Manager - Structures Engineering & Thermal Analysis

Building the space between proven and possible, MDA Space 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 3,800 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.

About You

Are you an experienced people leader with a strong background in structural and thermal analysis? Do you have a passion for building high-performing teams and bridging the gap between innovation and practicality across diverse engineering projects? If so, we want you to join our Brampton team.

Who We're Looking For

The Manager, Structures & Thermal Analysis is a member of the engineering leadership team and reports to the Senior Manager, Mechanical Engineering. This role leads the structural and thermal analysis discipline supporting both hardware unit development and full spacecraft systems. The Manager is accountable for technical quality, consistent methods, and strong execution of structural and thermal analysis across integrated product teams and program environments.

The Manager supports the Senior Manager, Mechanical Engineering in shaping department and corporate strategic planning cycles for analysis capability, capacity, and tooling. The role continuously aligns, improves, and modernizes analysis practices to improve delivery performance, technical rigor, employee engagement, and customer satisfaction.

The Manager oversees recruitment, retention, development, and succession planning for the Structures and Thermal Analysis team, and champions the adoption of next-generation simulation tools, techniques, and procedures. This role drives scalable processes and best practices to ensure analyses are repeatable, auditable, and aligned to qualification and verification needs.

This role is accountable for the structural and thermal analysis function, including methods, execution, reviews, and test correlation. The team provides clear technical direction and subject matter expertise to design, systems, AIT, program, and operations stakeholders, enabling early risk reduction and confident design decisions across mission-critical products.

• Strategic Direction and Planning. Set direction and strategy for the structures and thermal analysis discipline in alignment with department objectives. Establish capability roadmaps (methods, tools, capacity) to support unit-level development and spacecraft system programs.
• Technical Ownership & Execution. Lead and/or oversee structural and thermal analysis for mission-critical hardware and spacecraft systems (static, buckling, modal, random vibration/shock, acoustic, fatigue, thermal balance, and thermal distortion as applicable). Ensure margins to requirements are demonstrated and risks are identified, mitigated, and communicated.
• Analysis Methods, Models, and Verification. Define modeling strategies, verification approaches, and analysis plans (including assumptions, load/thermal cases, correlation strategy, and acceptance criteria). Ensure work products are traceable, reviewable, and aligned with program verification and qualification needs.
• Cross-functional Decision Support. Partner with mechanical design, systems engineering, electrical, AIT, and program teams to incorporate structural and thermal considerations early. Provide actionable recommendations to guide architecture, design trades, material selection, and test planning.
• Risk Management and Problem Resolution. Proactively identify technical and execution risks (multi-physics coupling, margins, environments, model validity, test-to-analysis gaps). Act as a first-line escalation point and drive timely resolution with stakeholders.
• Independent Review and Technical Governance. Lead discipline reviews and contribute to program-level reviews to ensure analysis quality, consistency, and readiness for design release, qualification, and delivery.
• Program Reviews and Readiness Assessments. Provide independent assessment of structural and thermal risks and readiness throughout the program lifecycle. Support Engineering Review Teams in identifying mitigations, closure plans, and verification evidence.
• People Leadership and Development. Recruit, onboard, assign, coach, and evaluate structures and thermal analysts. Conduct regular one-on-ones, provide timely performance feedback, and partner with senior leadership on career development, progression, and succession planning.
• Engineering Resource Facilitation. Own discipline capacity planning, prioritization, and staffing to support program execution, R&D, and business development. Balance urgent program needs with long-term capability building and ensure on-time delivery of analysis work products.
• Cross-functional Collaboration. Strengthen collaboration with engineering, program management, manufacturing/production, quality, supply chain, and test teams to ensure analysis assumptions reflect as-built realities and verification plans are executable.
• Customer and Stakeholder Support. Provide timely analysis leadership support for technical inquiries, design changes, nonconformances, and anomaly investigations, ensuring stakeholders have clear, risk-informed recommendations.
• Mentorship and Technical Leadership. Establish a strong review culture (peer reviews, checklists, sign-off criteria). Mentor engineers to increase technical depth, judgment, and autonomy, and ensure consistent application of best practices across teams.
• Tools, Methods and Standards. Drive development and improvement of analysis methods, tools, and workflows (e.g., FEA/thermal toolchains, pre/post-processing, model management, automation, and documentation). Ensure consistency, reliability, and scalability of simulation approaches aligned with organizational direction and applicable standards.
• Performance Management and Reporting. Define, steer, and report discipline KPIs (e.g., analysis schedule adherence, review findings closure, correlation quality, model reuse, and process compliance). Provide accurate and timely updates to senior management on technical risk, workload, and delivery performance.
• Budget Management. Plan, justify, and administer operating budgets for analysis tools, compute resources, training, and external support as required.
• Safety and Compliance: Ensure compliance with occupational health & safety legislation, AS‑9100 quality standards, and any applicable industry related regulations.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent.
• 10+ years of experience in structural and/or thermal analysis for aerospace, space, or other safety-/mission-critical products.
• 5+ years of people leadership and/or functional leadership experience (managing or supervising engineering teams and/or leading a technical discipline).
• Deep expertise with FEA tools (e.g., NASTRAN, Simcenter 3D, ANSYS, Thermal Desktop) and strong proficiency in developing high-quality models and reviewing others’ work.
• Strong understanding of spacecraft structural and/or thermal environments and verification approaches (static/dynamic loads, launch environments, thermal conditions, qualification vs. acceptance testing).
• Experience correlating analysis with test results (e.g., modal survey, vibration, acoustic/shock, thermal vacuum/thermal balance) and driving closure of discrepancies.
• Demonstrated ability to set technical direction within a specialized domain, communicate risk and margins clearly, and influence cross-functional design decisions.
• Strong project execution skills, including prioritization across multiple programs, schedule ownership for analysis deliverables, and stakeholder communication.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Preferred Assets

• Experience with spacecraft-level structural and/or thermal analysis, qualification, and verification planning.
• Familiarity with ESA ECSS and/or NASA standards and associated verification and documentation practices.
• Experience supporting both unit-level and system-level development, including load/thermal environments definition and subsystem-to-system interfaces.
• Experience defining, managing, or modernizing simulation toolchains (including automation, model/data management, and compute infrastructure).
• Exposure to multi-physics coupling topics (e.g., thermal distortion, thermo-elastic effects, structural-thermal interactions) and design trades.
• Eng designation in Ontario (or eligibility to obtain) is considered an asset.

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

• MDA provides competitive compensation and benefits packages including relocation and visa sponsorship. 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.

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.

MDA Ltd. is proud to provide accommodation(s) during the recruitment process. Should you require any accommodations, please indicate this on your application/cover letter and we will work with you to meet your accessibility needs.

The compensation range for this position is $120,000 - $150,000 annually. The specific compensation offered will be based on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.