Senior Sustainment Program Manager (DoD)

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

Viasat is seeking a Senior Sustainment Program Manager to lead the long-term sustainment of satellite ground systems. These systems support U.S. Department of Defense missions and require operational support. This position serves as the primary program leader responsible for ensuring operational readiness, lifecycle support, modernization planning, and mission continuity across a geographically distributed enterprise of satellite communications ground infrastructure.

The day-to-day

This individual will work closely with government collaborators, operational users, engineering teams, and mission partners to ensure sustained delivery of critical capabilities that support national security objectives.

The Senior Sustainment Program Manager will routinely engage with Government program offices, operational users, prime contractors, and mission partners to ensure alignment of sustainment activities, operational priorities, modernization initiatives, and contractual requirements.

The successful candidate must be capable of building positive relationships across organizational boundaries while effectively navigating complex collaborator environments within the Department of Defense ecosystem.

The successful candidate will oversee all aspects of program execution, including customer engagement, financial management, technical performance, risk management, logistics support, and subcontractor oversight.

• Lead execution of a multi-year sustainment program supporting operational satellite ground stations and associated mission systems.
• Serve as the primary interface between Viasat, Government collaborators, and prime contractor organizations supporting the mission.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with Program Executive Offices (PEOs), program managers, contracting representatives, operational users, and industry partners.
• Represent Viasat during integrated product team (IPT) meetings, program management reviews, technical interchange meetings (TIMs), and executive-level customer briefings.
• Ensure alignment between prime contract objectives, subcontract deliverables, and mission sustainment requirements.
• Ensure operational readiness, system availability, and mission continuity.
• Develop sustainment, modernization, and technology refresh strategies.
• Manage program cost, schedule, technical performance, and EVMS reporting.

What you'll need

• 8+ years' of DoD or Federal Program Management experience
• Proven experience leading global sustainment or lifecycle support programs
• Demonstrated experience working directly with DoD customers as well as large defense prime contractors in a program execution, sustainment, or lifecycle management role
• Proven ability to influence collaborators and drive decisions across Government and industry organizations without direct authority
• Bachelor degree in Technical course of study or equivalent experience
• US Government position. US Citizenship required
• Active DoD Secret clearance
• Ability to travel up to 20%

What will help you on the job

• Demonstrated ability to brief senior Government leaders, collaborating with operational end users, and coordinating execution activities with major defense prime contractors supporting the overall mission architecture
• Active TS/SCI clearance
• Experience supporting DoD SATCOM, Space, or ISR missions
• Demonstrated Satellite ground station experience
• PMP certification

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

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.