Senior Space Systems & Mission Operations Engineer

Senior Space Systems & Mission Operations Engineer

Location: Ottawa, Ontario (On-site at the Ottawa facility with periodic hybrid work options available)
Position Type: Full-Time
Compensation: Salary & Stock Options
Benefits: Comprehensive Health & Dental package, starting 3 weeks paid annual leave
Contact: If you have issues with your application, please email View email address on apply.j-vers.com

About Obruta

Founded in 2019, Obruta Space Solutions is enabling the in-space economy by developing the advanced autonomy systems required for in-orbit satellite servicing, logistics, and active debris removal. Today’s satellites are single-use assets that cannot be refueled, inspected, or repaired. Obruta is eliminating this barrier with our flagship product: the RPOD Kit —a turnkey, vision-guided Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) subsystem that makes autonomous spacecraft docking commonplace.

Backed by leading venture capital and top-tier space innovation programs, Obruta is executing cutting-edge perception and navigation projects with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), National Research Council (NRC), and international commercial partners.

The Role

Obruta is seeking an experienced Senior Space Systems & Mission Operations Engineer to lead our systems engineering, customer integration architecture, and mission operations design. As Obruta transitions the RPOD Kit from laboratory prototypes to flight-ready commercial products, you will be the architectural bridge between our internal engineering disciplines (GNC, AI Computer Vision, Embedded Software, and Robotics) and our commercial customers' spacecraft platforms. You will own the definitive customer Interface Control Documents (ICDs), author Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for complex proximity operations, define operational safety boundaries for our Fault Detection, Isolation, and Recovery (FDIR) team, and shape the operator telemetry workflows for our ground control software.

Key Responsibilities

• Customer Integration & Interface Control Documents: Author, maintain, and own the definitive mechanical, electrical, thermal, power, and data/telemetry ICDs to enable plug-and-play integration between the RPOD Kit and third‑party host spacecraft buses.
• Mission Concept of Operations (CONOPS): Formulate end-to-end operational workflows and flight phase CONOPS for Rendezvous, Proximity Operations, and Docking (RPOD) missions—spanning far-range rendezvous, inspection, final approach, and docking.
• System‑Level Requirements & Architecture: Lead system‑level requirements decomposition, traceability, and verification matrices across the full RPOD Kit product lifecycle.
• FDIR & Safety State Definition: Collaborate with the GNC and FDIR engineering leads to define operational failure modes, system fault trees, and safety envelope criteria for autonomous abort/Collision Avoidance Maneuvers.
• Ground Control & Operator Workflows: Define ground station commanding pipelines and telemetry displays for the OpenMCT ground monitoring system to facilitate Human‑in‑the‑Loop (HuTL) simulation and mission rehearsals.
• Customer Technical Lead: Serve as the primary technical point of contact for customer vehicle integration, leading joint technical interchange meetings and mission feasibility assessments.
• Flight Qualification & FlatSat Strategy: Support the design of FlatSat test architectures and verification campaigns alongside the laboratory and embedded software teams.
• Management: Ensuring team members are effectively working towards the common goals of Obruta.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 4+ years of professional systems engineering or mission operations experience in the space industry or aerospace sector.
• Proven track record authoring and managing formal space interface documents across avionics, data protocols, and mechanical/electrical boundaries.
• Strong working knowledge of spacecraft subsystems (C&DH, GNC/ADCS, EPS, Thermal, Communications, and Propulsion) and their operational interactions.
• Familiarity with space mission lifecycles, systems engineering standards (NASA Systems Engineering Handbook, ECSS, or equivalent), and formal Verification & Validation processes.
• Excellent cross-functional communication skills, with the ability to translate high‑level customer mission requirements into clear engineering tasks.
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in Canada. Successful candidates must able to obtain and maintain a security assessment under the Controlled Goods Program.

Nice‑to‑Have Qualifications

• Hands‑on experience with satellite rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking mission architectures or space robotics.
• Familiarity with space communication standards (CCSDS, XTCE packet dictionaries, CAN bus, SpaceWire, RS-422, Ethernet).
• Experience working with requirements management tools (Valispace, Jama Software, DOORS, or Git‑based requirements frameworks).
• Direct experience supporting satellite integration, FlatSat testing, or launch/early‑orbit mission operations.

Why Join Obruta?

• Direct Influence: You will define the baseline technical architecture and customer interfaces for the industry's premier commercial docking subsystem.
• Autonomy & Ownership: You will have broad technical leadership and the opportunity to build Obruta's systems engineering and mission operations practices from the ground up.
• Interplanetary Impact: You will work on bleeding‑edge orbital autonomy that makes sustainable in‑orbit servicing, satellite life‑extension, and reusable space logistics a reality.

Additional Position and Application Info

This posting is for an existing vacancy. Thank you to all who apply. Candidates who are successfully selected for an interview will be notified by email.

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, even if they don't check every single box. We recognize the impact of imposter syndrome and value practical capability, initiative, and drive.

If the posted salary range, work location, or anything else does not exactly align with your expectations, please let us know. We'd hate to miss out on the opportunity of working together without a discussion first.

Equity

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals, including women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

Accommodation

If you require accommodation during any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us at View email address on apply.j-vers.com , and we will work with you to meet your needs.