Manager – Systems Engineering full_time

Job Title: Manager, Systems Engineering

Company Overview

Building the space between proven and possible, MDA Space (TSX:MDA) is a trusted mission partner to the global space industry. A robotics, satellite systems and geointelligence pioneer with a 55-year+ story of world firsts and more than 450 missions, MDA Space is a global leader in communications satellites, Earth and space observation, and space exploration and infrastructure.

The MDA Space team of more than 3,000 space experts in Canada, the US and the UK has the knowledge and know-how to turn an audacious customer vision into an achievable mission – bringing to bear a one-of-a-kind mix of experience, engineering excellence and wide-eyed wonder that’s been in our DNA since day one. 

For those who dream big and push boundaries on the ground and in the stars to change the world for the better, we’ll take you there.

About you:

Are you an experience people manager with a strong background in Systems Engineer. Do you have a passion for leading high-performing teams and driving technological innovation? If so, we want you to join our Brampton team.

Who We’re Looking For:

We’re seeking a Manager, Systems Engineering, to lead a team of over 90 systems engineers working on state-of-the-art space and robotics technology. If you have a strong background in systems engineering and a passion for people management, professional development, and career advancement, this role is for you.

The manager will manage the systems engineering department and develop and maintain a workforce with the key technical skills necessary to ensure proper execution and delivery of the company’s products and projects. The Manager will manage recruitment, development, engagement and retention, and succession planning within their team.  

In addition, the manager will participate in full departmental activities such as technological roadmap development, continuous improvement, modernization of engineering practices, and customer satisfaction. They will support the adoption of next-generation engineering tools, techniques, and procedures to increase competitiveness in their discipline area.

In this role you will:

• Lead and mentor a team of over 90 Systems Engineers.
• Oversee recruitment, development, engagement, retention, and succession planning.
• Monitors and manages overall employee performance, conducts annual performance appraisals and sets individual objectives
• Provides staffing expertise to support the demand of Programs, R&D and Business Development.
• Ensures that staffing support the demand of current and future MDA programs
• Develops staff to ensure necessary skill sets. Establishes and regularly updates succession plans for key skills to avoid single point failures and bottlenecks in resource allocation.
• Ensures group competency remains abreast of state of the art techniques in systems engineering and requirement management
• Ensures staff works in an environment fostering innovation and evolution to maximize their satisfaction within the constraints of the business, supporting career planning, providing regular feedbacks and celebrating successes.
• Oversees engineering facilities, processes, and tools required to support department activities and program needs.
• Lead system engineering discussions in bid development and review process to ensure proposed solution and costing aligns with customer priorities, competitive environment needs as well as the program-product-based strategy.
• Supports management of departmental overhead budget within allocation and provides forecasts to finance as required.
• Supports coordination of capital planning for the department. Proposes necessary capital investment items with proper financial justification and implements the procurement.
• Ensures the proper application of the company’s collective agreements.
• Support continuous improvement, modernization, and customer satisfaction.
• Implement next-generation engineering tools, techniques, and procedures.

Key Responsibilities:

Resource Management:

• Recruit, assign, and evaluate staff performance.
• Ensure staffing meets program demands.
• Develop staff skills and maintain succession plans.
• Foster innovation and career satisfaction.
• Manage departmental facilities, processes, and tools.
• Oversee budget and capital planning.

Technical Overview:

• Supports internal and external audits and ensure corrective actions are implemented as required
• Participates/leads technical troubleshooting and problem solving
• Provide expert support to MRB’s and customer enquiries where needed

Process Development:

• Ensure proper application and adherence to company policies and processes.
• Supports development and maintenance of departmental specific policies, processes, work instructions and standards, and ensures they are available and followed by staff
• Lead and support business process improvement initiatives.
• Maintain health and safety procedures.

Front-End Business:

• Participate and make recommendations to the product development organisation for new products and R&D initiatives in line with the company’s strategic direction.
• Supports and coordinates patent applications in conjunction with the product development organisation and ensures that the company’s trade secrets and proprietary information is protected and handled securely.
• Performs other tasks as required such as; leading proposals at the front end of the business, managing projects or parts thereof, providing support to subcontract management, participating in collective agreement negotiations.

Requirements:

• Minimum 10 years in engineering management, preferably in the space industry.
• Experienced in all phases of project/product development.
• Experienced with systems requirements and requirement management.
• Demonstrated leadership, conflict resolution, and people skills.
• Experienced managing distributed teams
• Interest in resource management, negotiations, risk management, and financial reporting.
• Excellent communication skills
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related discipline.

Comments/Special Considerations:

Successful candidates must obtain and hold security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Controlled Goods Program (CGP).

We’re a dream team of purpose-driven, collaborative and passionate people, and we are constantly looking for others to join #TeamMDA to ignite new and innovative approaches to problem-solving that push us forward to improve life on and above Earth. If you’re excited to expand our place in space and driven to inspire the next generation, we’ll take you there.

We have entered a new era of exploration and development, and MDA welcomes all who yearn to suit up and be part of it. An equal opportunity employer prizing diversity, integrity and collaboration, we are committed to growing MDA’s and Canada’s leadership in this next golden age.

MDA provides competitive compensation and benefits packages for its employees at all locations. As a team member of MDA, you and your qualified dependents are eligible to participate in a benefit plan that ensures a comprehensive level of protection through competitive health care including; extended healthcare and flexible drug plans, dental and vision benefits, disability income protection, life insurance, group retirement savings plans; and an employee and family assistance program.

MDA is proud to provide accommodation(s) during the recruitment process.  Should you require any accommodations, please indicate this on your application/cover letter and we will work with you to meet your accessibility needs.

The compensation range for this position is $102,000 – $160,000 annually. The specific compensation offered will be based on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.