Mission Systems & Operations Supervisor

Macdonald, Dettwiler And Associates Corporation; Brampton; On-site; CAD 94,000 - 128,000; Full time

Job summary

MDA Space is seeking a Mission Systems & Operations Supervisor to lead the Robotics & Space Operations team in Brampton. This role includes managing a diverse engineering workforce, supporting technological advancements, and ensuring the successful execution of space missions. The position demands strong leadership and a commitment to innovation in a dynamic, collaborative environment.

Benefits

Comprehensive health care

Employee and family assistance program

Flexible drug plans

Life insurance

Group retirement savings plans

Qualifications

• Experience managing an engineering department.
• Strong understanding of operational processes.
• Ability to coordinate across multiple locations.

Responsibilities

• Manage recruitment, development, engagement, and retention of staff.
• Support continuous improvement and modernization of engineering practices.
• Coordinate capital planning and participate in proposal activities.

Skills

Leadership

Resource Management

Technical Troubleshooting

Process Improvement

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

Engineering tools and processes

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 MDA Space team of more than 3,400 space experts in Canada, the US and the UK 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 .

We’re on the hunt for a Mission Systems & Operations Supervisor on our Robotics & Space Operations team at our Brampton office.

With 40 years of operational experience and proven performance on the iconic Canadarm programs including Space Shuttle and International Space Station robotics and operations support, our Robotics & Space Operations team has 100% mission success in making space dreams come true.

The Supervisor is a member of the leadership team and reports to the Manager, Engineering of Mission Operations. The supervisor manages a section of a large size engineering department (across three different geographic locations - Brampton, Houston and St Hubert), through developing and maintaining a workforce with the key technical skills necessary to ensure proper execution and delivery of the company’s products and projects. The Supervisor will manage recruitment, development, engagement and retention, and succession planning within their team.

In addition, the incumbent will support the Manager, Engineering with departmental activities such as technological roadmap development, continuous improvement, modernization of engineering practices, and customer satisfaction. They will support the adoption of next-generation engineering tools, techniques, and procedures to increase competitiveness in their discipline area.

Responsibilities:

Resource Management:

• Recruits employees, assigns, directs and evaluates their work
• Monitors and manages overall employee performance, conducts annual performance appraisals and sets individual objectives
• Provides staffing expertise to support the demand of Programs, R&D, and Business Development. Ensures that staffing supports the demand of current and future MDA Space programs
• Develops staff to ensure necessary skill sets
• Establishes and regularly updates succession plans for key skills to avoid single point failures and bottlenecks in resource allocation
• Ensures group competency remains abreast of state of the art techniques in the respective engineering/manufacturing / support service disciplines
• Ensures staff works in an environment fostering innovation and evolution to maximize their satisfaction within the constraints of the business, supporting career planning, providing regular feedback and celebrating successes
• Oversees engineering facilities, processes, and tools required to support department activities and program needs
• Identifies and manages facility conflicts between all programs for flight or development activities as appropriate to the department
• Supports management of departmental overhead budget within allocation and provides forecasts to finance as required
• Supports coordination of capital planning for the department. Proposes necessary capital investment items with proper financial justification and implements the procurement
• Ensures the proper application of the company’s collective agreements
• Supports development of DREAMR lab capabilities (Brampton & Houston) and utilization across all program needs and company initiatives
• Support of the Zero-G mixed reality lab

Technical overview:

• Coordinates and ensures distribution of lessons learned
• Supports internal and external audits and ensure corrective actions are implemented as required
• Participates in or leads technical troubleshooting and problem solving
• Provides expert support to customer enquiries where needed
• Supports design needs for the DREAMR lab development and program demands

Process development, maintenance and application:

• Ensures proper application and adherence to overall company policies and processes by staff in the department
• Supports development and maintenance of departmental specific policies, processes, work instructions and standards and ensures they are available to, and followed by staff
• Proposes and leads new initiatives or participates in initiatives for business process improvement (BPI) to improve departmental or global efficiency
• Acts as the area owner and ensures all Health & Safety procedures and policies are adhered to and maintained

Front End of the Business:

• Provides support and participate in proposal activities
• Makes recommendations to the product development organization for new products and R&D initiatives in line with the company’s strategic direction
• Supports and coordinates patent applications in conjunction with the product development organization
• Ensures that the company’s trade secrets and proprietary information is protected and handled securely
• Provides support to customers for capability/technology demonstrations and for public outreach events
• Supports business case development to align with business finance planning and company support for the DREAMR Lab
  • Supports and coordinates Visa applications for real-time mission operations development training at JSC (Johnson Space Center)
• Supports conferences to showcase our mission operations capabilities and discuss potential partnerships for future developments
• Performs other tasks as required such as; leading proposals at the front end of the business, managing small projects or parts thereof, providing support to subcontract management, participating in collective agreement negotiations

Frequent travel to the St. Hubert Quebec and Houston Texas sites required to support in person meetings and development discussions onsite.

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.

We have entered a new era of exploration and development, and MDA Space 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 Space and Canada’s leadership in this next golden age.

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) and ITAR.

Benefits statement:

MDA Space provides competitive compensation and benefits packages for its employees at all locations. As a team member of MDA Space, 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.

Equal opportunity statement:

MDA Space is an equal opportunity employer prizing diversity and inclusion. We are committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity. If you require assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please feel free to notify us.

Accommodations

MDA Ltd. 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 $94,000.00 - $128,000.00 annually. The specific compensation offered will be based on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.