Satellite Electrical Propulsion Systems Engineer

MDA • Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC

54d

About The Position

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 3,800 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
[http://www.mda.space/].

Role overview:

MDA is seeking a Satellite Electrical Propulsion System Engineer to define,
design, analyse, integrate, and verify electric propulsion (EP) subsystems
(thrusters, power‑processing units, feed‑systems, and control electronics) for
current and next‑generation remote sensing and communications satellites.
The role will bridge spacecraft electrical power architecture, thermal‑management,
and mission‑performance requirements, and may act as the technical authority for
EP on multiple programs.

Requirements

• Sc. in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace, or Physics with 5+ years of electrical propulsion engineering experience on LEO/MEO platforms.
• Strong knowledge of EP thruster families and their performance characteristics.
• Experience with propellant storage & feed‑system design (tanks, valves, micro‑valves).
• Strong understanding of aerospace system engineering fundamentals, space environment and orbit mechanics.
• 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 to no 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).
• Support the Spacecraft operations team in critical phases.
• Successful candidates must obtain and hold security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Controlled Goods Program (CGP).

Nice To Haves

• knowledge of French will be considered an asset (Contact with clients outside Quebec and work on deliverables in English).

Responsibilities

• Translate mission‑level ΔV, thrust, lifetime, and reliability goals into EP system requirements (performance, power, mass, contamination, EMI).
• Produce System Requirements, Interface Control Documents (ICDs), and Description documents for thruster assemblies, Power‑Processing Units (PPU), propellant feed & storage, and control electronics.
• Perform requirement management and maintain bidirectional traceability throughout the project lifecycle.
• Perform system‑level power, thermal, and mass budget analyses; produce trade‑off matrices (thrust vs. power vs. propellant mass, reliability vs. complexity).
• Lead detailed mechanical/electrical design of thruster mounting, heater/thermal control, and PPU (converter, regulator, fault‑protection).
• Define propellant handling hardware (tanks, valves, feed‑lines, interconnects) and develop contamination control procedures.
• Negotiate ICDs and interface agreements with external thruster vendors and component suppliers.
• Support or Develop 1‑D/3‑D plume models and perform reliability prediction.
• Define command and telemetry interfaces for EP & health‑monitoring telemetry.
• Work with FSW teams to develop thrust profile generation, and fault detection isolation recovery (FDIR) algorithms.
• Communicate technical status, risk assessments and trade‑study results to senior management and/or customers or partners.
• Negotiate and manage ICDs with platform subsystems and supplier teams.
• Support B&P (Phase 0 & pre-phase A).
• Develop verification plans, test matrices, and validation procedures for unit, subsystem, and spacecraft‑level EP tests.
• Oversee hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) and thrust‑stand testing, including thrust‑calibration, specific impulse measurement, pulse‑modulation, and lifetime cycling.
• 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.
• Author and maintain MDA EP standards (thruster qualification, PPU design, contamination limits).
• Ensure all artefacts, analysis, software, deliverables and documentations are version controlled in PLM environment.
• Support design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, MRR/TRR…etc.).
• Support Technology Road‑Mapping & Innovation.
• Provide real‑time EP support during launch, early‑orbit checkout, and routine station‑keeping.
• Support on‑orbit checkout procedures, thruster test campaigns, and contingency recovery plans.
• Support SOOH development and associated operator

Benefits

• MDA 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.

What This Job Offers

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