Director of Engineering

Overview

GNO-SYS Technology Ltd. provides end-to-end remote sensing engineering services, with expertise in system development, data processing, project management, and automation. We design and deliver advanced sensor technologies and payloads for international clients across the geomatics and space sectors.

Our team designs, builds, and operates airborne remote sensing and mapping systems, and integrates custom sensor payloads on special mission aircraft for commercial, research, and space-sector clients. As the Director of Engineering, you will lead our multidisciplinary engineering team across mechanical, electrical, embedded/software, and systems engineering, and set the technical direction for our sensor programs.

Reporting to the President, you will own engineering delivery from end to end: from requirements, interface definition, and project scoping and estimating, through design, integration, flight test, and calibration, to fully documented, configuration-controlled systems and data products that clients can rely on. You will work closely with our aviation partner, IO Aerospace, on aircraft integration, flight operations, and airworthiness, while building and mentoring a small, hands-on engineering team.

This is a compelling opportunity for a technical leader who wants to stay close to engineering, shape the next generation of airborne sensing systems, and help grow a company working on novel projects with meaningful real-world impact. GNO-SYS offers a dynamic, collaborative environment where curiosity, innovation, and technical excellence are highly valued.

Responsibilities:

As the Director of Engineering, you will be responsible for:

• Lead, plan, and prioritize all engineering work across mechanical, electrical, embedded/software, and systems engineering disciplines.
• Set the technical direction and architecture for our airborne imaging systems and custom sensor payloads (camera, gimbal, navigation, onboard computing, mission control software, trigger and timing electronics, and vibration isolation) and for new sensor programs.
• Own project delivery for engineering programs, including scope definition, work breakdown, schedules, budgets, risk management, and reporting to the President and clients.
• Define and maintain system and subsystem requirements, interface control documents (ICDs), and verification plans, and ensure designs trace to client and mission requirements.
• Lead sensor integration on special mission aircraft, coordinating with IO Aerospace on aircraft modifications, mounts, power, safety, and airworthiness considerations.
• Plan and direct ground and flight test campaigns, including test procedures, data collection, results analysis, and corrective actions.
• Establish and oversee sensor calibration processes (geometric, radiometric, boresight, and lever-arm) and multi-camera configurations, ensuring repeatable data quality.
• Leverage AI, Agents, and Automation to accelerate engineering design, delivery, and quality
• Guide the development of processing software and geospatial data products, such as orthoimagery, feature extraction, and custom analytics for utility clients, in collaboration with the Data Processing and Analytics teams.
• Implement and enforce engineering processes for documentation, design review, configuration control, and release management of hardware, firmware, and software.
• Manage suppliers and subcontractors, including component and equipment selection, technical specifications, quotations, and delivery and quality follow-up.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop engineers, technologists, and students, and assign resources across concurrent projects.
• Provide technical support for proposals, client meetings, and business development, including technical approaches, statements of work, and cost estimates.
• Promote a strong safety culture in the lab, shop, and field, and ensure compliance with applicable regulations, client requirements, and APEGA professional practice obligations.
• Remain hands-on as needed, contributing directly to design, analysis, integration, troubleshooting, and field support.
• Travel with aircraft operations and to client sites as required to support integration, flight test, and deployment activities.

Qualifications:

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in mechanical, electrical, computer, aerospace, or geomatics engineering, or a related discipline.
• Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation in good standing with APEGA, or eligibility to register with APEGA in Alberta.
• Minimum ten years of progressive engineering experience in sensor, electromechanical, or aerospace product development, including at least five years leading multidisciplinary engineering teams or programs.
• Demonstrated experience taking airborne or field-deployed sensor systems from requirements through design, integration, test, and operational deployment.
• Experience with embedded systems, sensor timing and synchronization, and the software used to control sensors and process their data.
• Proven ability to scope, estimate, and deliver fixed-price projects to schedule and budget.
• Strong technical writing skills, including requirements, ICDs, test procedures, and technical reports.
• Ability and willingness to travel as required to support flight test, field campaigns, and client activities.

Preferred qualifications:

• Working knowledge of remote sensing: photogrammetry, camera calibration, and INS/GNSS integration, LIDAR systems, Synthetic Aperture Radar, and geomatic datasets.
• Experience with aircraft sensor installations, including mounts, vibration isolation, thermal management, and environmental qualification.
• Familiarity with Transport Canada aircraft modification and airworthiness processes, and with aviation standards such as RTCA DO-160.
• Experience implementing configuration management and quality systems (e.g., ISO 9001 or AS9100) in a small engineering organization.
• Experience preparing SR&ED claims and NRC IRAP technical reports.
• Experience with geospatial processing workflows and data products, such as orthoimagery, point clouds, and utility or infrastructure analysis.
• Proficiency in Python, C/C++, and Linux-based systems, along with CAD and electronics design tools.

Key Success Factors:

• The successful candidate will bring:
• Technical leadership grounded in hands-on engineering credibility, with sound judgement on design trade-offs.
• The ability to balance innovation with disciplined delivery, keeping projects on scope, on schedule, and on budget.
• A systems-level perspective that connects hardware, software, aircraft integration, and data products to client outcomes.
• A commitment to developing people and building a collaborative, accountable, and safety-focused engineering culture.
• Clear and confident communication with team members, clients, partners, and executives.
• Strong attention to detail, disciplined execution, and respect for process and documentation.
• Initiative and resourcefulness, with the ability to identify and develop practical, innovative solutions.
• Adaptability and willingness to take on new tasks, responsibilities, and challenges as the company grows.

Job Location and Conditions

• This position is based in Calgary, Alberta.
• A valid Canadian or U.S. passport is required.
• Travel is required to support flight test, aircraft integration, and client activities.

This role is well suited to an engineering leader who enjoys combining technical depth and hands-on involvement with team building, disciplined delivery, and mission-critical problem-solving.