Satellite Design System Engineer

Macdonald, Dettwiler And Associates Corporation; Quebec; Hybrid; CAD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

MDA Space is seeking a Satellite Design System Engineer to lead design, integration, verification, and on-orbit support for current and next‑generation remote sensing and communications satellites.

The role requires coordinating subsystems, maintaining MBSE models in SysML, and producing ICDs and compliance matrices with a strong emphasis on requirements traceability and verification. Proficiency in English is essential; French is an asset.

Qualifications

• Sc. in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace or Physics with 10+ years of satellite system design experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of spacecraft subsystems and their interactions.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English; French is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, integration, verification and on-orbit support for satellites.
• Develop architecture descriptions, ICDs and compliance matrices.
• Maintain bidirectional requirements traceability throughout programs.
• Coordinate cross‑functional trades and review design analyses.

Skills

Spacecraft subsystems knowledge

Systems integration

English communication

Analytical problem solving

JIRA & Confluence

Education

BSc in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace 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 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. For more information, visit www.mda.space .

Role overview:

MDA is seeking a 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.

• Support or define and convert mission level and mission planning requirements, reliability, cost and schedule goals into spacecraft wide system design requirements.
• Develop the Satellite Architecture Description Document, Interface Control Documents (ICD) and Compliance Matrices.
• Perform requirement management and maintain bidirectional traceability throughout the program life cycle.

Concept Trade & Feasibility

• Lead multi‑disciplinary trade studies (mass vs. power vs. volume, redundancy philosophy, reliability, end of life, bus modularity, launch‑vehicle fit, de‑orbiting, re‑entry...etc).
• Produce trade‑off matrices and recommendation reports for senior management.

Detailed Design & Modelling

• Support detailed design of all major platform subsystems (structures, TCS, EPS, PROP, C&DH, C&T, GNC, payload interfaces).
• Own and maintain Satellite Electrical MBSE (SysML modeling)
• Support electrical harnesses, power‑distribution topology, grounding scheme and redundancy philosophy.
• Conduct FMECA in support to FDIR, Fault‑Tree Analysis, reliability and availability predictions.
• Review or coordinate integrated analyses:
  • Structural & vibration
  • Environmental modeling
  • Power and Mass budget, CoG, battery‑state‑of‑charge, power sizing…etc.
  • Orbit dynamics, pointing accuracy and knowledge, attitude stability, ΔV budgeting, DOTL.
  • Demisability, apparent visibility, MMOD.

Cross‑Functional Coordination, Stakeholder & Program Interaction

• Communicate technical status, risk assessments and trade‑study results to senior management and/or customers or partners.
• Negotiate and manage ICDs with payload and platform, ground‑segment and supplier teams.
• Support B&P (Phase 0 & pre-phase A).
• Develop or support verification plans, test matrices and validation procedures for spacecraft level tests.
• Support FSW integration and Reference Database
• Coordinate and/or supervise:
  • Structural vibration and acoustic testing
  • Thermal vacuum cycling and thermal balance tests
  • Electrical functional tests on PFM & FMs, review & approve test data

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 development.

Configuration, Documentation & Standards Management

• Author and maintain MDA satellite standards (margin philosophy, redundancy, safety…etc).
• Ensure all artefacts, analysis, software, deliverables and documentations are version controlled in PLM environment.
• Lead and Support design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, MRR/TRR…etc).

Launch‑Site, Orbit Support & Operations Support

• Support launch-site checklists with LVI engineer, pre‑launch checkout procedures, early‑orbit checkout scripts and on‑orbit commissioning.
• Provide technical support to Mission Operations for routine payload and bus health monitoring, contingency handling and performance trending.
• Lead root‑cause investigations for on‑orbit anomalies; update design baselines and lessons‑learned.
• Analyse on‑orbit telemetry, update filter parameters, and generate performance reports.
• Support SOOH development and associated operator training.

Required Qualifications:

• Sc. in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace or Physics with 10 + 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).

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.