Advanced Systems Engineer

Honeywell Aerospace; Ottawa; Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Honeywell Aerospace in Kanata, Ontario, is seeking an Advanced Systems Engineer to develop, integrate, verify, and deploy advanced optical payloads for space applications. You will lead requirements, manage baselines, and support cross-functional teams across disciplines in a hybrid work setting.

The role emphasizes collaborating with optical, mechanical, electrical, software, and mission operations teams to deliver mission-ready systems while contributing to design reviews and verification

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Physics, Optical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related STEM discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in systems engineering, optical instrumentation, aerospace systems, or related system technical fields.
• Willing to travel to customer sites, suppliers, or test facilities.

Responsibilities

• Define, analyze, and allocate system-level requirements for optical instruments and payloads.
• Develop requirements traceability and verification strategies throughout the product lifecycle.
• Manage technical baselines and configuration control activities.
• Support system design reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and ORR.
• Collaborate with optical, electronics, and software teams to develop space-qualified optical instruments.
• Assess system performance budgets including optical, thermal, pointing, radiometric, and electrical performance.
• Support instrument architecture trade studies and technology evaluations.
• Contribute to optical payload integration and validation planning.
• Develop verification and validation plans for complex optical systems.
• Support integration activities, environmental qualification testing, and acceptance testing.
• Analyze test results and ensure compliance with mission and customer requirements.
• Coordinate problem resolution and corrective actions during system integration and testing.
• Contribute to mission concept development and operational planning.
• Support spacecraft and payload interface definition activities.
• Develop and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs).
• Participate in anomaly investigations and RCCA activities.
• Work with program management, customers, suppliers, and partner organizations.
• Support technical reviews and customer presentations.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to engineering best practices.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Willingness to travel

Education

Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Physics, Optical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related STEM discipline

Tools

IBM DOORS

MATLAB

STK

MBSE

SysML

Job description

As an Advanced Systems Engineer (Optical Instruments, Space) here at Honeywell Aerospace, you will have the opportunity to play a critical role in the development, integration, verification, and deployment of advanced optical payloads and instruments for space applications. You will work across multidisciplinary engineering teams to define system architectures, develop requirements, manage technical baselines, and ensure mission success throughout the full product lifecycle.

You will report directly to our Sr Engineering Manager and you'll work out of our Kanata, Ontario location hybrid.

In this role, you will contribute to next-generation spaceborne optical systems that support Earth observation, scientific exploration, space domain awareness, and advanced communications missions. You will collaborate closely with optical, mechanical, electrical, software, and mission operations teams to deliver high-performance solutions that meet customer and mission requirements.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Define, analyze, and allocate system-level requirements for optical instruments and payloads.
• Develop requirements traceability and verification strategies throughout the product lifecycle.
• Manage technical baselines and configuration control activities.
• Support system design reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and ORR.

Systems Engineering & Requirements Management

• Collaborate with optical, electronics, and software teams to develop space-qualified optical instruments.
• Assess system performance budgets including optical, thermal, pointing, radiometric, and electrical performance.
• Support instrument architecture trade studies and technology evaluations.
• Contribute to optical payload integration and validation planning.

Verification, Integration & Test

• Develop verification and validation plans for complex optical systems.
• Support integration activities, environmental qualification testing, and acceptance testing.
• Analyze test results and ensure compliance with mission and customer requirements.
• Coordinate problem resolution and corrective actions during system integration and testing.

Space Mission Support

• Contribute to mission concept development and operational planning.
• Support spacecraft and payload interface definition activities.
• Develop and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs).
• Participate in anomaly investigations and Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) activities.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work with program management, customers, suppliers, and partner organizations.
• Support technical reviews and customer presentations.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to engineering best practices.

YOU MUST HAVE

• Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Physics, Optical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related STEM discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in systems engineering, optical instrumentation, aerospace systems, or related system technical fields.
• Willing to travel to customer sites, suppliers, or test facilities.

WE VALUE

• Experience developing and managing system requirements and verification plans.
• Knowledge of systems engineering processes and product development lifecycles.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Experience with space systems, spacecraft payloads, or optical instruments.
• Knowledge of imaging systems, spectrometers, laser systems, LIDAR, telescopes, or electro-optical payloads.
• Experience with requirements management tools such as IBM DOORS or equivalent.
• Familiarity with systems modeling tools such as MATLAB, STK, Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), or SysML.
• Knowledge of environmental qualification standards and space industry practices.
• Experience supporting design reviews, integration, verification, and validation activities.
• Familiarity with NASA, CSA, ESA, ECSS, or military aerospace standards.
• Master's degree in a related technical discipline.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

The annual base salary range for this position is $90,000 - $130,000 in Kanata, ON. Please note that this salary information serves as a general guideline. Honeywell Aerospace considers various factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education and training, key skills, as well as market and business considerations.

This position is for a current vacancy.

About Honeywell Aerospace:

Join a company that’s reintroducing itself to the aviation community we’ve helped advance for more than a century. At Honeywell Aerospace (NASDAQ: HONA), we’re launching as an independent, publicly traded aerospace and defense company built on a legacy of operational excellence and mission-focused execution.

Our new brand identity pairs that heritage with real momentum, as we build technology that helps pilots navigate with confidence, aircraft operate more efficiently, and operators stay ahead of change. With our systems on board 90% of the world’s aircraft, your work here has reach that’s rare to find anywhere else.

Focusing on our customers, investing in innovation, and building a culture of accountability and performance is how we’re shaping what comes next.

Every horizon. Every mission. Every day.

Accommodation is available upon request for applicants with disabilities under the Ontario Human Rights Code.