Satellite Electrical Propulsion Systems Engineer for Fastwater Staffing

Job summary

The Satellite Electrical Propulsion Systems Engineer will design, integrate, and verify electric propulsion subsystems for remote sensing and communications satellites. The role involves managing technical requirements, performing system-level analyses, and providing support during launch and on-orbit operations.

Job details

Tasks summary: Architecture Concept & Requirements Translate mission‑level ΔV, thrust, lifetime, and reliability goals into EP system requirements (performance, power, mass, contamination, EMI). Produce System Requirements, Interface Control Documents (ICDs), and Description documents for thruster assemblies, Power‑Processing Units (PPU), propellant feed & storage, and control electronics. Perform requirement management and maintain bidirectional traceability throughout the project lifecycle. Detailed Design Perform system‑level power, thermal, and mass budget analyses; produce trade‑off matrices (thrust vs. power vs. propellant mass, reliability vs. complexity). Lead detailed mechanical/electrical design of thruster mounting, heater/thermal control, and PPU (converter, regulator, fault‑protection). Define propellant handling hardware (tanks, valves, feed‑lines, interconnects) and develop contamination control procedures. Negotiate ICDs and interface agreements with external thruster vendors and component suppliers. Support or Develop 1‑D/3‑D plume models and perform reliability prediction. Modeling & Simulation Software & Control Define command and telemetry interfaces for EP & health‑monitoring telemetry. Work with FSW teams to develop thrust profile generation, and fault detection isolation recovery (FDIR) algorithms. Cross‑Functional Coordination, Stakeholder & Program Interaction Communicate technical status, risk assessments and trade‑study results to senior management and/or customers or partners. Negotiate and manage ICDs with platform subsystems and supplier teams. Support B&P (Phase 0 & pre-phase A). Integration & Verification (IVV) Develop verification plans, test matrices, and validation procedures for unit, subsystem, and spacecraft‑level EP tests. Oversee hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) and thrust‑stand testing, including thrust‑calibration, specific impulse measurement, pulse‑modulation, and lifetime cycling. 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 MDA’s knowledge‑base, process enhancements, and standards development. Configuration, Documentation & Standards Management Author and maintain MDA EP standards (thruster qualification, PPU design, contamination limits). • Ensure all artefacts, analysis, software, deliverables and documentations are version controlled in PLM environment. Support design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, MRR/TRR…etc.). Support Technology Road‑Mapping & Innovation. Launch-Site, On-Orbit & Operations Support Provide real‑time EP support during launch, early‑orbit checkout, and routine station‑keeping. Support on‑orbit checkout procedures, thruster test campaigns, and contingency recovery plans. Support SOOH development and associated operator training. B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace, or Physics with 8+ years of electrical propulsion engineering experience on LEO/MEO platforms. Strong knowledge of EP thruster families and their performance characteristics. Experience with propellant storage & feed‑system design (tanks, valves, micro‑valves). Strong understanding of aerospace system engineering fundamentals, space environment and orbit mechanics. 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 to no 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). Support the Spacecraft operations team in critical phases. Required Qualifications: • B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace, or Physics with 8+ years of electrical propulsion engineering experience on LEO/MEO platforms. • Strong knowledge of EP thruster families and their performance characteristics. • Experience with propellant storage & feed system design (tanks, valves, micro valves). • Strong understanding of aerospace system engineering fundamentals, space environment and orbit mechanics. • 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 to no 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). • Support the Spacecraft operations team in critical phases.

What you’ll do

The Satellite Electrical Propulsion Systems Engineer will design, integrate, and verify electric propulsion subsystems for remote sensing and communications satellites. The role involves managing technical requirements, performing system-level analyses, and providing support during launch and on-orbit operations.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace, or Physics with at least 8 years of experience in electrical propulsion. Strong knowledge of EP thruster families, propellant feed systems, and aerospace systems engineering fundamentals is required.

Listed skills

• Jira · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Electric propulsion
• Satellite systems
• Power processing units
• Thruster design
• Propellant feed systems
• Systems engineering
• Thermal analysis
• Requirement management
• Interface control documents
• Modeling and simulation
• Fault detection isolation recovery
• Hardware-in-the-loop testing
• Space environment
• Orbit mechanics
• Confluence
• JIRA
• Technical Authority
• Atlassian Confluence
• Configuration Documentation
• Technical Leadership
• Propulsion
• Algorithms
• Electrical Engineering
• Systems Engineering
• Management
• Communication
• Contamination Control
• Continuous Improvement Process
• Creativity
• Engineering Design Process
• Electrically Powered Spacecraft Propulsion
• Electronics
• English Language
• Traceability
• French Language
• Innovation
• Mechanics
• Mentorship
• Operations
• Physics
• Valves (Piping)
• Systems Development Life Cycle
• Telemetry
• Reliability Prediction For Electronic Components
• Remote Sensing
• Risk Analysis
• Simulation Software
• Space Environment
• Spacecraft
• Specific Impulse

Job areas

• Engineering
• Technology
• Science & Research
• Manufacturing
• Propulsion Systems Engineer
• Aerospace Engineer
• Mechanical Engineers
• Aerospace Engineers