Senior Systems Engineer - Satellite Software

MDA; Montreal; On-site; CAD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

MDA in Montreal seeks an experienced systems engineer to define, harmonize, and govern the software architecture for all embedded software of a satellite mission. The incumbent acts as cross-functional technical lead for software architecture at the system level, ensuring consistency across FSW, data handling, GNC-FSW, payload, firmware, and ground interfaces.

Responsibilities cover governance, standardization, requirements traceability, integration readiness, and collaboration with mission

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in a software-related field with 10+ years embedded software experience.
• Experience with CCSDS and ECSS standards and space software practices.
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English and French.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain the overall satellite software architecture.
• Establish guiding principles, standards, and best practices across the program.
• Ensure consistency between architectures of satellite and payload subsystems.
• Define software partitioning strategies and responsibilities between software, firmware and hardware.
• Govern architecture reviews and verify compliance with standards and requirements.
• Support interfaces with ground segment and mission operations.

Skills

Software architecture

Embedded systems

Technical leadership

Bilingual English/French

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in software/related field

Tools

Confluence

JIRA

Job description

Role Overview

MDA is seeking an experienced systems engineer to define, harmonize, and govern the software architecture for all embedded software of a satellite mission.

The incumbent acts as the cross-functional technical lead for software architecture at the system level. They oversee the consistency and integration of software architectures across the satellite's various components, including:

• Flight Software (FSW)
• Data Handling and DSS
• SRDB
• GNC-FSW
• Payload Software
• Firmware and embedded software of electronic units
• AIT and validation software when required
• Interfaces with ground and operations segments

They support programs from preliminary design phases through integration, environmental testing, satellite delivery, and in-orbit commissioning support.

Summary of Duties

Software System Architecture

• Define and maintain the overall satellite software architecture.
• Establish guiding principles, standards, design rules, and software best practices applicable across the program.
• Ensure consistency between software architectures of various satellite and payload subsystems.
• Define software partitioning strategies, functional allocation, and responsibility management between software, firmware, and hardware.
• Evaluate technical tradeoffs, risks, and architectural impacts associated with design decisions.
• Participate in defining operational concepts, satellite modes, and FDIR architectures.

Software Technical Governance

• Conduct software architecture reviews with all development teams.
• Verify solution compliance with company standards, program requirements, and applicable space standards (ECSS, CCSDS, NASA, etc.).
• Ensure standardization of software approaches among various suppliers, subcontractors, and internal teams.
• Identify architectural gaps, technical risks, and technological debt.
• Define and track program-level software development roadmaps.

Ground Segment, Operations, and Mission Interfaces

• Define and maintain the software architecture between the space segment and the ground segment.
• Support the definition of interfaces and communication protocols with the ground segment.
• Collaborate with mission operations teams to define operational concepts and satellite operating modes.
• Ensure needs related to operations and in-orbit maintenance are properly accounted for in the software architecture.
• Support LEOP, commissioning, and in-orbit operations activities.
• Participate in defining software update strategies, patch loading, and in-orbit configuration management.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Act as the software focal point within the satellite systems engineering team.
• Support the resolution of multidisciplinary technical issues impacting multiple subsystems.

Requirements and Interface Management

• Define system requirements related to software.
• Ensure traceability of software requirements across program levels.
• Supervise ICDs and software interface definitions between platform, payload, and ground segment elements.
• Ensure proposed architectures satisfy functional, performance, and cybersecurity requirements.

Integration, Verification, and Validation

• Participate in defining software verification and validation strategies.
• Support software, system, and satellite integration campaigns.
• Participate in anomaly reviews and the resolution of complex issues observed during testing.
• Ensure consistency of development, simulation, DSS, FlatSat, and testbench environments.
• Support AIT activities until satellite delivery.

Technical Leadership

• Act as a technical reference for software development teams.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to software and systems engineers.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of MDA's software standards and processes.
• Support the development of software strategy for future missions.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in software engineering, computer science, electrical, aerospace engineering, or a related field with over 10 years of experience in developing complex embedded software systems.
• Significant experience in LEO and MEO satellite systems.
• Knowledge of CCSDS and ECSS standards, as well as space software engineering practices.
• Solid understanding of real-time embedded architectures.
• Experience with Confluence and JIRA.
• Ability to work autonomously with minimal supervision.
• Ability to break down complex problems into basic elements to solve them through analysis, analogy, or creativity.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in French and English (contact with clients outside Quebec and drafting deliverables in English).