Satellite Electrical Systems Engineer

MDA; Montreal (administrative region); On-site; CAD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

MDA Space in Montreal is seeking a Satellite Electrical Systems Engineer to lead harness design for a range of mission-critical satellites. You will capture requirements, design DC power distribution, and ensure EMI/EMC compliance for bus and payload interfaces.

You will mentor juniors, coordinate with platform, payload, integration teams, and support IVV activities, change control and documentation in PLM. Fluency in English is essential; French is a plus.

Qualifications

• Requires a degree: BSc in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace or Physics; MSc preferred.
• At least 10+ years of electrical harness design experience on LEO/MEO/GEO missions.
• Strong knowledge of spacecraft EMC requirements.
• Experience with DC harness power-distribution design and high-speed digital harnesses.
• Experience with RF harness design and segregation.
• Excellent technical writing and presentation skills; aerospace systems knowledge.
• Hands-on with systems integration, testing, and problem-solving.
• Experience with Confluence and JIRA.
• Strong written and oral English; French knowledge is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead electrical integration sessions (harness fit-check, continuity, power-up).
• Verify test results and review supplier tests.
• Support FSW interface verification with the team.

Skills

Electrical harness design

DC power distribution

High-speed harness design

RF harness

Spacecraft EMC

Systems integration

Testing & verification

Technical writing

Oral & written communication

English communication

French language (asset)

Education

BSc in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace or Physics

MSc preferred

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 :

MDA is seeking a Satellite Electrical Systems Engineer for its current and next‑generation remote sensing and communications satellites. The Electrical Systems Engineer will ensure all electrical subsystems on the bus and payload, from requirements capture to hardware design and components do not interfere with themselves or with launch vehicles. Therefore, he will design harnesses and support its routing, perform TM/TC budgeting, wiring‑list generation and data‑base management. The role works closely with platform and payload teams to ensure an electrically clean, reliable and launch‑ready spacecraft.

Tasks summary:

Architecture Concept & Requirements

• Gather and allocate electrical power, distribution, and harness requirements (voltage levels, current limits, mass, redundancy, grounding…etc.).
• Develop Electrical Interface Control Documents (EICD) and traceability matrix.
• Specify interfaces in GDIR and EDTS.
• Define Reference Database structure.

DC Power Distribution

• Review and/or design the DC power distribution architecture (primary bus, secondary bus lines, converters, fusing, protection).
• Conduct power budget analysis, voltage‑drop calculations and assessments.
• Select conductors, termination, connectors and back shells (material, gauge, shielding…etc.) that satisfy mass, reliability and EMI control requirements.
• Review EMC, ESD, grounding & shielding schemes, and segregation requirements established by the EMC engineering.

High‑Speed & RF Harness Design

• Create and/or review routing and layout for high‑speed digital harnesses (SerDes, SpaceWire, CAN, LVDS, Ethernet, fibers) and RF harnesses to cover operating bands.
• Develop design methodology standards (cable‑size tables, connector families, strain‑relief guidelines) and maintain Harness Design Workflow.

Wiring List & Database Development

• Generate complete wiring lists (WL) for each flight model using a centralized database along the satellite electrical SysML modelling.
• Populate part numbers, part numbers, material specifications, routing paths, and test points.
• Automate WL extraction for change‑impact analysis and support configuration‑management releases.

TM/TC Budget & Verification

• Produce TM/TC budget (data rates, link margins, packet structures) and incorporate them into the overall spacecraft budget per subsystem, allocate packet IDs, and maintain the TM/TC allocation matrix.
• Verify margins against test results and maintain GDIR requirements.

Cross‑Functional Coordination, Stakeholder & Program Interaction

• Communicate technical status, risk assessments and trade‑study results to senior management and/or customers or partners.
• Manage and maintain ICDs with payload, platform & integration teams, ground‑segment and supplier teams.
• Support B&P (Phase 0 & pre-phase A).

Integration & Verification (IVV)

• Author verification plans, test procedures, and acceptance criteria for electrical subsystem tests (continuity, insulation, functional power‑on).
• Review suppliers test results
• Lead electrical integration sessions (harness fit‑check, harness continuity test, power‑up sequences) and support FSW interface verification.

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

• Ensure all artefacts, analysis, software and documentations are version controlled in PLM environment.
• Support design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, MRR/TRR…etc.).
• Support Technology Road‑Mapping & Innovation
• Participate in Change Control Boards (CCB) and ensure impact analyses are performed for any electrical change.
• Maintain GDIR and EDTS streamlining

On‑Orbit & Operations Support

• Provide technical support to Mission Operations for routine payload and bus health monitoring, contingency handling and performance trending.
• Support 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, (M.Sc. preferred) with 10 + years of electrical harness design engineering experience on LEO/MEO/GEO missions.
• Strong knowledge of spacecraft EMC requirements.
• Proven experience with DC harness power‑distribution design, high‑speed digital harness design and segregation, RF harness.
• Strong technical‑writing ability and presentation skills and 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.