SAR Payload System Engineer

MDA Space is seeking a SAR Payload System Engineer to support our current and next-generation Earth observation and remote sensing satellites.

Architecture Concept & Requirements

• Gather functional, performance, pointing, environmental and security requirements from mission stakeholders & CONOPs.
• Capture, trace and map payload requirements from mission level to subsystem level
• Coordinate with cybersecurity team for payload‑specific assessments
• Perform requirement management and maintain bidirectional traceability throughout the program life cycle.

Payload Architecture & Design

• Design the SAR system architecture (antenna arrays & RF front‑end Tx/Rx components, digital beamforming, processing chain and digital electronics, power, thermal, and mass).
• Lead the conceptual, preliminary, and detailed design phases, producing trade studies, performance budgets).
• Produce Interface Control Documents (ICDs) with other subsystems and ground segment.
• Provide system‑level specifications to hardware designers, review schematics, layouts, thermal interfaces, and mechanical constraints

Simulation & Analysis

• Perform performance simulations for tolerance budgeting and image quality.
• Support algorithm and analytical development to process SAR and Moving Target Indicator (MTI).
• Define and maintain Payload DC power budget with utilization models.
• Perform FMECA, Fault tree and FDIR, reliability modeling and availability to meet mission objectives

Cross‑Functional Coordination, Stakeholder & Program Interaction

• 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).

Integration & Verification (IVV)

• Develop Payload Verification Master Plan covering unit‑test, subsystem‑test, payload‑level test, environmental and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) test campaigns.
• Lead test‑automation framework set‑up, test‑case definition, results analysis and test‑report certification.

Technical Leadership & Mentorship

• 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.

Configuration, Documentation & Standards Management

• Ensure all artefacts, analysis, firmware, deliverables and documentation are version controlled in PLM environment.
• Lead and Support design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, MRR/TRR…etc.).
• Support Technology Road‑Mapping & Innovation.

On Orbit & Operations Support

• 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 baselines and lessons‑learned.
• Analyze on‑orbit telemetry, update filter parameters, and generate performance reports.
• Support SOOH development and associated operator training.

• Sc. in Electrical Engineering, Computer science or Physics with 5+ years of experience supporting remote sensing system development, integration and test on LEO/MEO missions.
• Strong technical‑writing ability (requirements, ICDs, test procedures, risk reports) and presentation skills; comfortable interfacing with customers, suppliers and senior leadership.
• Strong understanding of aerospace system engineering fundamentals.
• Hands-on individual who can support systems integration processes and capability to test systems and resolve problems.
• Experience with Confluence and JIRA.
• Demonstrated capability to efficiently work with little supervision.
• Ability to distill complex problems to fundamentals to solve with analysis, similarity, or creativity.
• Demonstrate excellent written and oral communication skills in English; knowledge of French will be considered an asset (Contact with clients outside Quebec and work on deliverables in English).

About MDA Space

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 4000 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.