Electric Propulsion Systems Engineer

MDA; Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

MDA is seeking an Electric Propulsion (EP) Systems Engineer to lead the design, development, verification, and integration of EP subsystems for our satellites. You will work with multidisciplinary teams throughout the satellite life cycle to deliver reliable propulsion solutions.

Responsibilities include architecture trades, design verification, and technical leadership across the program. Strong English communication and hands-on integration experience are essential for success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical, aerospace, or physics engineering.
• 5+ years of experience in electric propulsion systems on LEO/MEO platforms.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, verification and integration of EP subsystems for satellites.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across the satellite life cycle.
• Present technical status, risk analyses and trade studies to program management.

Skills

Electrical propulsion

Space engineering fundamentals

JIRA & Confluence

Independent work

Communication skills

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical, aerospace, or physics engineering

Tools

Confluence

JIRA

Job description

MDA is seeking an Electric Propulsion (EP) Systems Engineer to lead the design, development, verification, and integration of electric propulsion subsystems for our current and next-generation remote sensing and telecommunications satellites. The engineer will work closely with multidisciplinary teams throughout the satellite life cycle.

Summary of duties:

Architecture, Concept & Requirements

• Translate mission-level requirements to define the architecture (thruster, power processing unit, power supply, thermal/structural interfaces).
• Perform trade studies (e.g., specific impulse vs. thrust, mass vs. power, lifetime, etc.).
• Generate system requirements and functional diagrams.
• Develop interface control documents (ICD) and design descriptions.
• Ensure requirements management and maintain bidirectional traceability throughout the program life cycle.

Detailed Design & Analysis

• Perform electrothermal, plume, and magnetic field modeling.
• Size power converters, thermal control elements, the fuel tank, and the safety system.
• Supervise the procurement of critical components (thruster, tank, valves, controllers, etc.).
• Perform FMECA, FDIR, reliability, and availability analyses.
• Ensure that the EP subsystem complies with launch vehicle and mission constraints (RAAN, mass, envelope, contamination, re-entry, etc.).

Cross-Functional Coordination, Stakeholders & Program Interaction

• Present technical status, risk analyses, and trade study results to program management.
• Interface with bus teams (power, thermal, structure, avionics).
• Develop/update mission models and analyses (e.g., orbit raising, station-keeping, deorbiting).
• Provide trajectory optimization and thrust profiling tools.
• Support B&P activities (Phase 0 & pre-Phase A).

Integration & Verification (IVV)

• Draft verification plans, procedures, and test matrices for unit and EP subsystem tests.
• Support ground test and integration campaigns: fueling, TCT, TVAC, EMI/EMC, and satellite-level integration.
• Analyze test data, resolve anomalies, and update databases.
• Support flight software (FSW) integration.

Technical Leadership & Mentoring

• Supervise and guide junior, intermediate engineers, and interns.
• Act as the technical liaison with external clients, partners, and suppliers.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives.
• Contribute to MDA's knowledge base, process improvements, and standards development.

Configuration Management, Documentation

• Ensure all artifacts, analyses, software, deliverables, and documents are version-controlled.
• Support design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, MRR/TRR, etc.).
• Support the technology roadmap and innovation.

Launch Site, In-Orbit & Operations Support

• Support launch site activities with the LVI responsible engineer.
• Provide technical support to SatOps teams for satellite performance monitoring.
• Support anomaly cause investigations; update databases and capitalize on return of experience (REX).
• Analyze telemetry and generate performance reports.
• Support SOOH development and operator training.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in electrical, aerospace, or physics engineering with 5+ years of experience in electric propulsion systems on LEO/MEO platforms.
• In-depth knowledge of bus subsystems and their interactions.
• Experience with thrust power supply systems (tanks, valves, micro-valves, etc.).
• Strong writing skills and solid understanding of space engineering fundamentals.
• "Hands-on" profile: capable of supporting integration, testing, and troubleshooting processes.
• Experience with Confluence and JIRA.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to break down complex problems into basic elements to solve them through analysis, analogy, or creativity.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English (contact with clients outside Quebec and drafting deliverables in English).