Digital Payload System Engineer

Role

Digital Payload System Engineer responsible for design, integration, verification, and operational support of current and next‑generation Earth observation and communications satellites. The role includes defining, designing, integrating, verifying, and sustaining digital payload subsystems across multiple satellite programs, influencing system‑level tradeoffs, driving technology roadmaps, and acting as the primary technical interface with customers, prime contractors and internal multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

Architecture Concept & Requirements

• 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.
• Maintain bidirectional traceability of requirements throughout the program life cycle.

Payload Architecture & Design

• 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.
• Implement high‑speed data‑bus I/F (SpaceWire, SpaceFibre, Ethernet, CAN).

Simulation & Analysis

• Perform performance simulations (Gain, Spurious, Linearity, SNR, dynamic range, spectral efficiency, G/T, EIRP …) 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.

Hardware & Firmware

• 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.

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

Required Qualifications

• Sc. in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace or Phy