Electric Propulsion Systems Engineer

MDA is seeking an Electric Propulsion (EP) Systems Engineer to lead the design, development, verification, and integration of electric propulsion subsystems for our current and next-generation remote sensing and telecommunications satellites. The engineer will work closely with multidisciplinary teams throughout the satellite life cycle.

Summary of duties:

Architecture, Concept & Requirements

• Translate mission-level requirements to define the architecture (thruster, power processing unit, power supply, thermal/structural interfaces).
• Perform trade studies (e.g., specific impulse vs. thrust, mass vs. power, lifetime, etc.).
• Generate system requirements and functional diagrams.
• Develop interface control documents (ICD) and design descriptions.
• Ensure requirements management and maintain bidirectional traceability throughout the program life cycle.

Detailed Design & Analysis

• Perform electrothermal, plume, and magnetic field modeling.
• Size power converters, thermal control elements, the fuel tank, and the safety system.
• Supervise the procurement of critical components (thruster, tank, valves, controllers, etc.).
• Perform FMECA, FDIR, reliability, and availability analyses.
• Ensure that the EP subsystem complies with launch vehicle and mission constraints (RAAN, mass, envelope, contamination, re-entry, etc.).

Cross-Functional Coordination, Stakeholders & Program Interaction

• Present technical status, risk analyses, and trade study results to program management.
• Interface with bus teams (power, thermal, structure, avionics).
• Develop/update mission models and analyses (e.g., orbit raising, station-keeping, deorbiting).
• Provide trajectory optimization and thrust profiling tools.
• Support B&P activities (Phase 0 & pre-Phase A).

Integration & Verification (IVV)

• Draft verification plans, procedures, and test matrices for unit and EP subsystem tests.
• Support ground test and integration campaigns: fueling, TCT, TVAC, EMI/EMC, and satellite-level integration.
• Analyze test data, resolve anomalies, and update databases.
• Support flight software (FSW) integration.

Technical Leadership & Mentoring

• Supervise and guide junior, intermediate engineers, and interns.
• Act as the technical liaison with external clients, partners, and suppliers.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives.
• Contribute to MDA's knowledge base, process improvements, and standards development.

Configuration Management, Documentation

• Ensure all artifacts, analyses, software, deliverables, and documents are version-controlled.
• Support design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, MRR/TRR, etc.).
• Support the technology roadmap and innovation.

Launch Site, In-Orbit & Operations Support

• Support launch site activities with the LVI responsible engineer.
• Provide technical support to SatOps teams for satellite performance monitoring.
• Support anomaly cause investigations; update databases and capitalize on return of experience (REX).
• Analyze telemetry and generate performance reports.
• Support SOOH development and operator training.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in electrical, aerospace, or physics engineering with 5+ years of experience in electric propulsion systems on LEO/MEO platforms.
• In-depth knowledge of bus subsystems and their interactions.
• Experience with thrust power supply systems (tanks, valves, micro-valves, etc.).
• Strong writing skills and solid understanding of space engineering fundamentals.
• "Hands-on" profile: capable of supporting integration, testing, and troubleshooting processes.
• Experience with Confluence and JIRA.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to break down complex problems into basic elements to solve them through analysis, analogy, or creativity.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English (contact with clients outside Quebec and drafting deliverables in English).