground-Station-as-a-Service platform, which supports S-, X- and Ka-band frequencies. Together, the systems are designed to give operators greater flexibility in managing spacecraft and retrieving data for analysis and distribution. John Reeves, Vice President of Space and Mission Systems, Viasat Government, said: "Yesterday's launch represents the culmination of years of innovation, engineering and collaboration across Viasat, NASA and our industry partners. As LEO constellation operations, Earth observation and scientific missions, and military space activities continue to expand, the need for resilient, high-performance space-based communications to keep data flowing has never been greater. Our demonstration will show how new commercial services can transform LEO operations with continuous access and command and control of the spacecraft, enabling dynamic re-tasking and real-time data collection for government and commercial missions." Rocket Lab manufactured the Maxwell spacecraft at its facility in Long Beach, California, incorporating in-house components and subsystems, including solar panels, reaction wheels, star trackers, and flight and ground software. The company also supplied the spacecraft's power, communications, propulsion and attitude-control systems to support the mission. In addition, Rocket Lab provided a new L-band radio to facilitate the testing of various TT&C applications through Viasat's L-band network. The Maxwell launch marks Viasat's second demonstration mission under NASA's Communications Services Project. The company previously demonstrated its launch telemetry relay solution during the launch of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket in November 2025. Through the latest mission, Viasat aims to demonstrate how commercial satellite relay networks can help meet the communications needs of increasingly complex space operations while supporting NASA's longer-term shift towards commercially provided communications services.

Yahoo Finance

Oct 21st, 2026

Viasat launches Maxwell spacecraft built by Rocket Lab for $81M NASA demonstration

Viasat launched its Maxwell spacecraft on Tuesday for a NASA communications demonstration, part of two NASA Communications Services Project awards totalling $81 million. Rocket Lab built the spacecraft, which flew on SpaceX's Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission. Viasat will run five months of on-orbit tests through March 2027. They cover Ka- and L-band relay services and S-, X- and Ka-band direct-to-ground links. Rocket Lab built Maxwell at its Long Beach facility and supplied an L-band radio for telemetry, tracking and command tests. NASA is evaluating commercial services as it prepares to retire its Tracking and Data Relay Satellite fleet. It is Viasat's second demonstration under the project. Rocket Lab shares rose 4.8% on Wednesday, and Viasat gained 3%.

Fortune

Oct 21st, 2026

Space42 commits $1.7B to go global, aiming to double revenue to $600M by 2030

Abu Dhabi-based Space42 has committed about $1.7 billion to new projects as it seeks customers beyond the UAE. The satellite and AI company wants to double revenue to $600 million by 2030. Today, 90% of its revenue comes from the UAE and about 80% from government clients. Managing director Karim Sabbagh expects both ratios to move toward 70/30 within five years. In the first half of 2026, revenue rose 15% year-on-year to $260 million, with $18 million in profit. Last month, Space42 signed a binding deal with US firm Viasat to create Equatys, a shared platform linking phones directly to satellites. Space42 will commit $600 million and Viasat $400 million. It is due to launch by 2029. Sabbagh said the company may raise its spending plan, with a decision due at its investor day next month.

HMG Aerospace

Oct 19th, 2026

Viasat enhances JetXP business aviation in-flight connectivity solution.

Viasat enhances JetXP business aviation in-flight connectivity solution. Viasat has announced a major enhancement to its JetXP business aviation in-flight connectivity solution, featuring a simplified service plan structure for different usage levels and suggested retail pricing for the first time. The company's JetXP business aviation in-flight connectivity solution is already activated on more than 2,100 aircraft worldwide. Viasat is showcasing the solution at the National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas, October 20-22, 2026, at West Hall booth 2035. According to Viasat, the new portfolio introduces three service tiers from a light-use option to unlimited connectivity, available across Honeywell Aerospace's JetWave and JetWave X and Gogo's Plane Simple Ka terminals. The new tiers have been designed to deliver improved value at each level, with more competitive pricing than before, and reflect the expanded capacity now available across Viasat's global network. Manufacturer Suggested Retail Prices are also being published for all service plans using the JetWave X and Plane Simple Ka terminals, giving operators a consistent, publicly available reference point when evaluating in-flight connectivity options and estimating costs. They start from under $11,000 per month for an unlimited connectivity plan, with fixed retail pricing for the entire term of the service agreement, providing greater cost certainty to operators. Viasat says it developed the plans in consultation with Viasat's partners and customers who made clear that private jet owners, flight departments, charter operators, and fleet managers needed a simpler way to select the right level of connectivity for their needs and to understand exactly what it costs. The announcement follows a landmark entry into service of ViaSat-3 F2 across the Americas in September 2026 and F3 across Asia-Pacific a month earlier. According to the company, ViaSat-3 constellation is now fully operational, joining F1 to triple the bandwidth available across Viasat's global fleet. "Business aviation operators have told us clearly that they want in-flight connectivity they can rely on and pricing they can plan around," said Don Buchman, President of Aviation, Viasat. With its most advanced global satellites now fully operational, Inflight can offer both. At a time when operators are navigating unpredictable pricing elsewhere in the market, offering fixed-term plans with suggested retail pricing reinforces its commitment to being a partner operators can continue to trust, not just for performance, but for certainty."

Business Jet Interiors International

Oct 16th, 2026

Viasat introduces three service tiers for JetXP connectivity.

Viasat introduces three service tiers for JetXP connectivity. By Izzy Kington 16th October 2026 2 Mins Read Viasat has announced a new service plan structure for its JetXP business aviation inflight connectivity service. For the first time, it is also publishing suggested retail pricing. There will be three tiers, ranging from a light-use option to unlimited connectivity, available across Honeywell Aerospace's JetWave and JetWave X and Gogo's Plane Simple Ka terminals. Viasat said pricing on the new tiers is more competitive than before and reflects the added capacity now available across its global network. Manufacturer suggested retail prices (MSRPs) are being published for all service plans using the JetWave X and Plane Simple Ka terminals. The MSRPs start from under US$11,000 per month for an unlimited connectivity plan, and retail pricing is fixed for the full term of the service agreement. The new plans and suggested retail pricing take effect on 1 January 2027. Details of all MSRPs are available on the Viasat website. Viasat said the plans were developed with its partners and customers, who reported that private jet owners, flight departments, charter operators and fleet managers "needed a simpler way to select the right level of connectivity for their needs and to understand exactly what it costs". The change follows the completion of the ViaSat-3 constellation. ViaSat-3 F2 entered service over the Americas in September 2026, F3 having entered service across Asia-Pacific a month earlier. Together with F1, they triple the bandwidth available across Viasat's global fleet. All three satellites use beamforming technology that can dynamically follow aircraft across the coverage area. "Business aviation operators have told us clearly that they want inflight connectivity they can rely on and pricing they can plan around," said Don Buchman, president of aviation at Viasat. "With our most advanced global satellites now fully operational, we can offer both. At a time when operators are navigating unpredictable pricing elsewhere in the market, offering fixed-term plans with suggested retail pricing reinforces our commitment to being a partner operators can continue to trust, not just for performance, but for certainty." JetXP is active on more than 2,100 aircraft worldwide. Viasat will showcase the solution at NBAA-BACE 2026 in Las Vegas on 20-22 October, at West Hall booth 2035.

ViaSat

Senior Software Engineer - 5G Devices

About the job