Digital Payload System Engineer

Macdonald, Dettwiler And Associates Corporation; Quebec; Hybrid; CAD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

MDA Space seeks a Digital Payload System Engineer to lead design, integration, verification and sustainment of digital payload subsystems across satellite programs.

The role interfaces with customers, prime contractors and internal teams, driving system-level trade studies and technology roadmaps while ensuring security clearance requirements are met.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to design digital regenerative payload systems for satellite missions.
• Strong experience with interface control, requirements management, and trade studies.
• Excellent technical writing and ability to present complex data clearly.
• Experience working with customers, suppliers and senior leadership.

Responsibilities

• Define and own digital payload architecture including ISLs, phased arrays and on‑board processing.
• Lead verification, integration, and test activities across multiple programs.
• Coordinate with Cybersecurity, Ground Segment, and Mission Operations teams.
• Mentor junior engineers and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Digital communications & SDR

DSP & DVB RCS/SX protocols

Technical writing & presentations

Systems integration & testing

English communication

Education

Electrical Engineering / Aerospace / Physics

10+ years in digital regenerative payload design (LEO/MEO)

Tools

Confluence

JIRA

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 4,000 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 :

MDA is seeking a Digital Payload System Engineer for design, integration, verification, and operational support for current and next-generation earth observation and communications satellites. Our portfolio spans from broadband regenerative payloads to Direct to user solutions (D2D) supported by Phased Array antennas with Beam forming capability. The Digital Payload System Engineer will own the definition, design, integration, verification and sustainment of digital payload subsystems across multiple satellite programs and will influence system-level tradeoffs, drive technology road-maps. The incumbent will act as the primary technical interface with customers, prime contractors and internal multidisciplinary teams.

• Gather functional, performance, environmental and security requirements from mission stakeholders & CONOPs.
• Map requirements to payload equipment performance with I/F with on-board processor
• Coordinate with cybersecurity team for payload-specific assessments
• Perform requirement management and maintain bidirectional traceability throughout the program life cycle.
• Implement the high-level digital payload architecture (optical ISLs, Phased array antennas, Feeder links & front-end), master reference oscillator & clock synchronizations.
• Produce Interface Control Documents (ICDs) with other subsystems and ground segment.

Simulation & Analysis

• Perform performance simulations (Gain, Spurious, Linearity, SNR, dynamic range, spectral efficiency, G/T, EIRP…etc.) and Monte-Carlo analyses for tolerance budgeting.
• Define and maintain Payload DC power budget with traffic & utilization models
• Perform FMECA, Fault tree and FDIR, reliability modeling and availability to meet mission objectives

Hardware & Firmware

• Provide system-level specifications to hardware designers, review schematics, layouts, thermal interfaces, and mechanical constraints.
• Support SW development for MODCODs and on-board processing pipelines; ensure BIST, timing, latency and deterministic behavior.

Cross-Functional Coordination, Stakeholder & Program Interaction

• Communicate technical status, risk assessments and trade-study results to senior management and/or customers or partners.
• Support payload design authority in System design reviews, Power/Structure/Thermal interfaces and Mission Operations assessments.
• Liaise with Electrical, Power, Structures, Thermal, Software, Ground-Segment and Mission-Operations teams to resolve integration issues early.
• Support B&P (Phase 0 & pre-phase A).
• Lead test-automation framework set-up, test-case definition, results analysis and test-report certification.

Technical Leadership & Mentorship

• Mentor, guide junior engineers and interns.
• Act as technical liaison with customers, partners and external vendors
• Act as Continuous Improvement stakeholder
• Contribute to MDA’s knowledge-base, process enhancements, and standards development.

Configuration, Documentation & Standards Management

• Ensure all artefacts, analysis, software, deliverables and documentation are version controlled in PLM environment.
• Lead and Support design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, MRR/TRR…etc.).

On Orbit & Operations Support

• Provide technical support to Mission Operations for routine payload health monitoring, contingency handling and performance trending.
• Lead root‑cause investigations for on‑orbit anomalies; update design baselines and lessons-learned.
• Analyze on‑orbit telemetry, update filter parameters, and generate performance reports.
• Support SOOH development and associated operator training.

Required Qualifications:

• Sc. in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace or Physics with 10+ years of digital regenerative payload system design experience on LEO/MEO missions.
• Comprehensive knowledge of digital communications, SDR, DSP, DVB RCS/SX protocols, Modulation schemes, Class of Service, Networking, MPLS, 2G, 5G
• Strong technical-writing ability (requirements, ICDs, test procedures, risk reports) and presentation skills; comfortable interfacing with customers, suppliers and senior leadership.
• Strong understanding of aerospace system engineering fundamentals.
• Hands‑on individual who can support systems integration processes and capability to test systems and resolve problems.
• Experience with Confluence and JIRA.
• Demonstrated capability to efficiently work with little supervision.
• Ability to distill complex problems to fundamentals to solve with analysis, similarity, or creativity.
• Demonstrate excellent written and oral communication skills in English; knowledge of French will be considered an asset (Contact with clients outside Quebec and work on deliverables in English).

Comments/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.