Principal Engineer- MTS – Systems – UK full_time

For those who dream of advancing our space in the Universe and on Earth, we’ll take you there.

Serving the world from our Canadian home and our global offices, MDA is an international space mission partner and robotics & space operations, satellite systems and geo-intelligence pioneer with a 50-year story of firsts on and above the Earth. Today, we’re leading the charge towards viable Moon colonies, enhanced Earth observation, communication in a hyper-connected world, and more.

We’re fuelled by a pioneering spirit that carries us beyond. And together we enable highly skilled people to continually push boundaries and tackle big challenges requiring solutions that endure and inspire.

Are you ready to launch the next stage of your career in the new space economy? We would love to hear from you!

We’re on the hunt for a Systems Engineer (5G NTN for LEO) at our UK office.

MDA’s international footprint in the UK creates opportunities to work with some of the most exciting space industrial players in the country. Delivering all three business area capabilities in Robotics & Space Operations, Satellite Systems, and Geo intelligence, our UK team provides support to our customers while specializing in the development of advanced space sensors for exploration missions as well as space-based communication technology. As our presence grows overseas, so does our need for new ambitious team players to help us advance our place in the Universe and beyond.

As a Mission/Systems Architect in our team, you will be responsible for listening to our growing customer base and ensuring their needs are understood and used to develop and deliver the best solutions and products.

In this position, you will be responsible for system level analysis and definition of the payload and, where necessary, the corresponding ground segment. Using your experience and knowledge of state-of-the-art solutions you will recommend the implementation and validation of solutions that meet customer needs. You will ascertain the issues that need to be addressed in the 5G standard to support these use cases and engage with the 3GPP standardisation accordingly.

You will work closely with various systems engineering groups internally and externally to the business, building a robust and informative trade analysis with a clear and well-structured set of conclusions and recommendations, including ground infrastructure, payload solutions and technology trade-offs.

Responsibilities

• Generate systems level requirements, specifications and interface definitions.
• Perform system design trade-offs
• Analyse system level performance requirements to allocated sub-system/component requirement
• Develop a system/payload CONOPs and architecture with particular focus on the on-board processor and software for the system, such as mobile broadband and other needs such as machine-to-machine (mMTC)
• Define the requirements for the on-board processor and assess how it could be develop with particular emphasis on maximising the utility of existing solutions and technology (e.g. IP from existing modem development, mixed signal IP, commonality with existing chip architectures etc)
• Enable technology maturation and risk reduction plans for critical system elements including ground infrastructure and satellite subsystems
• Support business development and proposal activities for multiple customers and partners
• Conduct specification trade-off negotiations with customers, partners, engineers and working groups

Requirements

• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Maths or Physics. Master’s degree or PhD would be preferred
• Proven ability to develop and analyse E2E system requirements, perform trade studies breaking down the complete system into the constituent parts and solutions
• Ability to write proposals to RFI/RFP’s, including developing presentations to describe the technical approach in a clear manner
• 10+ years of experience with satellite communications technologies, beneficial to understand technologies and solutions, ranging from E2E system analysis to definition of solutions using current and future technology
• Extensive end-to-end satellite communications system design experience
• A good working knowledge of the 5G NR stack and various architectural splits, including ORAN and SCF
• A general understanding of 5G systems, including the core network
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including a demonstrated ability to interact effectively with customers, management, and peers
• Experience of working with multiple customers/partners and building win-win themes and scenarios. A background in working with government departments/agencies and groups such as ESA etc. would be highly beneficial

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 leadership in this next golden age.

Comments/Special Considerations:

We are required to conduct a BPSS (Baseline Personnel Security Standard) screening in which we will check your:

• Right to work: To confirm that you are entitled to take up the position as well as check your nationality and immigration status
• Identity: Full ID check
• Criminal records: Basic Disclosure
• Employment history check: Confirmation of past three years of employment (minimum) history/activity

Benefits statement:

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; private healthcare, disability income protection, life insurance, pension plan; and an employee assistance program. We also have a Hybrid work model in place, for a better work/life balance. 

Equal opportunity statement:

MDA is an equal opportunity employer prizing diversity and inclusion. We are committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity. If you require assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please feel free to notify us.

#LI-GD1

#IND