Senior Satellite Systems Designer - Payload Lead

Canaan Partners; Toronto; On-site; CAD 125,622 - 175,622; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation with equity plan

Unlimited vacation

Annual professional development fund

Job summary

Clutch Canada is seeking a Senior Satellite Systems Designer / Engineer focused on Payload Management. This pivotal role involves coordination and management across multiple payload providers, ensuring requirements and operational standards are met throughout the mission lifecycle.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in systems engineering, excellent communication skills, and the ability to integrate payloads into broader spacecraft systems. Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in spacecraft systems engineering or technical leadership.
• Experience integrating spaceflight payloads or aerospace instrumentation.
• Strong understanding of mechanical, electrical, and thermal interactions.

Responsibilities

• Lead payload systems engineering activities throughout the mission lifecycle.
• Serve as the primary technical interface between stakeholders.
• Define, manage, and verify payload requirements and integration plans.

Skills

Experience with payload integration

Systems engineering judgment

Understanding of spacecraft subsystems

Analytical and systems thinking skills

Excellent communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field

Tools

Python

MATLAB

STK

Job description

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).

Benefits:

• Competitive compensation with a robust equity plan.
• 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 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® for five years in a row.

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 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.