Synthetic Aperture Radar Payload Engineer for Fastwater Staffing

Tasks summary

Architecture Concept & Requirements

• Gather functional, performance, pointing, environmental and security requirements from mission stakeholders & CONOPs.
• Capture, trace and map payload requirements from mission level to subsystem level
• Coordinate with cybersecurity team for payload‑specific assessments
• Perform requirement management and maintain bidirectional traceability throughout the program life cycle.

Payload Architecture & Design

• Design the SAR system architecture (antenna arrays & RF front-end Tx/Rx components, digital beamforming, processing chain and digital electronics, power, thermal, and mass).
• Lead the conceptual, preliminary, and detailed design phases, producing trade studies, performance budgets).
• Produce Interface Control Documents (ICDs) with other subsystems and ground segment.
• Provide system‑level specifications to hardware designers, review schematics, layouts, thermal interfaces, and mechanical constraints

Simulation & Analysis

• Perform performance simulations for tolerance budgeting and image quality.
• Support algorithm and analytical development to process SAR.
• Define and maintain Payload DC power budget with utilization models.
• Perform FMECA, Fault tree and FDIR, reliability modeling and availability to meet mission objectives

Cross‑Functional Coordination, Stakeholder & Program Interaction

• Communicate technical status, risk assessments and trade‑study results to senior management and/or customers or partners.
• Support payload design authority in System design reviews, Power/Structure/Thermal interfaces and Mission Operations assessments.
• Liaise with Electrical, Power, Structures, Thermal, Software, Ground‑Segment and Mission‑Operations teams to resolve integration issues early.
• Support B&P (Phase 0 & pre-phase A).

Integration & Verification (IVV)

• Develop Payload Verification Master Plan covering unit‑test, subsystem‑test, payload‑level test, environmental and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) test campaigns.
• Lead test‑automation framework set‑up, test‑case definition, results analysis and test‑report certification.

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 our client's knowledge‑base, process enhancements, and standards development.

Configuration, Documentation & Standards Management

• Ensure all artefacts, analysis, firmware, deliverables and documentation are version controlled in PLM environment.
• Lead and Support design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, MRR/TRR…etc.).
• Support Technology Road‑Mapping & Innovation.
• Provide technical support to Mission Operations for routine payload health monitoring, contingency handling and performance trending.
• Lead root‑cause investigations for on‑orbit anomalies; update design baselines and lessons‑learned.
• Analyze on‑orbit telemetry, update filter parameters, and generate performance reports.
• Support SOOH development and associated operator training.

Required Qualifications

• B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, Computer science or Physics with 10 + years of experience supporting SAR remote sensing system development, integration and test on LEO/MEO missions.
• Strong technical-writing ability (requirements, ICDs, test procedures, risk reports) and presentation skills; comfortable interfacing with customers, suppliers and senior leadership.
• Strong understanding of aerospace system engineering fundamentals.
• 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 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).