Satellite Command & Data‑Handling (C&DH) System Engineer for Fastwater Staffing
HIKINEX Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Outsourcing and Offshoring Consulting · 201-500 employees
About the role
The Satellite C&DH System Engineer will own the functional architecture, design, and integration of command and data-handling systems for satellite programs. Responsibilities include managing requirements, leading detailed design of on-board processors, and supporting integration, verification, and on-orbit operations.
What they look for
Requirements
Candidates must hold a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace, or a related field with at least 8 years of experience in C&DH engineering. Strong knowledge of spacecraft data-bus standards, embedded systems, and aerospace system engineering fundamentals is required.
Full description
Role overview:
Our client is seeking a Satellite C&DH System Engineer to support and/or design, integrate, verify, and support the on‑board command, control and data management functions for current and next‑generation remote sensing & communications satellite programs. The role will own the C&DH functional architecture, drive trade‑studies, and may provide technical authority throughout the spacecraft life‑cycle.
Tasks summary:
Architecture Concept & Requirements
- Translate mission‑level requirements into C&DH functional and non‑functional specifications.
- Produce System Requirements, Interface Control (ICDs), and Description documents.
- Perform requirement management and maintain bidirectional traceability throughout the project lifecycle.
- Collaborate with cyber‑security to embed resilience and security by design, ECU.
Design & Development
- Lead detailed design of on‑board processors, data‑buses (SpaceWire, MIL‑1553, CAN, Ethernet), memory subsystems, and I/O interfaces.
- Support software architecture: command sequencing, telemetry packetization, health‑monitoring, services, fault‑detection‑isolation‑recovery (FDIR).
- Support Satellite Reference Database development and validation
Cross‑Functional Coordination, Stakeholder & Program Interaction
- Communicate technical status, risk assessments and trade‑study results to senior management and/or customers or partners.
- Work with FSW teams to define RTOS, APIs, task scheduling, real‑time operating system configuration, services usage.
- Define uplink command formatting, downlink telemetry packet structures, and ground‑segment data‑handling interfaces (mission‑control servers, data‑archiving pipelines).
- Coordinate with the TT&C/PDT engineering and Ground Segment ICDs to ensure end‑to‑end data integrity.
- Support B&P (Phase 0 & pre-phase A).
Integration & Verification (IVV)
- Develop verification plans, test matrices, and validation procedures for unit, subsystem, and spacecraft level C&DH tests.
- Execute functional tests, bus‑protocol compliance, SIL and HIL campaigns.
- Manage anomaly investigations, root‑cause analysis, and corrective‑action implementation.
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.
Configuration, Documentation & Standards Management
- Author and maintain C&DH standards (bus protocols, data‑format conventions, redundancy policies).
- Ensure all artefacts, analysis and documentations are version controlled in PLM environment.
- Support design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, MRR/TRR…etc.).
- Support Technology Road‑Mapping & Innovation
On‑Orbit & Operations Support
- Support launch‑pre‑launch and early‑orbit checkout, validate satellite functions, HK and nominal operation
- Support and analyse on‑orbit telemetry, update filter parameters as needed.
- Support SOOH development and associated operator trainings
Required Qualifications:
- B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace or related field with 8+ years of C&DH engineering experience on LEO/MEO/GEO platforms.
- Deep knowledge of spacecraft data‑bus standards: SpaceWire, MIL‑1553, CAN‑A, Ethernet, CCSDS packet telemetry/command and PUS services.
- Knowledge in processor, FPGA, firmware and embedded
- Strong understanding of aerospace system engineering fundamentals, space environment and orbit mechanics.
- 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).