Building the space between proven and possible, MDA Space (TSX:MDA) is a trusted mission partner to the global space industry. A robotics, satellite systems and geointelligence pioneer with a 55-year+ story of world firsts and more than 450 missions, MDA Space is a global leader in communications satellites, Earth and space observation, and space exploration and infrastructure. The MDA Space team of more than 4,000 space experts in Canada, the US and the UK has the knowledge and know-how to turn an audacious customer vision into an achievable mission – bringing to bear a one-of-a-kind mix of experience, engineering excellence and wide-eyed wonder that’s been in our DNA since day one. For those who dream big and push boundaries on the ground and in the stars to change the world for the better, we’ll take you there. For more information, visit www.mda.space.
For those who dream of advancing our space in the Universe and on Earth, we’ll take you there.
Serving the world from our Canadian home and our global offices, MDA is an international space mission partner and robotics & space operations, satellite systems and geointelligence pioneer with a 50-year story of firsts on and above the Earth. Today, we're leading the charge towards viable Moon colonies, enhanced Earth observation, communication in a hyper-connected world, and more.
We’re fueled by a pioneering spirit that carries us beyond. And together we enable highly skilled people to continually push boundaries and tackle big challenges requiring solutions that endure and inspire.
Are you ready to launch the next stage of your career in the new space economy? We would love to hear from you!
We’re on the hunt for an Embedded Artificial Intelligence Architect on our Satellite systems team at our Montreal office.
As the leading global independent commercial supplier of antennas, payloads, and electronics for communication and radar satellites, our team has successfully contributed to hundreds of missions in the past 60 years. With an extensive heritage in a wide range of solutions delivered to customers globally, our Satellite Systems team continues to grow and evolve on the ground and in the stars.
We’re a dream team of purpose-driven, collaborative and passionate people, and we are constantly looking for others to join #TeamMDA to ignite new and innovative approaches to problem-solving that push us forward to improve life on and above Earth. If you’re excited to expand our place in space and driven to inspire the next generation, we’ll take you there.
We have entered a new era of exploration and development, and MDA welcomes all who yearn to suit up and be part of it. An equal opportunity employer prizing diversity, integrity and collaboration, we are committed to growing MDA’s and Canada’s leadership in this next golden age.
Role :
The Embedded Artificial Intelligence Architect (Technical Lead) is responsible for the architecture, documentation, implementation, and training of complex AI/ML models for ground systems and embedded platforms, including those hosted on MDA’s AURORA™ software-defined satellites—enabling AI capabilities in space. The role will initially focus on ground-based development and validation, progressing to on-board deployment where it delivers clear mission value and ROI (e.g., network traffic prediction, anti-jamming mitigation, and cognitive radio applications). Initially, this position will serve as the single accountable architect for AI, with the goal of achieving an initial deployment this year or early next year.
Responsibilities :
- Lead the design and delivery of embedded AI solutions for satellite systems.
- Provide technical leadership across the AI/ML lifecycle (concept, architecture, implementation, verification, and deployment), including mentoring and technical decision-making.
- Collaborate with AI/ML experts across MDA divisions to share best practices and accelerate development.
- Perform problem formulation and feasibility studies for AI/ML applications in telecommunication satellites.
- Define a phased roadmap from ground prototypes to on-board inference, prioritizing deployments based on mission impact, risk, and ROI.
- Refine requirements and select appropriate model architectures to meet mission needs within embedded compute, power, memory, and latency constraints.
- Develop and evaluate AI/ML approaches for network traffic prediction, anti-jamming mitigation, and cognitive radio functions, and translate results into deployable system capabilities.
- Assess and prototype suitable learning approaches—including offline training, online adaptation, and (where appropriate) reinforcement learning—while ensuring robustness and verifiability for operational use.
- Design and implement complex simulators (e.g., digital twins) to generate representative training data.
- Create, curate, and manage datasets used for training, validation, and testing.
- Define metrics and evaluate model performance, robustness, and resource utilization on target platforms.
- Author and maintain technical documentation (architecture, design, training, verification, and deployment).
- Partner with system engineers and software developers to integrate AI capabilities into the end-to-end solution.
Requirements :
- Sc. in AI/ML, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
- 10 years experience in embedded software development.
- Hands-on experience deploying or prototyping ML models on embedded targets (e.g., Raspberry Pi 5, Versal/FPGA-class devices).
- Strong Python skills; experience with TensorFlow (embedded deployment) and/or PyTorch.
- Ability to write production-quality code in C/C++.
- Experience with version control and collaborative development workflows (e.g., Git).
- Ability to work independently, prioritize effectively, and operate with minimal supervision.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and/or French. Works with Ontario head office staff, English-speaking customers, during the product development phases
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively in large, cross-functional teams.
- Disciplined, resourceful, and committed to high-quality engineering outcomes.
Nice to have
- PhD in AI/ML, Computer Science or Computer Engineering
- Experience with networking concepts, protocols, and architectures (e.g., DVB-S2X, 5G NTN, IP routing, SDN).
- Knowledge of satellite communication standards (e.g., DVB-S2X).
- CUDA experience and/or GPU optimization for model training or inference.
- Experience with RF systems and signal processing fundamentals.
- Experience using Jira and Confluence (or similar tools) to manage work and documentation.
- Experience with embedded Linux.
- Experience with disciplined software development practices (code reviews, testing, CI/CD).
- Fluency in French. Works with Ontario head office staff, English-speaking customers, during the product development phases
#LI-PP1 #IND1#Sp
Special Considerations :
Successful candidates must obtain and hold security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR.
Benefits statement :
MDA provides competitive compensation and benefits packages for its employees at all locations. As a team member of MDA, you and your qualified dependents are eligible to participate in a benefit plan that ensures a comprehensive level of protection through competitive health care including; extended healthcare and flexible drug plans, dental and vision benefits, disability income protection, life insurance, group retirement savings plans; and an employee and family assistance program.
Equal opportunity statement :
MDA is an equal opportunity employer prizing diversity and inclusion. We are committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity. If you require assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please feel free to notify us.
