Digital Payload Principal System Engineer

About the role

We’re partnering with a well‑established satellite and space technology company that’s growing its Satellite Systems team in Montreal. This role focuses on the system‑level design and architecture of advanced digital communication payloads for next‑generation LEO/MEO satellite constellations.

Key responsibilities

• Lead end‑to‑end architecture and design of digital satellite payloads.
• Drive system requirements, trade studies, and capacity analysis.
• Support program execution and proposal efforts.
• Collaborate with customers and cross‑functional engineering teams.
• Lead and participate in design reviews across the full program lifecycle.
• Define requirements for key subsystems such as onboard digital processing, phased‑array antennas, feeder links, and optical ISLs.
• Oversee test planning and system verification.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• 15+ years of experience in satellite payload or communication systems engineering.
• Strong background in LEO/MEO constellation architecture and digital payloads.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Solid knowledge of digital communications, signal processing, SDR, antennas, and networking.
• Familiarity with simulation tools, space environment, and orbital mechanics.
• 5G NTN experience is a plus.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills (French a plus; English beneficial).

Required skills

• Digital communications
• Signal processing
• Software‑defined radio (SDR)
• Antennas
• Networking
• Simulation tools
• Orbital mechanics
• Phased‑array antennas
• Optical inter‑satellite links (ISLs)
• Onboard digital processing