Digital Payload System Engineer (Fastwater Staffing)

Location: Montreal, Canada The company provides full relocation support, including immigration assistance, and offers a relocation bonus upon arrival in Montreal. Selected candidates may work remotely during the initial months while their immigration process is being completed; however, the long-term expectation is for the individual to transition to onsite work in Montreal once relocation has been finalized. Tasks summary: Architecture Concept & Requirements • Gather functional, performance, environmental and security requirements from mission stakeholders & CONOPs. • Map requirements to payload equipment performance with I/F with on-board processor • Coordinate with cybersecurity team for payload‑specific assessments • Perform requirement management and maintain bidirectional traceability throughout the program life cycle. Payload Architecture & Design • Implement the high‑level digital payload architecture (optical ISLs, Phased array antennas, Feeder links & front‑end), master reference oscillator & clock synchronizations. • Produce Interface Control Documents (ICDs) with other subsystems and ground segment. • Implement high‑speed data‑bus I/F (SpaceWire, SpaceFibre, Ethernet, CAN). Simulation & Analysis • Perform performance simulations (Gain, Spurious, Linearity, SNR, dynamic range, spectral efficiency, G/T, EIRP…etc.) and Monte‑Carlo analyses for tolerance budgeting. • Define and maintain Payload DC power budget with traffic & utilization models • Perform FMECA, Fault tree and FDIR, reliability modeling and availability to meet mission objectives Hardware & Firmware • Provide system‑level specifications to hardware designers, review schematics, layouts, thermal interfaces, and mechanical constraints. • Support SW development for MODCODs and on‑board processing pipelines; ensure BIST, timing, latency and deterministic behavior. Cross‑Functional Coordination, Stakeholder & Program Interaction • Communicate technical status, risk assessments and trade‑study results to senior management and/or customers or partners. • Support payload design authority in System design reviews, Power/Structure/Thermal interfaces and Mission Operations assessments. • Liaise with Electrical, Power, Structures, Thermal, Software, Ground‑Segment and Mission‑Operations teams to resolve integration issues early. • Support B&P (Phase 0 & pre-phase A). Integration & Verification (IVV) • Develop Payload Verification Master Plan covering unit‑test, subsystem‑test, payload‑level test, environmental and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) test campaigns. • Lead test‑automation framework set‑up, test‑case definition, results analysis and test‑report certification. Technical Leadership & Mentorship • Mentor, guide junior engineers and interns. • Act as technical liaison with customers, partners and external vendors • Act as Continuous Improvement stakeholder • Contribute to the company’s knowledge‑base, process enhancements, and standards development. Configuration, Documentation & Standards Management • Ensure all artefacts, analysis, software, deliverables and documentation are version controlled in PLM environment. • Lead and Support design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, MRR/TRR…etc.). • Support Technology Road‑Mapping & Innovation. On Orbit & Operations Support • Provide technical support to Mission Operations for routine payload health monitoring, contingency handling and performance trending. • Lead root‑cause investigations for on‑orbit anomalies; update design baselines and lessons‑learned. • Analyze on‑orbit telemetry, update filter parameters, and generate performance reports. • Support SOOH development and associated operator training. Required Qualifications:  B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace or Physics with 8 + years of digital regenerative payload system design experience on LEO/MEO missions.  Comprehensive knowledge of digital communications, SDR, DSP, DVB RCS/SX protocols, Modulation schemes, Class of Service, Networking, MPLS, 2G, 5G NTN.  Strong technical-writing ability (requirements, ICDs, test procedures, risk reports) and presentation skills; comfortable interfacing with customers, suppliers and senior leadership.  Strong understanding of aerospace system engineering fundamentals.  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 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).