SAR Payload Systems Engineering Advisor

Sky Systems, Inc. (SkySys); Montreal (administrative region); On-site; CAD 125,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Standard Benefits

T4 Tax Benefits

Job summary

Sky Systems, Inc. (SkySys) is looking for a SAR Payload Systems Engineering Advisor for a 12-month contract in Montreal. The role involves leading systems engineering tasks, developing payload architecture, and supporting satellite operations.

The ideal candidate holds a B.Sc. in a relevant field and has over 5 years of experience in remote sensing systems. Strong English communication skills and hands-on problem-solving abilities are essential for success in this position.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in developing remote sensing systems for LEO/MEO missions.
• Solid understanding of space engineering fundamentals.
• Ability to break down complex problems into fundamental elements.

Responsibilities

• Collect functional, performance, and safety requirements from stakeholders.
• Design payload architecture including antenna arrays and RF Tx/Rx chain.
• Perform performance simulations to ensure image quality.

Skills

Strong writing skills

Hands-on problem-solving

Proficiency in Confluence

Proficiency in JIRA

Excellent communication skills in English

Education

B.Sc. in Electrical, Aerospace Engineering, or Physics

Job description

SAR Payload Systems Engineering Advisor

Duration: 12 months – 40 hours per week

Location: Montreal – West Island, 4 days per week in office

Salary: CAD $125K - $140K Annually with Standard Benefits – T4

Required Qualifications

• B.Sc. in Electrical, Aerospace Engineering, or Physics
• 5+ years of experience in the development of remote sensing systems for LEO/MEO missions; testing experience is an asset.
• Strong writing skills and solid understanding of core space engineering fundamentals.
• Hands‑on profile: capable of supporting integration, testing, and problem‑solving activities.
• Proficiency in Confluence and JIR
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to break down complex problems into fundamental elements and solve them through analysis, analogy, or creativity.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; knowledge of French is considered an asset (interaction with clients outside Quebec and English deliverables).
• Support to the satellite operations team during critical mission phases.

Job Description

Requirements Gathering & Systems Engineering

• Collect functional, performance, pointing, environmental, and safety requirements from mission stakeholders and develop CONOPS.
• Link system and payload requirements and performance to the onboard processor.
• Coordinate with the cybersecurity team for payload-specific assessments.
• Perform requirements management and maintain bidirectional traceability throughout the program lifecycle.
• Design the payload architecture (antenna arrays and RF Tx/Rx chain, digital beamforming, processing chain and digital electronics, power, thermal, and mass).
• Lead conceptual, preliminary, and detailed design phases, producing trade studies and performance budgets.
• Write Interface Control Documents (ICDs) with other subsystems and the ground segment.
• Provide system‑level specifications to hardware designers and review schematics, layouts, thermal interfaces, and mechanical constraints.

Simulation & Analysis

• Perform performance simulations to ensure image quality.
• Support algorithm development and analysis for SAR processing, moving target detection, and beam pointing.
• Define and maintain the payload DC power budget using usage models.
• Perform FMECA, FDIR, reliability, and availability analyses to meet mission objectives.

Cross‑Functional Coordination, Stakeholders & Program Interaction

• Communicate technical status, risk assessments, and trade study results to program management and/or customers/partners.
• Support payload design authority during design reviews (power/structure/thermal interfaces and mission operations assessments).
• Interface with Electrical, Power, Structures, Thermal, Software, Ground Segment, and Mission Operations teams to resolve integration issues early.
• Support B&P activities (Phase 0 & Pre‑Phase A).
• Develop the payload verification plan covering unit and system testing, environmental testing, and EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) testing.
• Lead the setup of test automation frameworks, test case definition, results analysis, and test report certification.

Technical Leadership & Mentorship

• Mentor and guide junior, intermediate engineers, and interns.
• Act as technical liaison with customers, partners, and external suppliers.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives.
• Contribute to internal knowledge bases, process improvements, and standards development.

Configuration Management, Documentation & Standards

• Ensure all artifacts, analyses, software, deliverables, and documentation are properly version‑controlled.
• Lead and support design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, MRR/TRR, etc.).
• Support technology roadmap and innovation activities.

On‑Orbit Support & Operations

• Provide technical support to SatOps teams for satellite performance monitoring.
• Support in‑orbit anomaly investigations; update databases and capture lessons learned.
• Analyze in‑orbit telemetry and generate performance reports.