Digital Payload System Engineer

MDA Space; Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health care

Flexible drug plans

Dental and vision benefits

Disability income protection

Life insurance

Group retirement savings plans

Employee and family assistance program

Job summary

MDA Space, located in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, is seeking a Digital Payload System Engineer to design and integrate digital payload subsystems for Earth observation and communication satellites. The successful candidate will lead performance simulations, ensure system specifications, and coordinate with cross-functional teams. Applicants should have at least 10 years of experience in digital payload design and a degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace or Physics. The role requires strong technical-writing skills and the ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of digital regenerative payload system design experience on LEO/MEO missions.
• Strong understanding of aerospace system engineering fundamentals.
• Demonstrated capability to efficiently work with little supervision.

Responsibilities

• Design, integrate, verify and support payload subsystems for satellites.
• Develop Payload Verification Master Plan and lead test-automation framework.
• Provide technical support to Mission Operations for routine payload health monitoring.

Skills

Digital communications

SDR

DSP

Modulation schemes

Hands-on system integration

Technical-writing ability

Problem-solving skills

Excellent English communication

Education

Sc. in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace or Physics

Tools

Confluence

JIRA

Job description

Role

Digital Payload System Engineer responsible for design, integration, verification, and operational support of current and next‑generation Earth observation and communications satellites. The role includes defining, designing, integrating, verifying, and sustaining digital payload subsystems across multiple satellite programs, influencing system‑level tradeoffs, driving technology roadmaps, and acting as the primary technical interface with customers, prime contractors and internal multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

Architecture Concept & Requirements

• 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.
• Maintain bidirectional traceability of requirements throughout the program life cycle.

Payload Architecture & Design

• 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.
• Implement high‑speed data‑bus I/F (SpaceWire, SpaceFibre, Ethernet, CAN).

Simulation & Analysis

• Perform performance simulations (Gain, Spurious, Linearity, SNR, dynamic range, spectral efficiency, G/T, EIRP …) 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).

Integration & Verification (IVV)

• Develop Payload Verification Master Plan covering unit‑test, subsystem‑test, payload‑level test, environmental and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) test campaigns.
• 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 …).
• Support Technology Road‑Mapping & Innovation.

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.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English; knowledge of French considered an asset.

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).

Benefits

MDA provides competitive compensation and benefits packages for its employees at all locations. Team members and their qualified dependents are eligible to participate in benefit plans that include comprehensive health care (extended health care and flexible drug plans, dental and vision benefits, disability income protection, life insurance, group retirement savings plans) and an employee and family assistance program.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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 the next golden age.

Accessibility

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