Director, Research & Development, Defence Satellite Mission Solutions

Telesat, a leading global satellite operator, is seeking an R&D Director, Defence Satellite Mission Solutions. The director will lead the development of advanced, mission‑driven satellite capabilities tailored to Canadian and allied defence users, including Space Domain Awareness, Alternative PNT, Optical Communications, and other secure space‑based solutions.

Main Responsibilities

• Lead mission‑centric engineering development efforts: Drive the full lifecycle of defence‑focused satellite solutions from concept development and technical design to testing, validation, and deployment.
• Conduct strategic defence research: Analyze trends in defence platforms, operational concepts, and procurement strategies across land, sea, air, cyber, and space domains; identify capability gaps and innovation opportunities.
• Design and develop technical architecture: Translate mission needs into technically sound, scalable, and secure satellite‑enabled solutions in collaboration with Sales, Engineering, and Product teams.
• Prototype and validate innovations: Work with other engineering teams to oversee the development of new capabilities, ensuring they meet performance, security, and reliability standards.
• Integrate emerging technologies: Apply advanced technologies—such as AI/ML, optical links, and secure networking—to enhance the Telesat Lightspeed constellation’s defence value proposition.
• Align cross‑functional teams: Collaborate with internal stakeholders across Sales (Canada, Global, Government Solutions) and Product to ensure alignment with customer missions and Telesat’s strategic roadmap.
• Represent Telesat in strategic forums: Act as a technical ambassador at defence industry events, customer engagements, and demonstrations, showcasing Telesat’s leadership in secure satellite communications.

Education & Experience

What you bring:

• Technical Leadership: Proven track record in developing and deploying advanced technical solutions for defence and national security customers.
• Mission Understanding: Deep insight into defence operational environments and the ability to anticipate and address evolving mission needs.
• Innovation Mindset: Passion for leveraging emerging technologies to solve complex challenges creatively and effectively.
• Strategic Acumen: Ability to connect technical innovation with business strategy and policy objectives.
• Clear Communicator: Skilled in presenting complex concepts to diverse audiences, including military stakeholders and technical teams.
• Collaborative Approach: Strong interpersonal skills and experience working across multidisciplinary teams and external partners.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Engineering (Electrical, Telecommunications, Networking, Computer Science), Physics, or equivalent.
• 5 to 10+ years of progressive leadership experience managing direct reports.
• 10+ years of experience in defence systems, secure communications, or satellite technologies.
• Expertise in satellite, RF, optical, and associated networking technologies (including OSI Layers 1–3, NTN systems, MEF among others).
• Experience with high‑security environments and classified systems.
• Demonstrated success in product development and commercialization.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally.

Decision Making and Supervision

• Direct a team of system engineers and influence the system design of the Telesat Lightspeed system.

Working Conditions

• Based at Telesat headquarters in Ottawa, ON.
• Regular travel to customer sites and industry events.
• Must be eligible to work in Canada and obtain a Top Secret security clearance.
• Requires a valid Top Secret security clearance and ability to work in a high‑security environment.

At Telesat, we are an equal‑opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing the best candidate experience possible and to accommodating all qualified applicants throughout the interview process. All accommodation information provided will be treated as confidential.