Flight Software Systems Engineer

MDA Space; Richmond; On-site; CAD 86,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

MDA Space in Canada is seeking an experienced Flight Software professional to join a CHORUS program team. You will work with multi-disciplinary engineers to establish mission requirements, design, and integrate software for spacecraft and ground segments, ensuring reliable operations.

The role emphasizes developing or refining flight software, conducting analyses and trade studies, documenting interfaces and test procedures, and collaborating closely with vendor teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or an equivalent combination of education/experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience working with Flight Software.
• Development of one or more of the following: spacecraft platform or payload flight software, mission critical software, embedded software.
• Development and/or use of Command and Control, Monitoring and Control, or Communications systems.
• Development of software with significant resource constraints (processor speed, memory, communication capacities limited relative to conventional host environments).
• Familiarity with real‑time operating systems or kernels (commercial products or custom).
• Experience with spacecraft, bus (platform), or payload Assembly, Integration, and Testing;
• Requirements analysis, specification, and verification;
• Specification of interfaces, including but not limited to command and telemetry messaging;
• Estimation/analysis of resource budgets and Technical Performance Measures;
• Trouble‑shooting of complex systems;
• Data analysis and reduction;
• Have an understanding of different types of engineering lifecycle as applicable from large complex programs to software development;
• Familiarity with software development methodology;
• Be able to work flexibly and manage multiple tasks in a dynamic environment;
• Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and customer interaction skills;
• Have a team‑friendly attitude and willingness to learn.

Responsibilities

• Providing software expertise to supplement other specialties (electrical, mechanical, operations etc.) in a mission team;
• Performing technical tasks, such as operational analyses and trade‑off studies, to define requirements and design at mission, system, and subsystem levels;
• Creating and contributing to deliverable documents such as operational concepts, requirements specifications, interface control documents, and engineering plans;
• Presenting design proposals, plans, and reports in clear, complete, concise and non‑ambiguous terms;
• Developing and/or reviewing flight software, subsystem, and spacecraft test plans and procedures;
• Participate as an integrated team member with vendor flight software development and Assembly, Integration and Test (AIT) teams;
• Integrating flight software with flight hardware, testing and troubleshooting;
• Formal acceptance testing of flight software;
• Supporting integration and verification activities of the overall Spacecraft, Ground Segment, and Mission;
• Frequent travel within Canada to vendor and MDA sites.

Skills

Flight Software

Embedded Software

Real-time OS

Spacecraft Software

Requirements analysis

System integration

Troubleshooting

Data analysis

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Systems/ Aerospace/ Computer Eng/ CS

Job description

About Mda Space

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 3,800 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

As part of a space mission team, you will work on a program such as CHORUS, a satellite constellation using Synthetic Aperture Radar to derive worldwide insights about our planet. You will work with other engineers in a multi‑disciplinary team environment to establish the mission requirements and design, oversee and participate in vendor flight software development, participate in spacecraft and mission integration and testing, and achieve reliable operations.

Responsibilities

• Providing software expertise to supplement other specialties (electrical, mechanical, operations etc.) in a mission team;
• Performing technical tasks, such as operational analyses and trade‑off studies, to define requirements and design at mission, system, and subsystem levels;
• Creating and contributing to deliverable documents such as operational concepts, requirements specifications, interface control documents, and engineering plans;
• Presenting design proposals, plans, and reports in clear, complete, concise and non‑ambiguous terms;
• Developing and/or reviewing flight software, subsystem, and spacecraft test plans and procedures;
• Participate as an integrated team member with vendor flight software development and Assembly, Integration and Test (AIT) teams;
• Integrating flight software with flight hardware, testing and troubleshooting;
• Formal acceptance testing of flight software;
• Supporting integration and verification activities of the overall Spacecraft, Ground Segment, and Mission;
• Frequent travel within Canada to vendor and MDA sites.

Required Skills And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or an equivalent combination of education/experience;
• Minimum of 5 years of experience working with Flight Software;
• Development of one or more of the following: spacecraft platform or payload flight software, mission critical software, embedded software;
• Development and/or use of Command and Control, Monitoring and Control, or Communications systems;
• Development of software with significant resource constraints (processor speed, memory, communication capacities limited relative to conventional host environments);
• Familiarity with real‑time operating systems or kernels (commercial products or custom);
• Experience with spacecraft, bus (platform), or payload Assembly, Integration, and Testing;
• Requirements analysis, specification, and verification;
• Specification of interfaces, including but not limited to command and telemetry messaging;
• Estimation/analysis of resource budgets and Technical Performance Measures;
• Trouble‑shooting of complex systems;
• Data analysis and reduction;
• Have an understanding of different types of engineering lifecycle as applicable from large complex programs to software development;
• Familiarity with software development methodology;
• Be able to work flexibly and manage multiple tasks in a dynamic environment;
• Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and customer interaction skills;
• Have a team‑friendly attitude and willingness to learn.

While not mandatory, candidates will benefit from any of the following

• Familiarity with CCSDS, ESA, and NASA standards;
• Familiarity with data communication and storage security standards;
• Experience with satellite operations;
• Experience with radiation tolerant systems and mitigation of radiation effects on software execution and storage;
• Experience developing or using spacecraft simulators;
• Prior involvement in remote sensing, earth observation, space science, or space communications missions.

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.

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.

The compensation range for this position is $86,000 - $130,000 annually. The specific compensation offered will be based on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.