Lead (Chief) Satellite Systems Engineer

Location: Hybrid in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company

hirify.global develops on-demand space connectivity through a commercial optical data relay constellation, supporting real-time space communications, on-orbit compute, and hosted payload capabilities.

What you will do

• Serve as the lead systems engineering authority for a satellite program or major technical scope.
• Translate mission objectives and program constraints into architecture, requirements, interface, verification, readiness, and risk-closure plans.
• Lead system-level design and integration across spacecraft subsystems, connecting subsystem decisions to performance, operations, reliability, customer commitments, and lifecycle needs.
• Partner with program management, product assurance, subsystem teams, suppliers, customers, and leadership to align execution and close technical decisions.
• Lead technical reviews, trade studies, anomaly investigations, readiness milestones, and decision forums.
• Mentor engineers and technical leads while improving systems engineering, integration, verification, and review practices.

Requirements

• 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.
• Experience delivering through at least one satellite-level program lifecycle, including architecture, design, integration, verification, launch readiness, customer delivery, or mission operations.
• Strong 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 reviews.
• Ability to leverage AI-assisted engineering and development tools to improve productivity, design quality, and innovation.
• Familiarity with systems engineering standards and technical governance, including configuration management, discrepancy review, engineering change control, and verification evidence management.
• Ability to lead cross-functional engineering teams through uncertainty, changing priorities, and high-pressure milestones.
• Strong stakeholder management, technical writing, presentation, verbal communication, decision-making, problem-solving, risk management, attention to detail, flexibility, and adaptability.

Nice to have

• Experience with constellation-level systems, multi-satellite programs, portfolio-level technical execution, or scalable satellite architectures.
• Subsystem development or technical leadership experience in software, communications/RF, avionics, payloads, or other mission-critical satellite systems.
• Experience with FMECA, FDIR, reliability engineering, fault management, or mission assurance.
• Knowledge of orbit analysis, constellation configurations, RF link analysis, system budgets, operations, ground segment, space environment, and satellite mechanical and electrical architectures.
• Knowledge of satellite applications such as Earth observation, communications, navigation, science, optical, SAR, or SigINT missions.
• Experience applying AI-enabled tools or automation to systems engineering workflows while maintaining engineering rigor and human oversight.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time regular employment in a hybrid workplace.
• Competitive compensation with a robust equity plan.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance, including dependent coverage.
• Unlimited vacation, supportive parental leave, and a company-wide holiday shutdown.
• $1,500 annual professional development fund, relocation packages for approved roles, and frequent in-office events.