RF Network Engineer, Viasat Government

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

• As a Network Engineer within Viasat Government, you will support various Business Groups with diverse service offerings by providing the optimal service conditions for the best customer experience.
• The day-to-day
• Troubleshooting and correcting complex failures of Hardware, Software, and Network systems.
• Work is performed locally on site, via remote login, or via phone with “smart hands” located on site.  Complexity is based on standard and non-standard configurations of both ViaSat and Customer owned equipment.  Problems are on multiple platforms and include the integration between them.  Changes to policy-based routing and in-depth understandings of abstract concepts and equipment interaction can be required.  Work performed is considered at an Advanced to Expert level in many disciplines including IP networking and Satcom/RF. Advising and supporting remote field service engineers at manned locations.  Aid customers and/or vendors to resolve issues with their equipment or networks to help restore our services.
• Analyzing the root cause of failures.
• In the process of fixing the problem, hardware or software may need to be replaced, upgraded, reconfigured, etc.  Once service is restored, a true root cause must be identified.  Root cause is essential to understanding why something happened and how to mitigate it in the future.  The analysis of root cause can be complex and can require the re-creation of issues in labs, analysis of logs, repair information, and interacting with development team.  Once root cause is identified, procedures are updated and training provided as mitigation.
• Performing preventative maintenance of hardware, software, and networks.

This is accomplished via routine inspection, backup, physical maintenance, etc.  We have set procedures to calibrate systems, take measurements, verify operation, and check for redundancy.  This is performed by telephone with “Smart Hands”, remotely via computers, and in person.

Performance Trending and Analysis.

The networks maintained by the team are very complex.  This results in a multitude of parameters, any of which can cause the performance of the network, hub, or terminal to perform at sub optimal levels.  This position is responsible for continuously trending the performance of the overall system and the individual hubs that comprise it.  This is done using log files, historical cases, direct observation, test terminals, trending software, and dashboards.

Managing Network projects.

Global Network Operations has numerous mid to long term initiatives underway at any given moment.  The staff is assigned to a project, and they are expected to champion that project from start to finish.  This includes coordinating resources and staff both within the staff and external to it.

Documenting procedure creation, corrective actions, configurations, diagrams, etc.

The documentation consists of rouble tickets and logs, equipment configurations, wiring diagrams, block and level diagrams, logic diagrams, rack elevation drawings, physical interconnection diagrams, backhaul circuit information, System Change Control, Corrective Action Reports.  The documents are used within the team, other groups within ViaSat, and external partners and customers.  Accuracy is vitally important as these are prime documents used for troubleshooting issues.

Ensuring that procedures are created and maintained is important to the scalability of the Services group.

What you'll need

4+ years' experience implementing, administering, and troubleshooting network infrastructure devices, including: firewalls, routers, switches, wireless access points and controllers, and monitoring applications

• Demonstrated knowledge in configuration, installation,resolution and support of satellite earth station equipment and RF performance analysis
• Proven experience deploying and administering virtual machines and hypervisors
• Working knowledge of spectrum analyzer
• Outstanding written and verbal communications skills
• Ability to be on-call in a rotating schedule with a response time of less than one (1) hour

IAT Level II Certification within 90 days of hire.

• Associates Degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Information Technology or equivalent experience
• US Government position.  US Citizenship required
• Active DoD Secret Clearance with ability to obtain Top Secret when administratively feasible
• Ability to travel up to 30% both domestic and international

What will help you on the job

Understanding of bandwidth traffic shaping protocols and implementation.

Hands-on technical experience working and troubleshooting with VPN technologies (IPSEC, SSL VPN), VRF, routing protocols (OSPF, EIGRP, BGP).

• Experience with programming languages such as Python, Powershell, and SQL
• Experience with automation tools such as Ansible
• Active CCNA, Sec+, Net+ and/or A Certifications

Ability to work variable and/or extended hours, with teammates or alone.

Responsibilities

• Troubleshooting and correcting complex failures of Hardware, Software, and Network systems.
• Work is performed locally on site, via remote login, or via phone with “smart hands” located on site.  Complexity is based on standard and non-standard configurations of both ViaSat and Customer owned equipment.  Problems are on multiple platforms and include the integration between them.  Changes to policy-based routing and in-depth understandings of abstract concepts and equipment interaction can be required.  Work performed is considered at an Advanced to Expert level in many disciplines including IP networking and Satcom/RF. Advising and supporting remote field service engineers at manned locations.  Aid customers and/or vendors to resolve issues with their equipment or networks to help restore our services.
• Analyzing the root cause of failures.
• In the process of fixing the problem, hardware or software may need to be replaced, upgraded, reconfigured, etc.  Once service is restored, a true root cause must be identified.  Root cause is essential to understanding why something happened and how to mitigate it in the future.  The analysis of root cause can be complex and can require the re-creation of issues in labs, analysis of logs, repair information, and interacting with development team.  Once root cause is identified, procedures are updated and training provided as mitigation.
• Performing preventative maintenance of hardware, software, and networks.

This is accomplished via routine inspection, backup, physical maintenance, etc.  We have set procedures to calibrate systems, take measurements, verify operation, and check for redundancy.  This is performed by telephone with “Smart Hands”, remotely via computers, and in person.

Performance Trending and Analysis.

The networks maintained by the team are very complex.  This results in a multitude of parameters, any of which can cause the performance of the network, hub, or terminal to perform at sub optimal levels.  This position is responsible for continuously trending the performance of the overall system and the individual hubs that comprise it.  This is done using log files, historical cases, direct observation, test terminals, trending software, and dashboards.

Managing Network projects.

Global Network Operations has numerous mid to long term initiatives underway at any given moment.  The staff is assigned to a project, and they are expected to champion that project from start to finish.  This includes coordinating resources and staff both within the staff and external to it.

Documenting procedure creation, corrective actions, configurations, diagrams, etc.

The documentation consists of rouble tickets and logs, equipment configurations, wiring diagrams, block and level diagrams, logic diagrams, rack elevation drawings, physical interconnection diagrams, backhaul circuit information, System Change Control, Corrective Action Reports.  The documents are used within the team, other groups within ViaSat, and external partners and customers.  Accuracy is vitally important as these are prime documents used for troubleshooting issues.