GILAT BLOG
Employee Spotlight: Getting to know Gil Bialik
June 2, 2021
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Our latest Employee Spotlight blogpost features our one and only Gil Bialik, VP of Next
Generation Networks here at Gilat Satellite Networks.
How about introducing yourself.
My name is Gil Bialik. I am 53 years old, married with 3 kids. I have a BSc in Aeronautical Engineering from the Technion (Israel’s equivalent to MIT) and an MBA from Tel Aviv University. I decided to become an engineer because I have always been very curious about how things actually work. I also enjoy the creative process of coming up with new ideas that can turn into real products that can actually help people.
An engineer with an MBA? Should that surprise me?
Not really. Most engineers work in a business environment. In order to deliver the best technical solutions, I believe it’s critical to understand the business environment in which they will be implemented. I think more and more engineers today are including business studies as a key part of their education.
In our last Employee Spotlight we met Dubi, who has worked for Gilat for 24 years. You too?
I started here at Gilat 5 years ago. I guess you would like to know how I got here. I started my career in the telecommunications industry as a systems engineer at a large company. It was a great way to jump start my career. From there I moved to a small video networking company where I managed the R&D activity. My next industry move was to the broadcast technology domain where I really got to do it all; marketing, product management,
system architecture and S/W development management. The company was acquired and I was very fortunate to add organizational management and the management of overseas R&D groups to my skills box. Harnessing all of my experience, I came to Gilat to manage the system architecture and product delivery teams before I moved to my current position; VP of Next Generation Networks where I am responsible for the development of Gilat’s next generation flagship product.
What do you mean by Next Generation?
The satellite communication industry is going through a huge transformation in order to deliver the ubiquitous connectivity that the world is expecting. Here at Gilat we are developing a new platform that will make this possible, with higher scale and performance using the latest technologies available today in our hardware and software domains.
Are you happy that you joined the team at Gilat?
Definitely, for two main reasons:
1. The people here are amazing. I am surrounded by extremely talented people who are not only smart but also genuinely nice and fun to work with.
2. Satellite communication is cool. We are working on cutting edge and futuristic technologies to serve projects including:
• Algorithms for bandwidth efficiency optimization
• Complex network orchestration and management applications
• Airborne and maritime modems and antennas
• Electronically Steered Antennas for mobility applications
• High-capacity RF receivers and transmitters
These products and projects are bridging the digital divide to provide communication capabilities to people and places that have until now been cut off from the rest of the world.
What are you currently working on?
The project that I am currently managing is designed to provide high throughput communication using Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites. The project involves many technological challenges including high-capacity communication channels and integration with a new and complex MEO satellites constellation.
Back up; I thought Gilat worked on GEO. What is MEO?
MEO satellites orbit the earth at a height of several thousand kilometers. Unlike Geo-Stationary satellites (located at a specific orbit, 36,000Km above the equator) MEO satellites are constantly moving with respect the surface of the earth and as a result require special tracking terminals. MEO terminals point and track the moving satellites and are able to switch between satellites as they rise or set below the horizon. Since MEO satellites are not limited to a single orbit and since they are closer to earth than GEO satellites, they have the potential to provide better communication links, with much higher capacity and less latency.
Looking back to past projects, what was your favorite project to work on?
After I joined Gilat, one of the first projects I was involved with was to deliver a cellular backhauling network to a major operator in the US. It involved developing new system capabilities in a very short period of time and a very challenging integration with a Tier-1 mobile phone network.
What made it so great was the teamwork; this was an extremely complicated project yet everyone came together to make it work. I think that this is a very unique aspect of working at Gilat – we understand that as individuals we can do good things but as a team we can accomplish anything.
What’s your best advice for young engineers just getting started?
Always aim to be the best at what you are currently doing. Don’t focus too much on your next position until you truly master the roles and responsibilities of your current position. If you do this, your next position will come sooner than you think.
What do you like to do when you aren’t working?
I like spending time with my family, taking fields trips around the country and exploring our amazing history, culture and landscapes.
Describe working for Gilat in one sentence.
There’s never a dull moment (in a good way.)
WANT TO JOIN A WINNING TEAM HERE AT GILAT?
We are currently adding engineers to our R&D Division. Check out the job descriptions and apply today!
