Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Systems Engineer

MDA; Montreal (administrative region); On-site; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

MDA Space is seeking a GNC System Engineer to lead design, integration, verification, and on-orbit support for GNC subsystems on advanced satellites. The role emphasizes deep expertise in orbital mechanics, attitude control, and real-time FSW integration across the satellite life-cycle.

The candidate will work with cross-functional teams to derive requirements, perform trade studies, and ensure rigorous validation, including on-orbit operations and contingency support.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in GNC subsystem design, integration and verification.
• Strong background in orbital dynamics and attitude control.
• Experience translating algorithms into flight software requirements for real-time OS.

Responsibilities

• Derive GNC requirements and ensure bidirectional traceability.
• Conduct high-fidelity dynamics simulations and assess control-law stability.
• Develop attitude-determination and orbit-determination algorithms.
• Lead IVV activities including sensor/actuator tests and on-orbit checkout.

Skills

Orbital dynamics

Attitude determination & control

Real-time FSW development

Matlab/Simulink

STK

GNC hardware integration

Tools

Matlab/Simulink

STK

Job description

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 4,000 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 overview:

MDA is seeking a GNC System Engineer for design, integration, verification, and operational support of GNC subsystems for our current and next‑generation remote sensing and communications satellites. The role will require to design the complete subsystem, from algorithm development through hardware implementation, verification, and on‑orbit operation support. The role requires deep expertise in orbital dynamics, attitude‑determination & control, plus real‑time FSW definition and integration, and will work closely with subsystem and mission operations teams throughout the satellite life‑cycle.

Tasks summary:

Architecture Concept & Requirements

• Derive GNC functional, performance, and safety requirements (pointing accuracy, slew rate, orbit‑maintenance ΔV, fault‑tolerance) from mission level requirements.
• Produce System Requirements, Interface Control document (ICD), and Description Document.
• Perform requirement management and maintain bidirectional traceability throughout the project lifecycle.

Modelling & Trade‑Study

• Conduct trade studies on sensor suites and actuator families.
• Perform high‑fidelity dynamics simulations (Matlab/Simulink, STK) to meet pointing requirements, maintain error budgets, control‑law stability, fuel consumption, and survivability margins.

Algorithm Development

• Design and implement attitude‑determination algorithms and orbit‑determination solutions.
• Develop control laws for 3‑axis stabilization, slew maneuvers, station keeping algorithms
• Validate algorithms with Monte‑Carlo analysis, worst‑case scenarios, and support SIL/HIL testing on avionic test bench.

Cross‑Functional Coordination, Stakeholder & Program Interaction

• Translate algorithms into FSW requirements running on real‑time operating systems.
• Collaborate with the C&DH and FSW teams to implement TM/TC, schedulers and FDIR logic for GNC.
• Present technical status, risk analyses, and trade‑study results to senior management.
• Negotiate and maintain ICDs with subsystems.
• Support B&P (Phase 0 & pre-phase A).

Hardware Selection & Design

• Specify sensor and actuator hardware, perform interface definition (electrical, mechanical, thermal) and conduct trade on redundancy architectures.
• Work with structures and thermal engineers to ensure proper mounting, thermal paths, and vibration survivability of GNC hardware aligning with payload requirements.
• Review harness routing and power distribution for GNC electronics.

Integration & Verification (IVV)

• Author Verification Plans, Test Matrices, and Validation Procedures for unit, subsystem, and spacecraft level GNC tests.
• Lead functional tests: sensor calibration, actuator command‑response, closed‑loop attitude‑control on testbeds, and on‑orbit checkout sequences.
• Conduct failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), fault tree analysis (FTA), and reliability prediction.

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.

Configuration, Documentation & Standards Management

• Maintain GNC standards (sensor/actuator interface, filter design, control‑law documentation).
• Ensure all artefacts, analysis, software, deliverables and documentations are version controlled in PLM environment.
• Support design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, MRR/TRR…etc).
• Support Technology Road‑Mapping & Innovation

On‑Orbit & Operations Support

• Support procedure developments (detumble, orbit‑maintenance, safe‑mode…etc).
• Provide real‑time GNC support during launch, early‑orbit checkout, and contingency events.
• Analyse on‑orbit telemetry, update filter parameters, and generate performance reports.
• Support SOOH development and associated operator training.

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