AI&T manager, SpaceCraft Unit

Macdonald, Dettwiler And Associates Corporation; Quebec; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

MDA Space is seeking an AI&T Manager to lead the Assembly, Integration and Test portion of critical programs. You will coordinate with internal stakeholders, manage schedules and costs, and ensure designs are compatible with existing equipment.

The role emphasizes negotiation, risk and contract management, and strong leadership to deliver complex space systems. Ideal candidates will have 7+ years in program management within technical fields, fluent English and French, and experience with ITAR

Qualifications

• Requires mechanical or electrical engineering or industrial degree at bachelor level or higher.
• 7+ years in program/project management or project engineering in technical field.
• 7+ years’ experience in Assembly, Integration and/or Test of complex products.

Responsibilities

• Act as ambassador for their unit; coordinate with internal stakeholders to plan and execute manufacturing and production activities.
• Review requests from program management, product development management, and line management; allocate resources for AI&T portion of programs.
• Negotiate and provide feedback to program managers with external customers on products, resources, funding, or methods.
• Prepare detailed schedules; monitor costs to date and estimates to completion; develop contingency plans.
• Escalate issues and improvement opportunities; propose solutions to management.
• Lead design kick-offs; ensure manufacturing line specs align with equipment capabilities; advise on feasible designs.
• Provide technical guidance and direction; make data-based decisions in the company’s best interest.
• Maintain visibility of AI&T through regular technical and management reviews.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Project management

Communication (EN/FR)

Risk management

Contract management

US ITAR regulations

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or Industrial degree

Job description

Building the space between proven and possible, MDA Space is a trusted mission partner to the global space industry. A robotics, satellite systems and geointelligence pioneer with a 55-year+ story of world firsts and more than 450 missions, MDA Space is a global leader in communications satellites, Earth and space observation, and space exploration and infrastructure. The global MDA Space team of more than 5 500 space experts has the knowledge and know-how to turn an audacious customer vision into an achievable mission – bringing to bear a one-of-a-kind mix of experience, engineering excellence and wide-eyed wonder that’s been in our DNA since day one. For those who dream big and push boundaries on the ground and in the stars to change the world for the better, we’ll take you there. For more information, visit www.mda.space .

Role:

The AI&T Manager manages the Assembly, Integration and test portion of a program, an element of a program, a product, to meet customer and Company expectations. A broader objective of this position is to support the Company's growth by undertaking tasks that may not have a direct bearing on the management of the program (e.g. interaction with senior management and line management on operational issues identified on the program).

Tasks:

• Acts as an ambassador for their unit and, as such, actively communicates with internal stakeholders to plan and execute manufacturing and production activities on their lines.
• Reviews requests from departments responsible for program management, product development management, and line management. Then applies and organizes the necessary resources to manage the AI&T (Assembly, Integration & Test) portion of a program or product in its entirety.
• Must be able to negotiate and provide feedback to the program manager(s) who have direct relationships with the external customer, whether regarding products, resources, funding, or methods.
• Prepares detailed schedules to monitor daily product progress, conducts frequent and regular assessments of costs to date and estimates to completion, and develops alternative plans as needed to achieve cost and schedule objectives.
• Escalates key issues and improvement opportunities within their unit and proposes solutions.
• Participates in product and design kick-off meetings and ensures that the specifications of the manufacturing lines are met. In other words, the manager must ensure that the proposed designs are compatible with existing equipment wherever possible.
• Acts as a consultant, providing technical guidance and direction.
• Must be able to make decisions and, when necessary, take a stand based on supporting data, in the company’s best interest.
• Maintains visibility of AI&T at the management level through regular technical, management, and progress review meetings.

Specific to Spacecraft unit:

• Continuous improvement of the new high-volume integration line, wherever possible.
• Must define the metrics and implementation sequence for their line.
• Performs occasional supplier follow-ups and oversees the commissioning of new equipment.
• Develops maintenance and qualification plans for the space craft line.
• Works with programs that are in the bidding or proposal phase (BID). These programs are focused on satellite design. The manager must therefore know their domain, its limitations, and the capacity of their lines in order to provide a realistic and technical contribution.

Work Experience:

• Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or Industrial degree, bachelor’s or higher
• 7 years’ experience of program / project management or project engineering in related technical field
• 7 years’ experience of Assembly, integration and/or test
• Experience with negotiations, risk management, contract management, subcontract management, financials, US ITAR regulations.
• Good people skills and leadership skills.
• Communication skills in French and English required (Contact with customers outside Quebec and head office staff in Ontario).

#LI-PP1 #LI-DM1 #IND1 #SP

Special Considerations:

Successful candidates must obtain and hold security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Controlled Goods Program (CGP).

We’re a dream team of purpose-driven, collaborative and passionate people, and we are constantly looking for others to join #TeamMDA to ignite new and innovative approaches to problem-solving that push us forward to improve life on and above Earth. If you’re excited to expand our place in space and driven to inspire the next generation, we’ll take you there.

We have entered a new era of exploration and development, and MDA welcomes all who yearn to suit up and be part of it. An equal opportunity employer prizing diversity, integrity and collaboration, we are committed to growing MDA’s and Canada’s leadership in this next golden age.

MDA provides competitive compensation and benefits packages for its employees at all locations. As a team member of MDA, you and your qualified dependents are eligible to participate in a benefit plan that ensures a comprehensive level of protection through competitive health care including; extended healthcare and flexible drug plans, dental and vision benefits, disability income protection, life insurance, group retirement savings plans; and an employee and family assistance program.

MDA is proud to provide accommodation(s) during the recruitment process. Should you require any accommodations, please indicate this on your application/cover letter and we will work with you to meet your accessibility needs.