Digital Payload Architect – Satellite Communications

About the role

The Digital Payload Architect will lead the design and integration of regenerative payloads for LEO/MEO satellite missions. You will work closely with mission stakeholders, cybersecurity teams, and cross‑functional engineers to ensure performance, security, and reliability throughout the project lifecycle.

Key responsibilities

• Define functional, performance, environmental and security requirements and maintain traceability to payload performance parameters.
• Develop the overall digital regenerative payload architecture, including optical/RF ISLs, antenna arrays, digitizers, onboard processing, and high‑speed data‑bus interfaces.
• Lead trade‑studies for ASIC/FPGAs/SoCs, high‑speed buses, and processing algorithms, and incorporate emerging technologies into the roadmap.
• Build end‑to‑end system models and run Monte‑Carlo, tolerance, and performance simulations using MATLAB/Simulink, SystemView or Python toolkits.
• Author Interface Control Documents, verification master plans, and test‑automation frameworks; oversee unit, subsystem and payload‑level testing.
• Provide technical liaison to electrical, power, structures, thermal, software, ground‑segment and mission‑operations teams, and mentor junior engineers.

Required profile

• B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace, Physics or related field (M.Sc. preferred) with 12+ years of digital regenerative payload design experience.
• Proven ability to produce technical documentation (requirements, ICDs, test procedures, risk reports) and present to senior leadership and customers.
• Strong communication skills in English; French is a plus for client interactions outside Quebec.

Required skills

• MATLAB/Simulink, Python, SystemView for system modeling and performance simulation.
• Digital regenerative communications, SDR, DSP, DVB RCS/SX protocols, modulation schemes, MPLS, 2G/5G/NTN.
• ASIC/FPGA/SoC design, high‑speed data‑bus standards (SerDes, SpaceWire, SpaceFibre, Ethernet, CAN, fiber).
• Payload architecture definition, Interface Control Documents, verification planning.
• Confluence and JIRA for project and documentation management.