Satellite Bus Flight Software Systems Engineer for Fastwater Staffing

Our client is seeking a Satellite Bus Flight Software System Engineer to lead or support the system level definition, architecture, integration, verification, and operational readiness of flight software for current and next generation spacecraft platforms for current and next‑generation remote sensing & communications satellite programs.

As part of the Systems Engineering organization of a leading spacecraft prime manufacturer, the successful candidate will serve as a key technical authority at the intersection of spacecraft architecture, platform subsystems, embedded flight software, avionics, mission operations, and verification and validation.

The role is responsible for ensuring that spacecraft bus flight software correctly implements the platform and payload functional, performance, autonomy, safety, reliability, and operational requirements. The engineer will guide the flight software solution throughout the full spacecraft lifecycle, from early concept and architecture definition through detailed design, software development, FlatSat integration, spacecraft level verification, launch preparation, commissioning, and on-orbit support.

This is a systems engineering and technical leadership role. The incumbent will not necessarily develop every flight software component directly but must possess sufficient embedded software depth to critically assess architectures, designs, implementation approaches, interfaces, test coverage, and anomaly resolution plans.

Tasks summary:

Architecture Concept & Requirements

• Gather & translate functional, performance, safety and security requirements from mission stakeholders.
• Map requirements to software modules, allocate to execution threads.
• Collaborate with cyber‑security to embed resilience and security by design.
• Perform requirement management and maintain bidirectional traceability throughout the program life cycle.

Software Architecture, Design & Development

• Define FSW architecture (RTOS, Initialization, PUS services, autonomy, HK, fault management, payload interfaces…).
• Define FDIR algorithms, isolation logic, recovery actions, safe‑mode sequencing, redundancy management.
• Perform or guide integration of FDIR logic into FSW.
• Produce and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs) for payload and platform subsystems and ground‑segment interfaces.
• Support Satellite Reference Database development and validation and DSS.

Cross‑Functional Coordination, Stakeholder & Program Interaction

• Communicate technical status, risk assessments and trade‑study results to senior management and/or customers or partners.
• Liaise with Payload, Platform subsystems, Ground‑Segment and Mission Operations teams to integrate and resolve integration issues early.
• Support B&P (Phase 0 & pre-phase A).

Integration & Verification (IVV)

• Develop and support Flight Software Verification Plan and integration tests, SIL (with DSS) & HIL, fault‑injection, performance and security testing.
• Support or oversee verification & test automation framework deployment, test case definition, results analysis and test‑report certification.

Technical Leadership & Mentorship

• Mentor junior engineers and interns.
• Act as technical liaison with customers, partners and external vendors
• Act as Continuous Improvement stakeholder and implement lessons-learned
• Contribute to client's knowledge‑base, process enhancements, and standards.

Configuration, Documentation & Standards Management

• Ensure all software artefacts (source code, builds, test scripts, configuration files), documentation and deliverables 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 procedure developments for Satellite Modes.
• Support and analyse on‑orbit telemetry, update filter parameters, and generate SW updates as needed.
• Support SOOH development and associated operator training.

Required Qualifications:

• B.Sc. in Electrical engineering, Aerospace, Computer Science, Embedded Systems with 10 + years of previous fault-tolerant embedded systems on LEO/MEO/GEO missions.
• Experience working with CCSDS, ECSS, PUS services.
• Experience working with MIL-1553, SpaceWire, RS422/485, CAN, Ethernet.
• Experience in real-time cores and/or embedded Linux, Auto-coding.
• 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).