Systems Engineer, Spacecraft Electrical

Macdonald, Dettwiler And Associates Corporation; Richmond; Hybrid; CAD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

MDA Space seeks a Systems MTS – Spacecraft Electrical to support Earth observation and remote sensing satellites. You will develop electrical requirements, manage interfaces, and run system-level trades from design through mission operations.

Responsibilities include defining budgets, validating subsystems (power, telemetry, command and data handling), and coordinating with multi-disciplinary teams to meet performance, safety, and schedule goals. Travel for test campaigns is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, or equivalent.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant engineering experience.
• Experience in systems engineering and complex systems development.
• Experience with digital bus standards and electrical interfaces (CAN, I2C, SpaceWire, Ethernet).
• Experience specifying, integrating, and testing electrical power subsystems and related hardware.
• Experience specifying and testing telemetry, telecommand, and data handling subsystems.
• Familiarity with Matlab/Simulink, SPICE, and MS Excel for engineering analysis.
• Knowledge of DOORS, Jama, or PTC Windchill for requirements management.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain electrical requirements from mission level down to major subsystems (bus, payload, power, comms).
• Define and maintain requirements and budgets for electrical subsystems (radar payload, power, comms, harnessing).
• Perform system-level modelling and trades for radar, power, data handling, and electrical performance.
• Coordinate cross-disciplinary teams to converge on design architectures meeting requirements.
• Prepare material for design reviews, interface reviews, and test readiness reviews.
• Generate technical notes, trade studies, and engineering documentation related to spacecraft electrical design.

Skills

Electrical Systems

System Engineering

SpaceWire

CAN bus

Jama/DOORS

Matlab/Simulink

SPICE

Power Subsystems

Telemetry

Test & Integration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Jama

DOORS

PTC Windchill

MS Excel

Job description

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 Role:

MDA isseeking a Systems Member of Technical Staff (MTS),Spacecraft Electrical to support current and next - generation Earth observation and remote sensing satellite missions. In this role, you willcontribute tothe definition, design,prototyping,integration,verification , commissioning, and sustainment ofspacecraft electrical systems across multiple satellite programs . You willwork with multidisciplinary teams to perform system-level trades, define and manage electrical interfaces, evaluate supplier designs, andsupportintegration and test activities from early design through mission operations.

Responsibilities:

As a Systems MTS – Spacecraft Electrical, you may have a wide range of responsibilities that include:

• Develop and maintain electrical requirements from the mission level down to major subsystem levels, including spacecraft bus, payload, electrical power, communications, command and data handling, and electrical interfaces.
• Define, generate, and maintain requirements and performance budgets for spacecraft electrical subsystems, such as radar payload, radar antenna, communications, electrical power, telemetry and telecommand, and harnessing.
• Perform system-level modelling and analysis to support design trades for radar, communications, power, data handling, and mission-level electrical performance.
• Support and coordinate cross-disciplinary teams to converge on design architectures that meet mission, electrical, interface, EMC/EMI, and verification requirements.
• Prepare and present material for technical reviews, including design reviews, interface reviews, verification reviews, and test readiness reviews.
• Generate technical notes, trade studies, analysis reports, and engineering documentation related to spacecraft electrical design and performance.
• Develop verification plans, verification matrices, test requirements, and acceptance criteria for spacecraft electrical systems and subsystems.
• Develop test plans and support electrical integration and test activities from planning through production, spacecraft-level AIT, and mission commissioning.
• Develop and maintain interface control documents between mission segments, spacecraft subsystems, payloads, ground systems, and external suppliers.
• Review subcontractor and supplier design material to assess compliance with technical, interface, verification, and program requirements.
• Apply sound engineering judgment to resolve technical issues while maintaining mission performance, safety, schedule, and requirement compliance.

Required Experience:

• Must possess a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, or equivalent.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant engineering experience.
• Experience in systems engineering, and complex systems development.
• Experience with digital bus standards and electrical interfaces, such as CAN bus, I2C, SpaceWire, Ethernet, or equivalent data interfaces.
• Experience specifying, integrating, and testing electrical power subsystems, power management electronics, or related spacecraft electrical hardware.
• Experience specifying, integrating, and testing digital communications, command and data handling, telemetry and telecommand, or similar electrical subsystems.
• Familiarity with any of the following software tools:
• Matlab & Simulink and other simulation tools.
• SPICE or other circuit analysis tools.
• MS Excel for engineering analysis.
• Requirements management tools such as DOORS, Jama, or PTC Windchill.
• Familiarity with modern electronic equipment manufacturing, assembly, integration, and test technologies and processes.
• Familiarity with lab electronics and test equipment, such as oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, logic analyzers, power supplies, and data acquisition equipment, including analysis and reporting of test results.
• Self-starter with the ability to perform in a dynamic working environment.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to make practical engineering decisions with incomplete information.
• Ability to travel for spacecraft test campaigns.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to technical teams, customers, suppliers, executives, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to work within a large organization and understand dependencies and stakeholder needs.

While not mandatory, candidates will benefit from any of the following:

• Experience in satellite design and development, including:
  • Spacecraft electrical systems such as electrical power, command and data handling, telemetry and telecommand, communications, harnessing, grounding and bonding, or payload interfaces.
  • Assembly, Integration and Test (AIT) of satellites, payloads, electrical subsystems, or spacecraft-level test campaigns.
  • Spacecraft EMC/EMI analysis, testing, grounding, bonding, or electrical compatibility verification.
• Experience with radar, RF, antenna, or communications system design.
• Demonstrated competence in RF link budget analysis, communications performance analysis, or modern digital communications physical-layer modulation and coding schemes.
• Knowledge of RF and/or antenna fundamentals as applicable to radar, communications, and spacecraft systems engineering.
• Experience with RF systems design and key performance trade-offs, such as noise figure, linearity, interference rejection, bandwidth, gain, efficiency, and thermal or power constraints.
• Experience with RF design tools such as AWR Microwave Office, Keysight ADS, CST, HFSS, or equivalent analysis and simulation tools is an asset but not required.

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 $95K - $130K annually. The specific compensation offered will be based on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.