Manager - Systems Engineering

Macdonald, Dettwiler And Associates Corporation; Brampton; On-site; CAD 102,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Benefits package

Accommodation during recruitment

Job summary

MDA Space in Brampton is seeking a Manager, Systems Engineering to lead a team of systems engineers on state-of-the-art space and robotics projects. You will provide strategic direction, drive workforce planning, and champion modern engineering practices.

The role requires security clearance at the reliability status level and experience in leadership, with compensation between $102,000 and $160,000 CAD annually. This is a full-time, on-site position in Brampton.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of engineering leadership experience.
• Strong background in systems engineering lifecycle processes.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a Systems Engineering team.
• Oversee workforce planning and succession.
• Align budgets and spend with program goals.
• Drive continuous improvement and adoption of MBSE.
• Ensure compliance with quality, regulatory and safety requirements.

Skills

Systems Engineering

People Leadership

Budgeting

Strategic Planning

Lifecycle Processes

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

MBSE

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.

Are you an experience people manager with a strong background in Systems Engineer. Do you have a passion for leading high-performing teams and driving technological innovation? If so, we want you to join our Brampton team.

Who We're Looking For

We're seeking a Manager, Systems Engineering, to lead a team of systems engineers working on state-of-the-art space and robotics technology. If you have a strong background in systems engineering and a passion for people management, professional development, and career advancement, this role is for you.

The Manager of Systems Engineering is responsible for leading and developing the Systems Engineering organization to ensure the technical capability, capacity, and leadership required to successfully deliver the company’s products and programs. The Manager provides strategic direction for the department, driving operational excellence, workforce planning, process maturity, and continuous improvement. Through the leadership of Supervisors, Team Leads, and technical staff, the Manager ensures the organization maintains the skills, tools, methodologies, and governance frameworks necessary to meet current commitments while positioning the department to support future business growth and strategic objectives.

In this role you will

• Lead and develop a team of Systems Engineers.
• Establish departmental organizational structures, workforce strategies, and succession plans aligned with business objectives and future capability needs.
• Oversee recruitment, employee development, engagement, retention, performance management, and leadership development.
• Support department-wide resource forecasting, capacity planning, and workforce allocation to enable Programs, Product Development, R&D, and Business Development.
• Ensure the organization maintains the skills, competencies, and technical expertise required to support current and future business needs.
• Foster a high-performance culture that promotes innovation, professional growth, employee engagement, and continuous learning.
• Oversee engineering facilities, processes, tools, and infrastructure required to support departmental and program execution.
• Organize Systems Engineering participation in proposal development and bid reviews to ensure technical solutions and cost estimates align with customer needs, competitive positioning, and business strategy.
• Oversee departmental operating and overhead budgets, annual forecasting, spending priorities, and capital investment planning.
• Develop and approve business cases for strategic investments in tools, infrastructure, and capability development.
• Establish departmental strategic priorities, objectives, and performance metrics aligned with organizational goals.
• Lead continuous improvement, modernization, and transformation initiatives, including Digital Engineering, MBSE, AI-assisted engineering, and next-generation engineering practices.
• Implement and promote advanced engineering tools, techniques, and procedures to improve organizational effectiveness and competitiveness.

Key Responsibilities: People/Resource Management

• Lead and develop a Systems Engineering organization through Team Leads, and technical staff.
• Establish workforce, succession, and organizational capability strategies aligned with current and future business needs.
• Oversee recruitment, talent development, employee engagement, retention, and performance management.
• Direct department-wide resource forecasting, capacity planning, and workforce allocation across Programs, Product Development, R&D, and Business Development.
• Foster a high-performance culture that promotes innovation, professional growth, and continuous learning.
• Oversee departmental facilities, engineering tools, infrastructure, budgets, and capital investments.

Functional Leadership & Governance

• Establish and maintain Systems Engineering policies, processes, procedures, standards, and governance frameworks.
• Ensure consistent implementation of Systems Engineering practices across programs and products.
• Supports compliance with quality, regulatory, contractual, security, and customer requirements.
• Monitor departmental performance metrics, quality objectives, audit findings, and corrective actions to drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure adherence to company policies, processes, and health and safety requirements.

Technical Leadership

• Provide strategic technical leadership for the Systems Engineering organization.
• Accountable for the establishment, maintenance, and evolution of Systems Engineering methodologies, standards, competency frameworks, and technical governance across the organization. Utilize subject matter experts to support decision making.
• Identify organizational capability gaps and lead initiatives to strengthen technical competencies and engineering excellence.
• Sponsor the adoption of emerging engineering methods, tools, and technologies to improve competitiveness and execution.
• Support identification, escalation, and mitigation strategies for significant technical, operational, and organizational risks.

Business Leadership

• Organize Systems Engineering participation in proposal development, bid reviews, customer engagements, and strategic pursuits.
• Partner with Engineering, Programs, Product Development, Operations, and Business Development leadership to align organizational priorities, resource requirements, and technical capabilities.
• Support protection of intellectual property, including patents, trade secrets, and proprietary information.
• Ensures the proper application of the company’s collective agreements.
• Establish departmental strategic priorities and lead transformation initiatives related to Digital Engineering, MBSE, AI-assisted engineering, and operational excellence.

Requirements

• Minimum 10 years of engineering and engineering leadership experience (organizational planning, budgeting, workforce development, performance management and mentorship), preferably in the space industry or a related field.
• Experience in workforce planning, budgeting, organizational leadership, and strategic planning.
• Demonstrated success implementing engineering process improvements and organizational transformation initiatives.
• Demonstrated leadership, conflict resolution, and people skills.
• Strong understanding of systems engineering lifecycle processes, requirements management, systems architecture, verification and validation, and modern engineering practices.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related discipline.

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

The compensation range for this position is $102,000 - $160,000 annually. The specific compensation offered will be based on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.