Director, Defence Solutions Engineering

Telesat; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading satellite communications provider in Ottawa is looking for a Director of Defence Solutions Engineering. The role involves designing high performance solutions for the Canadian Department of National Defence and requires over 15 years of experience in a related field. Key responsibilities include working closely with government clients and leading technical solutions. This challenging position offers a dynamic work environment with travel opportunities.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of relevant experience in systems engineering or connectivity solutions.
• Proven expertise in designing advanced technical solutions for government clients.
• Ability to anticipate customer needs and deliver exceptional solutions.

Responsibilities

• Develop understanding of defence technologies and operational requirements.
• Collaborate with defence customers to design technical solutions.
• Act as technical lead in pre- and post-sales activities.
• Identify new opportunities within the product portfolio.

Skills

Technical expertise

Creativity

Strategic mindset

Collaboration skills

Understanding of networking technologies

Fluency in English

Experience in satellite communications

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or equivalent

Job description

Telesat (NASDAQ and TSX: TSAT) is a leading global satellite operator, providing reliable and secure satellite‑delivered communications solutions worldwide to broadcast, telecommunications, corporate and government customers for over 50 years. Backed by a legacy of engineering excellence, reliability and industry‑leading customer service, Telesat has grown to be one of the largest and most successful global satellite operators.

Telesat Lightspeed, our revolutionary Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network, scheduled to begin service in 2027, will revolutionize global broadband connectivity for enterprise users by delivering a combination of high capacity, security, resiliency and affordability with ultra‑low latency and fiber‑like speeds. Telesat is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, and has offices and facilities around the world.

The company’s state‑of‑the‑art fleet consists of 14 GEO satellites, the Canadian payload on ViaSat‑1 and one LEO 3 demonstration satellite. For more information, follow Telesat on X and LinkedIn or visit www.telesat.com

Are you passionate about technology and ready to help shape the future of global satellite connectivity? At Telesat Lightspeed, we’re redefining satellite communications with our cutting‑edge Low Earth Orbit (LEO) network.

As the Director, Defence Solutions Engineering, you’ll play a pivotal role in defining and delivering innovative, high‑performance solutions to the Department of National Defence in Canada and its global allies. This is not a typical sales engineering role—it’s a unique and exciting opportunity to design advanced solutions, working directly with government and defence customers and influencing outcomes that drive business success while assisting Canada and its global allies to achieve their strategic connectivity sovereignty goals.

This is a highly dynamic role perfectly suited for a dynamic individual who is ambitious, results oriented, looking to grow their skills and do something meaningful everyday.

Main Responsibilities and Requirements

• As a key member of the Canadian Sales and Business Development team, you’ll bring your technical expertise, creativity, and strategic mindset to:
• Develop and maintain a deep understanding of current and emerging defence platforms, applications, technologies, and operational requirements across land, sea, air, and space domains. This includes staying informed on procurement strategies, capability gaps, modernization initiatives, and strategic priorities of defence organizations.
• Working with the Director Business Development, Canadian Government and Global Sales teams, while collaborating with government and defence customers to design and implement technical solutions that address their unique defence needs, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
• Act as the technical lead in pre‑ and post‑sales activities, including customer meetings, proposals, requirements analysis, and solution presentations in addition to post‑sales support.
• Leverage cutting‑edge technologies to maximize the value proposition and capabilities of the Telesat Lightspeed constellation, driving early adoption and optimization.
• Work closely with Sales (Global, Telesat Government Solutions and Canada), Telesat Lightspeed Product and Engineering teams to align defence customer requirements with Telesat’s product roadmap and network capabilities.
• Identify new opportunities within the Telesat Lightspeed product portfolio and help translate technical solutions and applications that drive business success.
• Serve as a technical ambassador at trade shows, customer events, and demonstrations, showcasing the transformative power of Telesat’s Lightspeed solutions.

Education & Experience Required

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Electrical, Telecommunications, Networking, Cloud, Computer Science) or equivalent education and experience.
• 15+ years of relevant experience in systems engineering, connectivity solutions, or a related field.
• Proven expertise in designing and implementing advanced technical solutions in complex environments for government and defence customers.
• Ability to understand and anticipate government and defence customers’ needs, delivering solutions that exceed expectations.
• Passion for exploring and leveraging emerging technologies to solve problems creatively.
• Confidence in presenting to diverse audiences, from technical teams to military leaders.
• Exceptional collaboration skills, working effectively with internal teams and external partners.
• Deep understanding of networking technologies, including OSI Layers 1, 2, and 3, 3G/4G/5G cellular systems, and MEF 3.0 standards.
• Experience designing and operating solutions with high security classifications.
• Expertise in satellite and radio frequency communications is required.
• Fluency in English; French language is a plus.
• Willingness to travel to USA and Internationally for customer meetings and industry events.

Working Conditions:

• Office work at Telesat headquarters in Ottawa, ON
• Off‑hours work occasionally required
• Regular travel

$0 - $0 a year

The successful candidate must be able to work in Canada and obtain clearance under the Canadian Controlled Goods program (CGP)

At Telesat, we take pride in being an equal opportunity employer that values equality in the workplace. We are committed to providing the best candidate experience possible including any required accommodations at every stage of our interview process. All qualified applicants that have been selected for an interview that require accommodations, are advised to inform the Telesat Talent team accordingly. We will work with you to meet your needs. All accommodation information provided will be treated as confidential.