Staff Software Architect - Flight Software

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.

We’re on the hunt for a Staff level Software Architect on our Robotics & Space Operations team at our Brampton office to lead the design of our Flight Software products. 

With 40 years of operational experience and proven performance on the iconic Canadarm programs including Space Shuttle and International Space Station robotics and operations support, our Robotics & Space Operations team has 100% mission success in making space dreams come true.

As our Staff Software Architect, you will be utilizing your breadth of knowledge in multi-disciplinary Engineering to help the department manager to improve/implement department-wide processes and practices related to all aspects of Software Engineering, bridge the gap between the system and software disciplines, defining system/software requirements for our products, and support MDA with commercialization of our products.

You will be instrumental in using your skill and experience as part of a team to design, implement, maintain, and test software solutions that are modular, extendable, testable, and efficient. You will lead complex (but fun) subsystem designs and implementations to help grow the skills of more junior teammates through mentoring and coaching.

Responsibilities:

• Architect complex software solutions for space robotics and satellites, balancing performance, reliability, maintainability, cost, and lifecycle support.
• Develop productization roadmaps and drive software reuse and common platforms to support commercialization.
• Work with internal and external stakeholders to define product scope and system/software requirements, including cybersecurity, safety, fault tolerance, and verification, as applicable.
• Generate system and software requirements for both currently under development and future products.
• Define department-wide architecture standards, engineering best practices, and software processes tailored to product criticality and commercial needs.
• Lead requirements, architecture, and design reviews, and provide technical oversight during implementation and integration.
• Collaborate across engineering disciplines to define interfaces and resolve technical issues.
• Mitigate technical risks through feasibility studies, prototypes, and proofs of concept.
• Guide software modernization, technical debt reduction, and obsolescence management.
• Ensure designs are documented and well communicated.
• Perform other duties as assigned by management.

Requirements:

• 15+ years of software engineering experience, including software architecture and system design of Embedded Software for complex machine control applications.
• 10+ years of Real-Time OS application design and implementation
• Experience with C and C++.
• Proven design experience in aerospace, military, automotive, and/or medical Software products.
• Strong communication skills to document designs, explain trade-offs, and align stakeholders.
• Experience leading technical reviews and resolving complex design and integration issues.
• Ability to balance architectural trade-offs across performance, Expreliability, maintainability, cost, and lifecycle support.
• Experience defining and implementing software engineering standards, processes, and best practices.
• Strong knowledge of the software lifecycle, including integration, verification, and configuration management.
• Technical leadership in software architecture and systems engineering across multidisciplinary teams.
• Bachelor’s degree in software, Computer, or Electrical Engineering, or Computer Science, or a related discipline.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound technical judgement, and lead complex initiatives.

Assets:

• Experience with safety- or mission-critical systems and applicable engineering standards.
• Experience with software modernization, technical debt reduction, and obsolescence management.
• Experience preparing technical proposals, engineering estimates, and feasibility studies.
• Robotics Communication interfaces

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) and ITAR. 

We’re a dream team of purpose-driven, collaborative and passionate people, and we are constantly looking for others to join #MissionMDA 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 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.

The compensation range for this position is $130,000 - $185,000 annually. The specific compensation offered will be based on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.