Digital Payload System Engineer

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 4,000 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.

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MDA is seeking a Digital Payload System Engineer for design, integration, verification, and operational support for current and next-generation earth observation and communications satellites. Our portfolio spans from broadband regenerative payloads to Direct to user solutions (D2D) supported by Phased Array antennas with Beam forming capability. The Digital Payload System Engineer will own the definition, design, integration, verification and sustainment of digital payload subsystems across multiple satellite programs and will influence system-level tradeoffs, drive technology road-maps.

The incumbent will act as the primary technical interface with customers, prime contractors and internal multidisciplinary teams.

• Gather functional, performance, environmental and security requirements from mission stakeholders & CONOPs.
• Map requirements to payload equipment performance with I/F with on-board processor
• Coordinate with cybersecurity team for payload-specific assessments
• Perform requirement management and maintain bidirectional traceability throughout the program life cycle.
• Implement the high-level digital payload architecture (optical ISLs, Phased array antennas, Feeder links & front-end), master reference oscillator & clock synchronizations.
• Produce Interface Control Documents (ICDs) with other subsystems and ground segment.

• Perform performance simulations (Gain, Spurious, Linearity, SNR, dynamic range, spectral efficiency, G/T, EIRP…etc.) and Monte-Carlo analyses for tolerance budgeting.
• Define and maintain Payload DC power budget with traffic & utilization models
• Perform FMECA, Fault tree and FDIR, reliability modeling and availability to meet mission objectives

• Provide system-level specifications to hardware designers, review schematics, layouts, thermal interfaces, and mechanical constraints.
• Support SW development for MODCODs and on-board processing pipelines; ensure BIST, timing, latency and deterministic behavior.

• Communicate technical status, risk assessments and trade-study results to senior management and/or customers or partners.
• Support payload design authority in System design reviews, Power/Structure/Thermal interfaces and Mission Operations assessments.
• Liaise with Electrical, Power, Structures, Thermal, Software, Ground-Segment and Mission-Operations teams to resolve integration issues early.
• Support B&P (Phase 0 & pre-phase
  
  A).
• Lead test-automation framework set-up, test-case definition, results analysis and test-report certification.

• Mentor, guide junior engineers and interns.
• Act as technical liaison with customers, partners and external vendors
• Act as Continuous Improvement stakeholder
• Contribute to MDA’s knowledge-base, process enhancements, and standards development.

• Ensure all artefacts, analysis, software, deliverables and documentation are version controlled in PLM environment.
• Lead and Support design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, MRR/TRR…etc.).

• Provide technical support to Mission Operations for routine payload health monitoring, contingency handling and performance trending.
• Lead root‑cause investigations for on‑orbit anomalies; update design…