Phased Array System Engineer

MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Corp.; Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

MDA Space seeks a PhasedArray Antenna Systems Engineer to define, develop, design, integrate, verify, and test phased‑array subsystems for current and next‑generation communications satellites. The role leads a cross‑disciplinary team to deliver antenna designs meeting mission performance, budget and schedule, and supports the full product lifecycle from concept to in‑orbit operations.

The candidate will have 10+ years in active antenna design, experience with digital beam forming, and strong

Qualifications

• Sc. in Electrical Engineering or Physics with 10+ years of active antenna design experience.
• Experience with active antenna system designs, digital beam forming, and antenna parameters.
• Experience with Antenna testing, and facilities associated with radiated tests.
• Strong understanding of aerospace system engineering fundamentals & space environment.
• Hands-on with systems integration and capability to test systems and resolve problems.
• Excellent written and oral communication in English; French knowledge is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Define, develop, design, integration, verification and test of phased-array subsystems.
• Lead trade-offs of design architectures to meet satellite requirements and SWaP.
• Generate and maintain subsystem requirements and mapping to payload performance.
• Manage requirements and traceability throughout the program lifecycle.
• Develop verification plans, test matrices, and validation procedures.
• Coordinate test campaigns at antenna test facilities and analyze data.
• Mentor junior engineers and act as liaison with customers/partners.
• Support on-orbit operations and post-test activities.
• Ensure artefacts are version controlled in PLM.

Skills

Active antenna design

Digital beam forming

Antenna testing

Systems engineering

Confluence/JIRA

Technical communication

Education

B.Sc./M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering or Physics

Tools

Confluence

JIRA

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 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:

MDA is seeking a PhasedArray Antenna Systems Engineer to be responsible for the definition, development, design, integration, verification, and test of phased‑array antenna subsystems for current and next‑generation communications satellites. Our portfolio spans from broadband to Direct to user solutions (D2D) Phased Array antennas with digital Beam forming capability. The role will lead a cross‑disciplinary team to deliver phases array antenna designs that meet mission performance, budget, and schedule requirements, and will support the full product lifecycle from concept through delivery and in‑orbit operations.

• Perform trade-offs of phased array antenna design architectures to meet satellite requirements and optimize SWaP.
• Generate and maintain antenna subsystem requirements and lower‑level child requirements with mapping to the payload performance.
• Perform requirement management and maintain bidirectional traceability throughout the program life cycle.

Design Analysis & Budgeting

• Lead development of the antenna design architecture and subsystem‑level performance budgets (gain, bandwidth, beam‑forming, spurious, linearity, timings, power, etc.).
• Support payload and platform teams for DC power budget with traffic & utilization models
• Converge cross‑disciplinary teams on a design that satisfies mission objectives and coverage.
• Perform FMECA, Fault tree, reliability modeling and availability to meet mission objectives.
• Develop verification plans, test matrices, and validation procedures and detailed test requirements.
• Support Integration and test activities from planning through production.
• Coordinate test campaigns at antenna test facilities (radiated tests, anechoic chambers, etc.)
• Review unit and system level test data, evaluate non‑compliances, and support automated data post‑processing/management.
• Manage anomaly investigations, root‑cause analysis, and corrective‑action implementation.

Cross‑Functional Coordination, Stakeholder & Program Interaction

• Communicate technical status, risk assessments and trade‑study results to senior management and/or customers or partners.
• Support payload design authority in design reviews
• Liaise with Electrical, Power, Structures, Thermal, Software, Ground‑Segment and Mission‑Operations teams to resolve integration issues early.
• Support B&P (Phase 0 & pre-phase A).

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

• Ensure all artefacts, analysis, documentation and deliverables are version controlled in PLM environment.

On‑Orbit & Operations Support

• Support and analyze on‑orbit test activities and data review.
• Support SOOH development and associated operator

Required Qualifications:

• Sc. in Electrical Engineering or Physics with 10+years of relevant active antenna design experience.
• Previous experience with active antenna system designs, digital beam forming, and antenna parameters.
• Experience with Antenna testing, and facilities associated with radiated tests
• Strong understanding of aerospace system engineering fundamentals & space environment.
• Hands‑on individual who can support systems integration processes and capability to test systems and resolve problems.
• Experience with Confluence and JIRA.
• Demonstrated capability to efficiently work with little supervision.
• Ability to distill complex problems to fundamentals to solve with analysis, similarity, or creativity.
• Demonstrate excellent written and oral communication skills in English; knowledge of French will be considered an asset (Contact with clients outside Quebec and work on deliverables in English).

Comments/Special Considerations:

Successful candidates must obtain and holdsecurity clearance at the reliability statuslevel, and pass security assessment forControlled 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.

We have entered a new era of exploration and development, and 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.