Senior Satellite Systems Designer - Payload Lead

Kepler Communications Inc.; Toronto; On-site; CAD 126,000 - 176,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive equity plan

Health, dental, and vision insurance (

Unlimited vacation

Parental leave policy

Company-wide holiday shutdown

Relocation packages

$1,500 annual PD fund

Toronto office kitchen

Town Hall events

Great Place to Work certification

Job summary

Kepler Communications in Canada seeks a Senior Satellite Systems Designer / Engineer focused on Payload Management. You will lead cross‑functional payload engineering activities across a multi‑payload mission, coordinating requirements, interfaces, test plans, and operational concepts with internal teams, external providers, and customers.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years in spacecraft or payload engineering, strong systems thinking, and proven ability to guide suppliers toward Kepler’s

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering field.
• 7+ years of spacecraft systems/ payload engineering leadership.
• Experience defining and managing payload or subsystem requirements, interfaces, and verification activities.

Responsibilities

• Lead payload systems engineering across mission lifecycle.
• Interface between customers, payload suppliers, spacecraft teams, and program stakeholders.
• Define, manage, and verify payload requirements, interfaces, and integration plans.
• Coordinate payload integration across mechanical, electrical, thermal, software, RF, and operations interfaces.
• Mentor junior engineers and advance payload systems engineering practices.

Skills

Payload management

Systems engineering

Customer liaison

Technical leadership

Risk management

Cross-functional collaboration

Documentation

AI-assisted engineering

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics

Tools

Python

MATLAB

STK

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. We believe great ideas come from diverse perspectives, and we’re committed to creating an environment where you can grow, lead, and make a global impact.

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!

As a Senior Satellite Systems Designer / Engineer focused on Payload Management, you will serve as a key technical leader responsible for coordinating, integrating, and managing payload-related engineering activities across a mission with multiple payload providers. You will act as the primary systems engineering interface between internal teams, external payload suppliers, customers, and satellite bus stakeholders to ensure payload requirements, interfaces, deliverables, test plans, and operational concepts are clearly defined, aligned, and executed.

This role requires strong systems engineering judgment, practical experience with payload-level integration and planning, and the ability to build trusted customer and supplier relationships while guiding external stakeholders toward Kepler’s engineering standards, mission requirements, and verification expectations. You will help ensure that payload designs, documentation, test campaigns, and operational concepts integrate safely and effectively into the broader satellite system.

The ideal candidate has first-hand experience with one or more payload domains such as optical payloads, RF or SIGINT payloads, radar systems, or related mission instrumentation. Success in this role requires the ability to translate payload capabilities and constraints into mission-level scenarios, CONOPS, coverage analysis, test plans, and system budgets including power, thermal, data, and operational timelines.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead payload systems engineering activities throughout the mission lifecycle, from concept through integration, test, launch, and commissioning.
• Serve as the primary technical interface between customers, payload suppliers, spacecraft engineering teams, and program stakeholders.
• Define, manage, and verify payload requirements, interfaces, and integration plans.
• Coordinate payload accommodation across mechanical, electrical, thermal, software, RF, and operational interfaces.
• Review payload documentation including requirements, interface control documents (ICDs), verification plans, test procedures, and operational concepts.
• Perform mission and systems analysis to assess payload impacts on spacecraft resources, including power, thermal, data handling, pointing, storage, and communications.
• Support payload integration, spacecraft-level testing, verification, anomaly resolution, and launch readiness activities in collaboration with AIT and V&V teams.
• Identify technical risks, resolve integration issues, and ensure alignment between customer expectations and spacecraft capabilities.
• Support payload commissioning and early mission operations as required.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to the continued development of payload systems engineering practices.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline.
• 7+ years of experience in spacecraft systems engineering, payload engineering, mission systems engineering, or a related technical leadership role.
• Experience integrating or supporting spaceflight payloads or complex aerospace instrumentation.
• Experience defining and managing payload or subsystem requirements, interfaces, and verification activities.
• Strong understanding of spacecraft subsystem interactions, including mechanical, electrical, thermal, software, communications, and operational interfaces.
• Experience working directly with customers, suppliers, or external partners in a technical leadership role.
• Experience developing or reviewing engineering documentation such as requirements, ICDs, verification plans, CONOPS, or test procedures.
• Strong analytical and systems thinking skills with the ability to evaluate technical tradeoffs and resolve complex engineering challenges.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated ability to leverage AI-assisted engineering and productivity tools to improve engineering efficiency and innovation.

Bonus Points:

• Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with one or more payload types, including optical, RF, communications, radar, remote sensing, or scientific instrumentation.
• Experience supporting spacecraft integration and test, environmental testing, or flight verification activities.
• Experience supporting spacecraft commissioning, LEOP, or mission operations.
• Familiarity with mission analysis and modeling tools such as Python, MATLAB, STK, or equivalent.
• Knowledge of industry systems engineering practices and standards (ECSS, NASA, INCOSE, or equivalent).

Salary Range: $125,622 - 175,622 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.

At Kepler Communications, all hiring decisions are made by people. Human recruiters are involved in every step of our recruitment process. We use AI-based tools (such as Lever AI and HireEZ) to assist with the initial review of applications by ranking candidates based on job-relevant criteria. These tools support - but do not replace - human judgment.