Director of Development Programs, Government Services & Solutions (GSS)

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 the Director of Development Programs for Viasat's Government Services & Solutions (GSS) business area, you will lead the team of program managers responsible for executing our internal development portfolio of secure, resilient, multi-domain connectivity solutions that support government and military missions worldwide. This is a hands-on leadership role. You will manage both people and programs: directly managing program managers, while personally owning execution of a select set of high-visibility programs yourself.

Your portfolio will span software-defined networking, satellite communications (SATCOM), terminals, antennas, network infrastructure, and managed connectivity services. Beyond running your own programs, you will own how all programs are run: the operating model, governance cadence, planning and reporting standards, and the risk and opportunity practices that let a growing portfolio scale without losing execution discipline. Staying close to the work keeps you credible with your team and grounded in what your programs actually need.

You will be the connective tissue between execution and the executive team, partnering with Engineering, Operations, Finance, Contracts, and Business Development leadership to align resources to strategic priorities, and giving senior leaders a clear, trusted view of portfolio health. The work is real: the systems your teams deliver keep users and platforms connected across air, land, and sea in contested and operationally demanding environments.

The day-to-day

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of program/project managers, including setting performance expectations, building career paths, and growing bench strength for future portfolio growth
• Personally serve as program manager for a select set of strategic or high-visibility development programs, owning their cost, schedule, technical performance, and risk end to end
• Own accountability for cost, schedule, technical performance, and risk across all programs in the group
• Establish and mature the program management operating model: execution standards, governance gates, planning cadence, templates, and tooling
• Allocate and balance program management capacity and partner with functional leaders to resolve resource contention
• Drive financial rigor across the portfolio in partnership with Finance, including budgets, forecasts, EAC/ETC analysis, and variance explanation
• Run a consistent risk and opportunity management framework, escalating early and driving mitigation before commitments are at risk
• Partner with Domain Teams, Business Development, Technical Directors and Product Management on new pursuits, resourcing plans, and basis-of-estimate development
• Ensure programs meet development objectives while supporting certification, security, and compliance obligations
• Champion adherence to and continuous improvement of Viasat's development process (VGate)

What you'll need

• Bachelor's degree in a technical or business discipline, or equivalent relevant experience
• 12+ years of program or project management experience, including responsibility for cost, schedule, technical performance, and risk
• 4+ years of people leadership experience, directly managing program or project managers
• Demonstrated ability to manage both people and programs concurrently, balancing team leadership with direct ownership of program execution
• Experience leading complex development programs such as software, satellite networking, hub designs, terminals and antennas, or systems-of-systems efforts
• Demonstrated experience establishing or improving program management processes, governance, or execution standards across a portfolio
• Experience owning program financials, including budgeting, forecasting, and EAC/ETC analysis
• Proven ability to lead and influence within a highly matrixed organization, including teams that do not report to you
• Ability to present technical and programmatic information at an abstracted level to senior leadership
• Demonstrated hybrid Agile and predictive project execution methodologies and reporting
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills
• U.S. Government position requiring U.S. Citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance

What will help you on the job

• Experience leading a program management team
• Background in government, defense, or other regulated environments, including cost-plus and fixed-price contract vehicles
• Working knowledge Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) practices
• Experience supporting satellite communications, networking, terminals, or complex integrated systems
• Experience deploying automation or AI-enabled tooling to improve planning, forecasting, or portfolio visibility
• Experience with certifications, cybersecurity, and compliance requirements
• Subcontract and supplier management experience
• PMP certification
• Active DoD clearance

Salary range

$164,500.00 - $260,000.00 / 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 $204,500.00- $306,500.00/ 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.