Director, Research & Development, Defence Satellite Mission Solutions

Telesat • Ottawa, ON

4d • Onsite

About The Position

Are you passionate about breakthrough technologies and eager to shape the future of satellite-based solutions for defence and national security? At Telesat, we’re redefining satellite communications through our cutting-edge Low Earth Orbit (LEO) network, Telesat Lightspeed. As R&D Director, Defence Satellite Mission Solutions, you will lead the development of advanced, mission-driven satellite capabilities tailored to the evolving needs of Canadian and allied defence users. This includes identifying emerging operational requirements, architecting secure and resilient technical solutions, overseeing prototyping and validation, and driving commercialization of capabilities such as Space Domain Awareness, Alternative PNT, Optical Communications, and more. This strategic role operates at the intersection of technology, defence policy, and innovation, ensuring Telesat remains a trusted partner in space-based national security. Due to the sensitive nature of the work, a valid Top Secret security clearance is required.

Requirements

• Technical Leadership: Proven track record in developing and deploying advanced technical solutions for defence and national security customers.
• Mission Understanding: Deep insight into defence operational environments and the ability to anticipate and address evolving mission needs.
• Innovation Mindset: Passion for leveraging emerging technologies to solve complex challenges creatively and effectively.
• Strategic Acumen: Ability to connect technical innovation with business strategy and policy objectives.
• Clear Communicator: Skilled in presenting complex concepts to diverse audiences, including military stakeholders and technical teams.
• Collaborative Approach: Strong interpersonal skills and experience working across multidisciplinary teams and external partners.
• Master’s degree or PhD in Engineering (Electrical, Telecommunications, Networking, Computer Science), Physics, or equivalent.
• 5 to 10+ years of progressive leadership experience managing direct reports
• 10 + years experience in defence systems, secure communications, or satellite technologies.
• Expertise in satellite, RF, optical, and associated networking technologies (including OSI Layers 1–3, NTN systems, MEF among others)
• Experience with high-security environments and classified systems.
• Demonstrated success in product development and commercialization.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally.
• Must be eligible to work in Canada and obtain a Top Secret security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead Mission-Centric engineering development efforts: Drive the full lifecycle of defence-focused satellite solutions from concept development and technical design to testing, validation, and deployment.
• Conduct Strategic Defence Research: Analyze trends in defence platforms, operational concepts, and procurement strategies across land, sea, air, cyber, and space domains. Identify capability gaps and innovation opportunities.
• Design and develop technical architecture: Translate mission needs into technically sound, scalable, and secure satellite-enabled solutions in collaboration with Sales, Engineering, and Product teams.
• Prototype and Validate Innovations: Work with other engineering teams within Telesat to oversee the development of new capabilities to ensure they meet performance, security, and reliability standards.
• Integrate Emerging Technologies: Apply advanced technologies—such as AI/ML, optical links, and secure networking to enhance the Telesat Lightspeed constellation’s defence value proposition.
• Align Cross-Functional Teams: Collaborate with internal stakeholders across Sales (Canada, Global, Government Solutions) and Product to ensure alignment with customer missions and Telesat’s strategic roadmap.
• Represent Telesat in Strategic Forums: Act as a technical ambassador at defence industry events, customer engagements, and demonstrations, showcasing Telesat’s leadership in secure satellite communications.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director