{"id":3245267,"url":"https://alion.io/job/mda-space-digital-payload-system-engineer","title":"Digital Payload System Engineer","company":{"id":58297,"name":"MDA Space","domain":"mda.space","url":"https://alion.io/company/mda-space","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"UltiPro","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":28,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":1,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":null,"computed_at":"2026-10-26T05:57:25Z"}},"role":"DevOps","role_family":"DevOps","seniority":"staff","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Bellevue, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":143000,"max_usd":278000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":589},"experience_years_min":10,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Confluence","optional":false},{"name":"MPLS","optional":false},{"name":"SpaceWire","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-01-12T15:07:51Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-01-12","last_verified_at":"2026-10-27T02:03:40Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":287,"trust":{"level":"stale","repost_count":0,"flags":["stale"],"days_open":286},"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 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. 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.\nRole :\nMDA 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.\nTasks summary:\nArchitecture Concept & Requirements\nGather functional, performance, environmental and security requirements from mission stakeholders & CONOPs.\nMap requirements to payload equipment performance with I/F with on-board processor\nCoordinate with cybersecurity team for payload-specific assessments\nPerform requirement management and maintain bidirectional traceability throughout the program life cycle.\nPayload Architecture & Design\nImplement the high-level digital payload architecture (optical ISLs, Phased array antennas, Feeder links & front-end), master reference oscillator & clock synchronizations.\nProduce Interface Control Documents (ICDs) with other subsystems and ground segment.\nImplement high-speed data-bus I/F (SpaceWire, SpaceFibre, Ethernet, CAN).\nSimulation & Analysis\nPerform performance simulations (Gain, Spurious, Linearity, SNR, dynamic range, spectral efficiency, G/T, EIRP…etc.) and Monte-Carlo analyses for tolerance budgeting.\nDefine and maintain Payload DC power budget with traffic & utilization models\nPerform FMECA, Fault tree and FDIR, reliability modeling and availability to meet mission objectives\nHardware & Firmware\nProvide system-level specifications to hardware designers, review schematics, layouts, thermal interfaces, and mechanical constraints.\nSupport SW development for MODCODs and on-board processing pipelines; ensure BIST, timing, latency and deterministic behavior.\nCross-Functional Coordination, Stakeholder & Program Interaction\nCommunicate technical status, risk assessments and trade-study results to senior management and/or customers or partners.\nSupport payload design authority in System design reviews, Power/Structure/Thermal interfaces and Mission Operations assessments.\nLiaise with Electrical, Power, Structures, Thermal, Software, Ground-Segment and Mission-Operations teams to resolve integration issues early.\nSupport B&P (Phase 0 & pre-phase A).\nIntegration & Verification (IVV)\nDevelop Payload Verification Master Plan covering unit-test, subsystem-test, payload-level test, environmental and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) test campaigns.\nLead test-automation framework set-up, test-case definition, results analysis and test-report certification.\nTechnical Leadership & Mentorship\nMentor, guide junior engineers and interns.\nAct as technical liaison with customers, partners and external vendors\nAct as Continuous Improvement stakeholder\nContribute to MDA’s knowledge-base, process enhancements, and standards development.\nConfiguration, Documentation & Standards Management\nEnsure all artefacts, analysis, software, deliverables and documentation are version controlled in PLM environment.\nLead and Support design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, MRR/TRR…etc.).\nSupport Technology Road-Mapping & Innovation.\nOn Orbit & Operations Support\nProvide technical support to Mission Operations for routine payload health monitoring, contingency handling and performance trending.\nLead root-cause investigations for on-orbit anomalies; update design baselines and lessons-learned.\nAnalyze on-orbit telemetry, update filter parameters, and generate performance reports.\nSupport SOOH development and associated operator training.\nRequired Qualifications:\nSc. in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace or Physics with 10+ years of digital regenerative payload system design experience on LEO/MEO missions.\nComprehensive knowledge of digital communications, SDR, DSP, DVB RCS/SX protocols, Modulation schemes, Class of Service, Networking, MPLS, 2G, 5G\nStrong technical-writing ability (requirements, ICDs, test procedures, risk reports) and presentation skills; comfortable interfacing with customers, suppliers and senior leadership.\nStrong understanding of aerospace system engineering fundamentals.\nHands-on individual who can support systems integration processes and capability to test systems and resolve problems.\nExperience with Confluence and JIRA.\nDemonstrated capability to efficiently work with little supervision.\nAbility to distill complex problems to fundamentals to solve with analysis, similarity, or creativity.\nDemonstrate 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).\nComments/Special Considerations:\nSuccessful candidates must obtain and hold security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Controlled Goods Program (CGP).\nWe’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.\nWe 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.\nMDA 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.\nMDA 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.","description_format":"text","description_chars":7411,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":10,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[{"language":"French","level":"All levels","optional":false},{"language":"English","level":"All levels","optional":false}]},"benefits":["Life insurance","Retirement plans"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":[],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-25T19:00:24Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":9,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.335,"p_room":0.28,"age_days":286,"expected_fill_days":36,"reasons":["conf:3","stale_co","win:tail","crowd:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-26T05:57:25Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/mda-space-digital-payload-system-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/mda-space-digital-payload-system-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-27T02:32:27Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":1786,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-28T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":58297},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=58297"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fmda-space-digital-payload-system-engineer"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fmda-space-digital-payload-system-engineer"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fmda-space-digital-payload-system-engineer"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/mda-space-digital-payload-system-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fmda-space-digital-payload-system-engineer"}]}