Optical Payload Systems Engineer

Maxar Intelligence is a provider of secure, precise, geospatial intelligence. We deliver disruptive value to government and commercial customers to help them monitor, understand, and navigate our changing planet. Our unique approach combines decades of deep mission understanding and a proven commercial and defense foundation to deploy solutions and deliver insights with unrivaled speed, scale, and cost effectiveness.  

Join Maxar's Space System Engineering team to shape the future of commercial Earth imaging. Build the next big thing in commercial remote sensing with an industry-leading team that exemplifies technical depth, breadth, precision, and innovation. Our team is defining--and delivering on--a vision for the next-generation of on-orbit technologies that will extend the capabilities of our industry-leading Earth imaging constellation.  

At Maxar, you'll find an environment where technical excellence is the foundation and where projects are owned start to finish. You'll have the chance to shape your own future, with the freedom to push the limits of your role with support from leaders who have your back.   

We're seeking engineers who thrive on complex problems and solutions. Ideal candidates are naturally curious self-starters with experience and knowledge pushing them to get hands on. We use data to drive our decisions and navigate uncertainty and ambiguity with an informed, balanced risk approach. If you're passionate about building the space system technologies for the future and delivering impacts that change our world, join us. 

Day In The Life: 

Each day as a system engineer on our team brings new challenges and breakthroughs. You might start by tackling a unique technical hurdle, or collaborating closely with mission and payload experts to find solutions that push the boundaries of space engineering. After solving intricate problems, you’ll jump into a brainstorming session, surrounded by passionate engineers who share your drive for innovation. Later, you might guide a cross-disciplinary team, leading efforts to refine a complex system that will soon orbit Earth. The pace is fast, but our culture is supportive, valuing both autonomy and team wins. Here, you have the authority to make a real impact, the flexibility to explore new ideas, and the chance to build something meaningful in space that transforms how we see our world. 

Responsibilities: 

• Providing expert technical support during the development of electro-optical instruments for Maxar Intelligence’s imaging satellites. 

• Working with other engineers and departments, translating business requirements into EO/IR instrument requirements. 

• Directing/performing analyses to support internal system and mission trades (e.g. aperture, altitude, spectral bandpass, mass, volume, power). 

• Independently verifying contractor performance predictions through analysis (e.g. radiometric performance, SNR, MTF, spectral response, data analysis, band radiometric and geometric specs). 

• Reviewing contractor design implementation and verification ensuring systems meet Maxar Intelligence specifications. 

• Preparing and presenting briefings at major internal/customer design reviews.