Director of Engineering

Mission Control is based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, with a Rover Development Facility in St. Mary’s, Ontario. We’re looking for an enthusiastic and talented individual to join our team.  

About Us 

Mission Control is a Canadian space technology company building intelligent systems for the next generation of missions. Our vision is a future where intelligent space systems help humanity explore farther, understand more and protect what matters here on Earth. Our technology helps spacecraft, rovers and mission teams operate with greater autonomy, responsiveness and purpose in complex environments, delivering reliable outcomes for our customers. Our team combines software-first thinking, spaceflight heritage, advanced autonomy, mission integration experience and a practical understanding of what missions need to achieve. 

Please visit our website to learn more about our team and ongoing projects: https://missioncontrolspace.com.    

About the Job 

Mission Control is seeking a strategic and hands-on Director, Engineering to lead our engineering organization through its next phase of growth. Reporting to the executive leadership team, you will be responsible for growing and delivering engineering capability, developing, maintaining and enforcing engineering development processes and standards, and leading multidisciplinary technical teams to deliver innovative products and missions that advance the future of space exploration.

You will oversee mechanical, electrical, flight and ground software, systems, robotics, GN&C, and operations engineering disciplines to meet business needs while ensuring alignment with engineering development processes, customer requirements and quality standards. The ideal candidate brings strong technical leadership experience, a passion for innovation, and a demonstrated ability to scale engineering teams and processes in a fast-paced environment.

This role offers the opportunity to directly influence the future direction of Mission Control's products, technologies, and missions while supporting the professional growth of a talented team of engineers and scientists.

You will support and become a critical member of our team – a team of engineers, scientists, and space enthusiasts, who are passionate about being part of humanity’s next bold steps in space exploration, with a view to inspiring the next generation and the public through our work and our contributions to exploring the solar system!
 

Tasks and Responsibilities 

• People & Capability
  • Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing multidisciplinary engineering team.
  • Deploy engineers into program teams across the business, and retain accountability for their development, performance and technical growth wherever they are assigned
  • Support recruitment activities and help build Mission Control’s engineering capabilities for future growth.
  • Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Technical Governance
  • Provide technical governance to all engineering disciplines and programs by establishing and enforcing engineering processes and design gates to ensure quality, efficiency and scalability
  • Identify technical risks and develop mitigation strategies to support successful mission and product outcomes.
  • Ensure compliance with applicable quality, safety, cybersecurity, and regulatory requirements.
• Delivery & Programs:
  • Manage engineering budgets, resource allocation, staffing plans, and project priorities, and ensure engineering estimates and level of effort are credible during proposals
  • Balance engineering effort between program delivery and internal product and technology development
  • Manage engineering operations and infrastructure, including internal technology stacks in alignment with corporate objectives, technology roadmaps and business needs
• Business & External Engagament:
  • Collaborate closely with Business Development, Program Management and Executive Leadership on strategic planning and capability growth
  • Support proposal development, customer engagements, and technical reviews with commercial, government, and academic partners.
  • Represent Mission Control at industry events, conferences, customer meetings, and partner engagements.

Skills and Experience 

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or a related discipline.
• Master's degree or PhD is considered an asset.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive engineering experience.
• Minimum 5 years in engineering leadership or management roles.
• Experience leading technical teams responsible for complex products, missions, or software platforms.
• Strong technical background in software, systems, aerospace, robotics, AI, or related fields.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams and product development lifecycles.
• Knowledge of systems engineering principles and project delivery methodologies.
• Experience with risk management, technical planning, and engineering governance.
• Understanding of cloud-based software systems, mission-critical applications, or autonomous systems.
• Experience with engineering process development, quality assurance, and organizational scaling.
• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and modern engineering management practices.
• Experience working in highly regulated or safety-critical environments is an asset.
• Preference may be given to candidates with:
  • Experience in the aerospace, space technology, robotics, defense, autonomous systems, or advanced technology sectors.
  • Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation.
  • Experience supporting government, commercial space, or international missions.
  • Direct experience with AI-enabled technologies or mission operations systems.

Soft skills:  

• Exceptional leadership and people management skills.
• Ability to prioritize workload and work efficiently and autonomously.
• Proven capacity to meet deadlines in an environment with constantly shifting priorities.
• Strong strategic thinking and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Skilled at communicating complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Passion for mentoring, coaching, and developing engineering talent.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Motivated to identify and implement new tools, technologies, and processes that improve organizational effectiveness.

Bonus points for:  

• Experience working in a fast-growing startup or scale-up environment.
• Experience with lunar, planetary, or orbital mission programs.
• Previous responsibility for engineering organizations of 20+ employees.
• Track record of successfully delivering innovative products from concept through deployment.

Special Comments

Security: Successful candidates must be eligible to obtain a security clearance in Canada at the reliability status level (and potentially at the higher levels), and pass security assessment for the Controlled Goods Program (CGP).

Due to the security clearance required for Mission Control's facility, only Canadian Citizen's and Permanent Residents are eligible at this time.

Salary: The salary range for this position is $160 000- $190 000 annually.  Final compensation will be determined based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience

Location

This position is based in Ottawa, Ontario with some hybrid work flexibility. Successful candidates must reside in or be willing to relocate to Ottawa, with availability to be on-site most of the time.

Some travel may be required at certain times for this role, always following the Health and Safety Guidance of the Government of Canada.

What’s In It For You?

• Be on the forefront of space exploration and the emerging commercial space industry.
• Work to solve problems with a team of intelligent, fun people!
• Comprehensive Compensation and Benefits Package including vacation pay, wellness plan (health, vision, dental) and unlimited unpaid time off.
• Relocation assistance for eligible employees.
• Two weeks of sick/personal leave per year.
• Employee Stock Option plan for equity sharing.
• Flexible working hours.
• Work in a respectful and inclusive workplace. It is extremely important to us that all employees feel safe and supported at work, and feel able to bring their whole selves to work.
• Be part of a family-friendly company, where we understand the needs of working parents with young children (because many of us are too!).
• Bi-weekly coffee chats for connecting with colleagues socially, and for mentorship by senior staff.

How To Apply

Please apply directly through this posting, or send your application by email to hr@missioncontrolspace.com. Application materials include:

• Cover letter and resume as a single PDF (required)
• Portfolio material, references, or other indications of exceptional past work (optional)

During the hiring process we may ask to see examples of previous work or ask for a small project.

As part of our commitment to an inclusive work environment, we accept and encourage anonymized resumes.

We will accept applications until the position is filled. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.