Sr. Systems Engineer – Spacecraft Mechanical

MDA; Richmond; On-site; CAD 165,000 - 216,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace company in Richmond seeks a Sr. Systems Engineer specializing in spacecraft mechanical systems. You will develop mechanical and thermal requirements and coordinate testing activities for cutting-edge space missions. Ideal candidates have a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering and at least 10 years of experience in satellite systems. The position offers competitive compensation ranging from $120,000 to $156,000 annually, along with comprehensive health benefits and support for career development.

Benefits

Comprehensive health benefits

Flexible drug plans

Dental and vision benefits

Employee and family assistance program

Group retirement savings plans

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years experience in satellite applications.
• Familiarity with environmental testing such as thermal, vibration, acoustic.
• Experience in spacecraft systems like structures and mechanisms.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain mechanical and thermal requirements.
• Coordinate structural verification activities with launch vehicle provider.
• Support design reviews and develop verification plans.

Skills

Problem solving

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Self-starter

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent

Tools

NX

Nastran

Space Systems Thermal

Requirements Management tools such as DOORS

MS Excel

MS Office

Job description

Overview

Systems Engineer – Spacecraft Mechanical

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 3,800 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.

The Position

We’re looking for a Sr. Systems Engineer – Spacecraft Mechanical, at our Richmond office, to be a part of the next generation of Earth Observation space missions.

From detecting changes in fragile ecosystems to monitoring northern ice floes and shipping routes, our near-real time Earth observation data makes our Geointelligence team a leader in geospatial imagery, ground stations, enterprise geospatial systems and defence programs. You will join our remote sensing team that has 30+ years of experience delivering commercial and government projects such as RADARSAT-2, RapidEye, Sapphire, CASSIOPE, RADARSAT Constellation Mission and now the CHORUS Constellation of SAR satellites.

As part of the Mission Prime systems engineering team, you will participate with our cross functional, multi-disciplined team in developing cutting-edge solutions to deliver end-to-end missions for our customers.

Responsibilities

As a Sr. Systems Engineer – Spacecraft Mechanical, you may have a wide range of responsibilities that include:

• Development and maintenance of mechanical, structural and thermal requirements from the mission level down to the major subsystem level (Spacecraft Bus, Payload, etc)
• Derive the Spacecraft and subsystem environmental design and test requirements including launch (static, vibration, acoustic, shock, etc) and in-orbit environments
• Establish the mission loads cycle and coordinate the structural verification activities working closely with the launch vehicle provider and the spacecraft test team
• Support the Spacecraft mass model generation and maintain system and subsystem budgets.
• Support and/or coordinate a cross-disciplinary team to converge on a design architecture that meets mission requirements
• Support design review preparation and presentation; generate technical notes related to the mechanical design and analyses
• Generate verification plan, matrices and detailed test requirements
• Develop Test Plans, support test activities starting from the planning phase through to production
• Development and maintenance of interface control documents between the mission segments and spacecraft subsystems
• Review design material provided by Subcontractors to ensure compliance to requirements
• Apply sound engineering judgement to find resolutions to issues while still meeting mission requirements

Required Experience

• Must possess a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent
• Minimum of 10 years experience
• Experience or knowledge in satellites and their applications, such as:
• Spacecraft systems such as structures, mechanisms, propulsion, thermal management, etc
• Definition and evaluation of launch and on-orbit environments
• Assembly and integration of satellite structures or subsystems
• Environmental testing such as thermal, vibration, acoustic, shock
• Launch vehicle interfaces, loads cycle and coupled loads analyses
• Have familiarity with any of the following software tools:
• CAD Tools such as NX
• Finite element analysis solvers such as Nastran
• Thermal analysis solvers such as Space Systems Thermal
• MS Excel, for the purposes of engineering analyses
• Requirements Management tools such as DOORS
• MS Office

• Self-starter with the ability to perform in a dynamic working environment
• Possess excellent problem solving skills
• Superb interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills to explain concepts to wide-ranging audiences (e.g. technical team, sales team, executives, customers, etc)

The ability to work within a large organization, understanding dependencies and stakeholder needs. Ability to travel for spacecraft test campaigns

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.

The compensation range for this position is $120,000 - $156,000 annually. The specific compensation offered will be based on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.

For more information, visit www.mda.space.