User Terminal System Specialist

Telesat • Ottawa, MD

12d • Onsite

About The Position

Telesat is seeking an experienced User Terminal System Specialist to join our User Terminal Engineering team. This role is responsible for defining, developing, and validating the technical architecture and operational performance of Telesat Lightspeed User Terminals. The successful candidate will serve as a technical authority on end-to-end terminal functionality, working across modem, antenna, RF, networking, software, manufacturing, and system architecture disciplines. The role requires strong systems engineering expertise, a deep understanding of satellite communications, and the ability to collaborate effectively with both internal teams and external partners. This position plays a key role in ensuring that User Terminal solutions meet performance, reliability, manufacturability, and deployment objectives throughout the product lifecycle. Resource is expected to work onsite at Telesat's Ottawa location a minimum of 4 days per week.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience developing complex communications, networking, aerospace, or satellite systems.
• Strong systems engineering background with experience defining and managing system requirements.
• Experience with satellite communications systems, modems, RF communications, wireless networks, or related telecommunications technologies.
• Experience developing technical documentation including requirements, specifications, test plans, and ICDs.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to lead technical discussions across multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with LEO satellite communications systems.
• Knowledge of electronically steered antennas (ESA) and phased-array technologies.
• Experience with satellite modem architectures and waveform development.
• Understanding of FPGA-based communications systems.
• Familiarity with IP networking, routing, QoS, and network management concepts.
• Experience working with contract manufacturers and external development partners.
• Knowledge of verification, validation, and qualification processes for telecommunications products.
• Experience supporting aero, maritime, government, or enterprise SATCOM applications.
• Experience supporting manufacturing test and commissioning processes for embedded electronics products.
• Understanding of firmware loading, secure boot, software provisioning, hardware configuration management, and product traceability.
• Familiarity with production programming, calibration, and verification workflows.
• Knowledge of secure manufacturing practices, device identity management, certificates, and hardware security features.
• Knowledge of thermal management techniques for high-density electronic systems.
• Understanding of EMI/EMC design principles and compliance methodologies.
• Expertise in LEO and GEO satellite communications.
• Expertise in User terminal architectures.
• Expertise in Electronically steered antennas.
• Expertise in RF systems and link budgets.
• Expertise in Satellite modem technologies.
• Expertise in Beamforming and tracking systems.
• Expertise in Network acquisition and synchronization.
• Expertise in Doppler compensation techniques.
• Expertise in FPGAs and embedded systems.
• Expertise in SFP, SFP+, QSFP and optical interconnect technologies.
• Expertise in High-speed digital circuit design principles.
• Expertise in Hardware troubleshooting and laboratory debug techniques.
• Expertise in Systems integration and verification.
• Expertise in Manufacturing and deployment readiness.
• Expertise in Reliability and lifecycle management.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to clearly present technical concepts.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on quality and reliability.
• Proactive mindset with a passion for innovation and continuous learning.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain system-level requirements, architectures, and performance budgets for User Terminal products.
• Develop and maintain technical specifications, Interface Control Documents (ICDs), and system design documentation.
• Establish requirements flow-down from network and service-level requirements into modem, antenna, RF, mechanical, and software subsystems.
• Support system trade studies and performance analyses involving G/T, EIRP, beamforming, acquisition, tracking, Doppler compensation, and link performance.
• Serve as a primary technical resource for User Terminal architecture and operational concepts.
• Provide technical guidance to cross-functional engineering teams.
• Support design reviews, risk assessments, architecture reviews, and technical decision-making.
• Identify technical gaps and develop mitigation strategies.
• Interface with modem, antenna, RF, FPGA, and software vendors to ensure alignment with product requirements.
• Review supplier designs, specifications, and test results.
• Support technical evaluations of prospective partners and technologies.
• Coordinate technical issue resolution with contract manufacturers and development partners.
• Support subsystem and system integration activities.
• Define verification and validation strategies.
• Participate in laboratory testing, field trials, network integration activities, and customer demonstrations.
• Analyze performance data and develop recommendations for product improvements.
• Support manufacturing readiness, commissioning processes, and deployment planning.
• Assist with development of operational procedures and support documentation.
• Contribute to long-term product evolution and lifecycle planning.
• Support reliability, maintainability, and obsolescence management initiatives.

Benefits

• Telesat takes pride in being an equal opportunity employer that values equality in the workplace.
• We are committed to providing the best candidate experience possible including any required accommodations at every stage of our interview process.
• All qualified applicants that have been selected for an interview that require accommodations, are advised to inform the Telesat Talent team accordingly.
• We will work with you to meet your needs.
• All accommodation information provided will be treated as confidential.
• We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information.
• These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment.
• Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans.
• If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

What This Job Offers

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