Digital Payload Principal Systems Engineer | Onsite Opportunity | Fastwater Stafing

📍 Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
📄 Employment Type: Full-Time
🏢 Work Arrangement: On-site strongly preferred
🚀 Start Date: Immediate
💰 Compensation: TBD -- based on skills and experience

Important Screening Requirements

• Must be legally authorized to work in Canada.
• Must be eligible to obtain the required security clearance.
• Candidates may be based in the United States, Canada, or Europe, provided they meet work authorization and security clearance requirements.
• Relocation assistance may be available for qualified candidates.

About the Role

We are seeking a Digital Payload Principal Systems Engineer to provide technical leadership in the architecture, design, and delivery of next-generation digital satellite payloads. In this role, you will lead end-to-end systems engineering activities, define payload architectures, drive technical trade studies, and oversee system verification throughout the program lifecycle. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in satellite communications, digital payload systems, and LEO/MEO constellation architectures, with a proven ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams on complex aerospace programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end architecture and design of advanced digital satellite payloads.
• Define system requirements, conduct trade studies, and perform capacity analysis.
• Support program execution, technical planning, and proposal development.
• Collaborate with customers and cross-functional engineering teams to deliver mission-critical solutions.
• Lead and participate in system design reviews throughout the full program lifecycle.
• Define requirements for key payload subsystems, including:
  • Onboard digital processing
  • Phased-array antennas
  • Feeder links
  • Optical Inter-Satellite Links (ISLs)
• Oversee system integration, test planning, verification, and validation activities.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineering teams.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• 15+ years of experience in satellite payload or communications systems engineering.
• Strong background in LEO/MEO constellation architecture and digital payload systems.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and complex technical programs.
• Strong knowledge of:
  • Digital communications
  • Digital signal processing (DSP)
  • Software Defined Radio (SDR)
  • Phased-array antenna systems
  • Networking technologies
• Familiarity with simulation tools, space environments, and orbital mechanics.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and technical leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks (5G NTN).
• French language proficiency is an asset.
• Experience leading end-to-end satellite payload development programs.
• Strong background in system architecture, verification, and mission planning for commercial or government satellite systems.