Satellite Systems Design & Analysis Lead

Kepler Communications; Toronto; On-site; CAD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Unlimited vacation

Comprehensive health insurance

Professional development fund

Relocation packages

Job summary

Kepler Communications in Toronto is seeking a Satellite Systems Designer to lead the architecture and execution of complex spacecraft systems. This role demands strong expertise in system-level trade studies and technical budgets. You will mentor engineers while managing spacecraft design and analysis, ensuring robust solutions for each mission.

Join a dynamic team committed to pioneering space communications with competitive compensation, unlimited vacation, and a welcoming workplace culture.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in spacecraft systems engineering.
• Proven expertise in conducting system-level trade studies.
• Strong technical leadership and mentoring skills.

Responsibilities

• Define system architectures and lead spacecraft-level engineering efforts.
• Conduct advanced trade studies and risk assessments.
• Mentor engineers in technical budget ownership.

Skills

System architecture

Technical budgeting

Trade studies

Mentoring

AI-enabled tools

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering

Job description

At Kepler Communications we're not just imagining the future of on-demand space connectivity - we're leading it! Our mission is to provide real-time Internet access for space-based assets, enabling a new era of data-driven exploration and innovation. With 33 satellites launched to date, Kepler operates the first commercial optical data relay constellation, enabling real-time, continuous space communications while supporting advanced on-orbit compute and hosted payload capabilities.

Industry-leading technology is only part of the story. What sets Kepler apart is our team: bold thinkers, skilled builders, and passionate problem-solvers who thrive on pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in space.

If you're ready to reach higher, move faster, and do work that shapes the future space economy - this is your launchpad. Come build the future with Kepler!

What We Offer:

• Competitive compensation with a robust equity plan to share in our success.
• Comprehensive coverage for health, dental, and vision insurance — including dependents.
• Unlimited vacation, supportive parental leave policy, and company-wide holiday shutdown.
• Semi-annual company-wide parties and frequent in-office team events.
• Relocation packages available for approved roles.
• $1,500 annual professional development fund to support your growth.
• Fully stocked Toronto office kitchen with snacks, drinks, games and top-notch kitchen appliances.
• Town Halls, Celebration Calls, and Company-wide events to stay connected and engaged.
• We’re a certified Great Place to Work, five years in a row!

You will play a dual role within Kepler’s Systems Engineering team as a Satellite Systems Designer and Functional Lead for the Satellite Engineering and Analysis (SEA) team.

As a Satellite Systems Designer, you will be a key technical leader driving the architecture and execution of complex spacecraft systems. You will lead trades, ensure consistency across system budgets, and work closely with cross‑functional teams to deliver robust spacecraft architectures.

In parallel, you will hold functional responsibility for the Satellite Engineering and Analysis (SEA) Team. In this role, you will help establish processes, enforce technical rigor, and mentor engineers in spacecraft architecture, technical budget ownership, and system‑level analysis practices. This includes: spacecraft architecture definition standardization, system budgets (mass, power, link, propellant, reliability, availability), FMECA and FDIR standardization, and ensuring satellite system designs is a balanced and robust solution for each mission. As the team scales, you will help shape the team structure, identify capability gaps and hiring needs, participate in interviews and hiring decisions, and contribute to onboarding, peer evaluations, regular 1:1s, and team development.

This role begins as a discipline stewardship and technical leadership responsibility and is expected to grow into broader functional leadership as the team scales. It is well suited for a senior systems engineer who is interested in building a team, mentoring engineers, and eventually taking on people leadership responsibilities while remaining closely connected to spacecraft design and analysis.

Key Responsibilities

Satellite Systems Designer

• Define system architectures and lead spacecraft‑level engineering efforts
• Develop and manage requirements, interfaces, and verification strategies
• Conduct advanced trade studies, risk assessments, and performance analyses
• Lead integration and test campaigns, ensuring architecture and budgets close at system level
• Working with IPT leads, own and manage system‑level budgets across disciplines, including:
  • Mass properties and margins
  • Power generation, storage, and consumption
  • RF link budgets, including payload and feeder links
  • Propellant budget, based on ΔV inputs from Mission Analysis & Design
  • Reliability, availability, and FDIR approach
• Collaborate with subsystem leads to ensure architectural consistency and technical closure
• Act as a technical interface to program managers, product assurance, and external stakeholders
• Provide mentorship and oversight to junior and intermediate engineers
• Leverage AI‑enabled tools, agents, and automation to improve SEA workflows, including spacecraft budget consistency checks, trade study support, documentation generation, assumptions tracking, review preparation, and knowledge management, while ensuring appropriate validation, traceability, and human review of outputs

Functional Lead - Spacecraft Engineering and Analysis

• Define and maintain standards, processes, and templates for spacecraft architecture and budget management
• Review and approve SEA deliverables across programs, ensuring accuracy, rigor, and consistency
• Build and maintain a knowledge base of tools, models, and lessons learned for system budgets and architecture trades
• Mentor engineers in technical budget ownership and spacecraft‑level integration practices
• Ensure SEA practices are aligned with Kepler Engineering Design Standards (KEDS)
• Support cross‑project consistency in architecture analyses and technical documentation
• Help define the long‑term structure, capability needs, and growth path of the SEA team
• Support hiring, onboarding, coaching, and development of SEA team members as the function expands

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field
• 7+ years of experience in spacecraft systems engineering with a strong focus on system architecture, technical budgets, and cross‑disciplinary design trades
• Proven expertise in conducting system‑level trade studies and managing spacecraft budgets including mass, power, link, propellant, reliability/availability
• Familiarity with mission analysis outputs, including ΔV budgets, coverage, orbital constraints, and how they drive spacecraft architecture
• Experience developing and applying FDIR, FMECA, and reliability strategies at spacecraft or system level
• Strong technical leadership and mentoring skills, with interest in growing a functional team and developing engineering talent
• Ability to define repeatable processes, improve technical standards, and drive consistency across programs
• Experience using AI‑enabled tools, workflow automation, or agent‑based systems to improve engineering productivity, technical documentation, analysis workflows, or knowledge management
• Ability to identify high‑value opportunities for automation or AI assistance within systems engineering workflows and translate them into practical, maintainable solutions
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, and communication abilities

Key Attributes

• Problem‑Solving: Expert in spacecraft‑level architecture, budget closure, and multidisciplinary design challenges
• Leadership: Leads program‑level design efforts while building SEA discipline standards, mentoring engineers, and supporting future team growth
• Technical Expertise: Deep knowledge of system budgets, spacecraft architecture, reliability, FDIR, and system integration
• Communication: Effective across technical teams, program leadership, product assurance, and external stakeholders
• Strategic Impact: Ensures spacecraft architectures are robust, scalable, technically balanced, and aligned with program and mission objectives

Salary Range: $130,000 - 180,000 CAD

Actual total compensation will be determined at the Company’s discretion and is based on a variety of job‑related factors, which may include, but are not limited to, relevant knowledge, skills, experience, performance, and education and/or training. The Company encourages all qualified applicants to apply, even if the posted salary range does not align with their expectations, as it does not reflect our total compensation package.

Job Type: This is for a current vacancy

Employment Equity & Accommodation Statement

Kepler Communications is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals, including women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

If you require accommodation during any stage of the recruitment process, please contact our People & Culture team at [e-mail], and we will work with you to meet your needs.