Flight Software Systems Engineer

MDA Systems Ltd.; Richmond; On-site; CAD 86,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

MDA Systems Ltd. is seeking a seasoned software engineer to join a space mission team working on CHORUS and related satellite programs. You will define mission requirements, design, and oversee vendor flight software development while collaborating on spacecraft integration and testing.

The role involves integrating flight software with hardware, performing acceptance testing, and supporting verification activities across Spacecraft, Ground Segment, and Mission. Travel within Canada is frequent.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent mix of education/experience.
• Minimum 5 years of experience with Flight Software.
• Experience developing spacecraft flight software or embedded/mission-critical software.
• Experience with Command and Control, Monitoring and Control, or Communications systems.
• Software with resource constraints (limited processor, memory, or bandwidth).
• Familiarity with real-time operating systems (RTOS).
• Experience with spacecraft bus, assembly, integration and testing.
• Requirements analysis, specification, and verification.
• Ability to work in a dynamic, multi-tasking environment with good communication.

Responsibilities

• Provide software expertise to supplement other specialties in a mission team.
• Perform analyses and trade-offs to define requirements and design at mission, system, and subsystem levels.
• Create and contribute to deliverable documents such as operational concepts, requirements specifications, interface control documents, and engineering plans.
• Present design proposals, plans, and reports in clear, concise terms.
• Develop and/or review flight software, subsystem, and spacecraft test plans and procedures.
• Participate as an integrated team member with vendor flight software development and AIT teams.
• Integrate flight software with flight hardware, testing and troubleshooting.
• Formal acceptance testing of flight software.
• Support 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

RTOS experience

Requirements analysis

Interface specification

Troubleshooting complex systems

System design

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent

Job description

Job Overview

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;
• Participating 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;
• Understanding of different types of engineering lifecycle as applicable from large complex programs to software development;
• Familiarity with software development methodology;
• Ability to work flexibly and manage multiple tasks in a dynamic environment;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and customer interaction skills;
• Team‑friendly attitude and willingness to learn.

Optional Benefits

• 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;
• Prior involvement in remote sensing, earth observation, space science, or space communications missions.

Security Clearance

Successful candidates must obtain and hold security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Controlled Goods Program (CGP).

Compensation

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.

EEO Statement

Equal opportunity employer prizing diversity, integrity and collaboration, we are committed to growing MDA’s and Canada’s leadership in this next golden age.