← All roles

Lead Satellite Systems Engineer

Kepler· Engineering – Systems
Apply on company site
Hybrid (Toronto, Ontario)Full-time RegularPosted 3mo ago

About the role

Lead technical authority for satellite and space-system development programs, translating program objectives into executable technical plans and ensuring system design integrity, integration, verification, and mission readiness from concept to delivery.

Responsibilities

  • Be the lead systems engineering authority for a satellite program or major technical scope, ensuring the integrity of system design, integration, verification, and mission readiness
  • Translate mission objectives and program constraints into clear technical direction across architecture, requirements, interfaces, trade studies, verification planning, readiness evidence, and technical risk closure
  • Lead system-level design and integration across spacecraft subsystems, connecting subsystem decisions to whole-system performance, operations, reliability, customer commitments, and lifecycle needs
  • Partner with Program Management, Product Assurance, subsystem teams, suppliers, customers, and leadership to align technical execution, manage expectations, and close decisions
  • Lead technical reviews, trade studies, anomaly investigations, readiness milestones, and decision forums with clear recommendations and disciplined follow-through
  • Manage technical risks and uncertainty by structuring ambiguous problems, clarifying assumptions, defining decision points, and maintaining clear escalation paths
  • Represent the technical team in program reviews, customer briefings, supplier discussions, and leadership updates through clear writing, presentations, and decision rationale
  • Mentor engineers and technical leads while improving systems engineering, integration, verification, and review practices to increase predictability and support mission success

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field
  • 10+ years of experience in space systems engineering, spacecraft development, satellite systems integration, or a related technical leadership role
  • Demonstrated experience delivering through at least one satellite-level program lifecycle, including architecture, design, integration, verification, launch readiness, customer delivery, or mission operations phases
  • Strong working knowledge of satellite systems engineering, including requirements management, system architecture, interface definition, verification planning, integration, technical budgets, risk management, and mission readiness
  • Experience leading major technical reviews or readiness milestones such as SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, MRR/MRB, FRR, or equivalent program reviews
  • Demonstrated willingness and ability to leverage AI-assisted engineering and development tools to improve productivity, design quality, and innovation while adapting to evolving technologies and best practices
  • Familiarity with systems engineering standards and disciplined technical governance practices, including configuration management, discrepancy review, engineering change control, and verification evidence management
  • Proven ability to lead cross-functional engineering teams through uncertainty, changing priorities, and high-pressure program milestones
  • Strong stakeholder management skills, including the ability to align engineering, program management, Product Assurance, customers, suppliers, and leadership around technical decisions and program outcomes
  • Excellent technical writing, presentation, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical issues into clear impacts, options, recommendations, and decision rationale
  • Strong decision-making, problem-solving, and risk management skills
  • Strong attention to detail, with the ability to maintain technical rigor while operating in a fast-paced program environment
  • Flexible, proactive, adaptable, and results-oriented, with a practical “can-do” approach
  • Demonstrated willingness and ability to leverage AI-assisted engineering and development tools to improve productivity, design quality, and innovation while adapting to evolving technologies and best practices

Skills

Required:Aerospace/Systems EngineeringRequirements managementTechnical leadershipTechnical writing and communication

Benefits

  • Competitive compensation with a robust equity plan
  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance including dependents
  • Unlimited vacation, parental leave policy, and company-wide holiday shutdown
  • Semi-annual company-wide parties and frequent in-office team events
  • Relocation packages available for approved roles
  • $1,500 annual professional development fund
  • Fully stocked Toronto office kitchen
  • Town Halls, Celebration Calls, and Company-wide events
  • Great Place to Work certification for seven consecutive years
Last updated Oct 22, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Kepler

Connecting Space. Empowering Earth.

Powered by advanced optical technology, the Kepler Network provides real-time data relay, on-orbit compute, and hosted payload services to form the modern backbone of a connected space ecosystem. These capabilities support defense and intelligence missions, accelerate earth observation insights, and enable scientific, commercial, and humanitarian applications that benefit people and the planet.

space technologycommunicationsearth observationdefensesciencecommercial
Company profileWebsite

More open roles at Kepler