Satellite Command & Data‑Handling (C&DH) System Engineer for Fastwater Staffing

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).