Senior AIT RF Comms Payload Engineer

Harwell - Didcot
Didcot, OXF OX110GD
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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 (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). .

We’re on the hunt for a Senior AIT RF Communications Engineer
at our Harwell office (Stevenage option) .

MDA Space’s international footprint in the UK creates opportunities to work with some of the most exciting space industrial players in the country. Delivering all three business area capabilities in Geointelligence, Robotics & Space Operations, and Satellite Systems, our UK team provides support to our European-based customers while specializing in the development of advanced space sensors for exploration missions as well as space-based communication technology.

As our presence grows overseas, so does our need for new ambitious team players to help us advance our place in the Universe and beyond.

• Lead a team of multiskilled AIT engineers to deliver a full AIT campaign, on time, quality and cost
• Perform integration activities of the Payload
• Perform RF Payload Verification & Testing including functional testing, performance verification, end-to-end payload testing, link budget validation, RF chain characterisation, redundancy testing and interface verification.
• Prepare for and support environmental qualification and acceptance test campaigns including Thermal vacuum, vibration, acoustics, EMC/EMI and Shock.
• Specify, commission, validate and maintain electrical ground support equipment (EGSE) including writing specs, commission and validation procedures, maintenance plans and developing scripts and monitoring tools.
• Create configure and maintain AIT documentation including integration procedures, test procedures, test reports, verification reports, data packs, and configuration control documents for the flight HW.
• Raise, manage and support non-conformances in the review process.
• Provide inputs to project reviews, Test Readiness Reviews, Post Test Review & Test Review Boards
• Develop and guide junior engineers from a technical prospective.

Experience in the space industry, phased array antennas and on-board processing technology is also desirable.

• Bachelor’s degree or Diploma in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Industrial Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• 5+ years of RF payload, satellite communications, aerospace, defence, or telecommunications experience including leading integration and test campaigns.
• Strong understanding of RF communication systems and satellite communication architectures
• Hands on experience with RF test equipment including VNA’s, spectrum analysers, signal generators, noise figure analysers and RF switching systems.
• Ability to use both Linux and Windows operating system and Python for scripting automated test scrips and data analysis
• Excellent written and verbal communication; able to present technical data clearly to senior leadership and external customers (ESA, UK‑Space Agency).
• Proven ability to influence cross‑functional teams without direct authority.
• Collabrative team player with the drive to help junior engineers to develop
• GEO, MEO, or LEO satellite programmes.
• Ka-band, Ku-band, X-band payloads.
• Digital transparent processors and regenerative payloads.
• Active phased array antennas.
• Software-defined payload architectures.
• Spacecraft-level AIT campaigns.

We’re a dream team of…