Satellite Design System Engineer

MDA; Montreal; On-site; CAD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

MDA in Montreal is seeking a junior Satellite Design System Engineer to contribute to design, integration, verification, and on‑orbit operations support for current and next‑generation remote sensing and communications satellites.

You will act as the technical hub coordinating spacecraft subsystems, produce model-based designs in SysML, assist with requirements, and participate in reviews (SRR, PDR) under supervision.

Qualifications

• 2+ years in satellite system design on LEO/MEO/GEO missions.
• Knowledge of spacecraft subsystems and their interactions.
• Ability to work in multidisciplinary engineering environments and interpret results for design decisions.

Responsibilities

• Assist in gathering and formalising mission-level requirements under supervision.
• Contribute to updating satellite architecture documents (SDD, ICD) and maintain the traceability matrix.
• Contribute multidisciplinary trade-studies (mass vs. power vs. volume, redundancy philosophy, reliability, end-of-life, bus modularity, launch-vehicle adaptation).
• Build SysML block models under Lead System Engineer direction.
• Perform baseline calculations (power budget, centre-of-gravity, battery charge) per MDA procedures.
• Participate in progress reviews (SRR, PDR) and capture decision minutes; track ICDs with payload-interface coordinator under senior oversight.
• Draft/update verification matrices (VT) based on existing models; assist test technicians during campaign setup (vibration, TVAC, RF).
• Ensure artefacts, analyses, software, deliverables are version-controlled; prepare review minutes.

Skills

Spacecraft subsystems knowledge

System engineering fundamentals

Confluence & JIRA

English communication

French an asset

Education

Electrical Engineering degree

Aerospace/Physics degree

Tools

Confluence

JIRA

Job description

Role overview:

MDA is seeking a junior Satellite Design System Engineer for design, integration, verification, and operational support for current and next‑generation remote sensing and communications satellites. The design system engineer is the technical hub that ensures every spacecraft subsystem (structures, thermal, power, propulsion, C&DH, TT&C/PDT, GNC, payload‑interface, etc.) works together to meet mission objectives, cost targets and schedule constraints. The role spans the full lifecycle, from concept, designs and requirements capture through design, integration, verification, launch‑site support and on‑orbit operations.

Tasks summary:

Architecture Concept & Requirements

• Assist in gathering and formalising mission‑level requirements (under supervision).
• Contribute to updating satellite architecture documents (System Specification Document – SDD, Interface Control Documents – ICD) and maintain the traceability matrix.

Concept Trade & Feasibility

• Contribute multidisciplinary trade‑studies (mass vs. power vs. volume, redundancy philosophy, reliability, end‑of‑life, bus modularity, launch‑vehicle adaptation, de‑orbiting, re‑entry, etc.).

Detailed Design & Modelling

• Build SysML block models under the direction of the Lead System Engineer.
• Perform baseline calculations (power budget, centre‑of‑gravity, battery charge) following MDA standard procedures.

Cross‑Functional Coordination, Stakeholder & Program Interaction

• Actively participate in progress reviews (System Requirements Review – SRR, Preliminary Design Review – PDR, etc.) and capture decision minutes.
• Track ICDs together with the payload‑interface coordinator, under senior oversight.

Integration & Verification (IVV)

• Draft or update verification matrices (Verification Test – VT) based on existing models.
• Support test technicians during campaign set‑up and execution (vibration, TVAC, RF), including instrumentation and data acquisition

Configuration, Documentation & Standards Management

• Ensure all artefacts, analyses, software, deliverables and documents are correctly version‑controlled.
• Prepare review minutes and distribute them to all interested parties.

Launch‑Site, Orbit Support & Operations Support

• Contribute to the preparation of pre‑launch procedures.
• Analyse early post‑launch telemetry under the supervision of the SatOps Lead.

Required Qualifications:

• Sc. in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace or Physics with 2+ years of satellite system design experience on LEO/MEO/GEO missions.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Spacecraft subsystems and their interactions.
• Proficiency in multi‑disciplinary engineering environment (structural, thermal, power, dynamics…etc.) and ability to interpret results for design decisions.
• Strong understanding of aerospace system engineering fundamentals.
• 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 hold security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Controlled Goods Program (CGP).