--- title: 'Embedded Software Architect, User Terminals at Telesat' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/embedded-software-architect-user-terminals-telesat-ottawa-mbqn2vscse1x' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-10-16' --- # Embedded Software Architect, User Terminals at Telesat - **Company:** Telesat - **Location:** Ottawa, Canada - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** hybrid - **Posted:** 2026-09-21 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-16 - **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/telesat/9cf64320-f7df-4a7d-9794-67a003822e7e ## Job description Telesat (Nasdaq and TSX: TSAT) is a leading global satellite operator, providing reliable and secure satellite-delivered communications solutions worldwide to broadcast, telecommunications, corporate and government customers for over 55 years.  Backed by a legacy of engineering excellence, reliability and industry-leading customer service, Telesat has grown to be one of the largest and most successful global satellite operators. Telesat Lightspeed, our revolutionary Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network, scheduled to begin service in 2027, will revolutionize global broadband connectivity for enterprise and Government users by delivering a combination of high capacity, security, resiliency and affordability with ultra-low latency and fiber-like speeds. Telesat is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, and has offices and facilities around the world. The company’s state-of-the-art Satellite fleet consists of 12 GEO satellites, the Canadian payload on ViaSat-1 and one LEO 3 demonstration satellite.  For more information, follow Telesat on X and LinkedIn or visit www.telesat.com The Software Architect - User Terminals will define and lead the software architecture for Telesat military and government satellite communication terminal solutions. The role provides technical leadership across programs, ensuring software designs meet system, security, operational, and long-term product requirements. Main Responsibilities - Define and maintain software architecture for military User Terminal products and programs. - Lead architectural trade studies and technology evaluations. - Collaborate with Systems Engineering to derive software architectures from system requirements. - Ensure software designs meet reliability, resiliency, and cybersecurity requirements. - Define interfaces between embedded software, networking components, modems, and external systems. - Serve as software technical authority during customer engagements and design reviews. - Guide development teams on architecture implementation and best practices. - Support proposals, demonstrations, and technical reviews. - Support integration, troubleshooting, and root-cause analysis. - Mentor software engineers and technical leads. Education and Experience Required - Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related discipline. - Master's degree considered an asset. - 10+ years of software engineering experience with increasing technical leadership responsibility. - Experience defining and leading architectures for SATCOM, wireless communications, networking, defense, aerospace, or telecommunications systems. - Experience working on government, military, defense, or security-sensitive programs is highly desirable. Specialized Knowledge, Skills and Abilities - Strong understanding of software architecture principles and design methodologies. - Experience architecting distributed, embedded, and real-time software systems. - Strong knowledge and experience with SATCOM, wireless communications systems, modem technologies, RF systems, and IP-based communications. - Experience with User Terminal, gateway, modem, antenna control, networking, or telecommunications systems. - Understanding of military communications concepts, tactical networking, and mission-critical systems. - Experience programming in C, C++, and Python. - Knowledge of Linux-based embedded systems and operating system fundamentals. - Strong understanding of routing, switching, VPNs, QoS, multicast, and secure communications. - Experience with virtualization, containerization, and cloud technologies. - Understanding of cybersecurity principles and secure software development practices. - Experience with Agile development methodologies. - Excellent communication and problem-solving skills. Decision Making and Supervision - Provides architectural direction across military User Terminal programs. No direct reports, but significant technical leadership and mentoring responsibilities. Working Conditions - Hybrid work environment. Occasional domestic and international travel may be required. The successful candidate must be able to work in Canada and obtain clearance under the Canadian Controlled Goods program (CGP). At Telesat, we take pride in being an equal opportunity employer that values equality in the workplace.  We are committed to providing the best candidate experience possible including any required accommodations at every stage of our interview process.   All qualified applicants that have been selected for an interview that require accommodations, are advised to inform the Telesat Talent team accordingly.  We will work with you to meet your needs.   All accommodation information provided will be treated as confidential. ## About Telesat ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Telesat is a leading global satellite operator that designs, builds, and operates advanced satellite networks to deliver critical connectivity solutions for enterprise, government, telecom, maritime, and aeronautical customers. - **Entity Type**: Public (Nasdaq and TSX: TSAT) - **Headquarters**: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (with offices in Bethesda, US, and other global locations) - **Founded**: 1969 (often described as a "54-year-old start-up") - **Founders**: Not publicly available (established as a Canadian crown corporation originally) ## Core Business - **Primary industry/industries**: Satellite Communications, Telecommunications, Space Infrastructure - **Target customers**: B2B, Enterprise, Government, Telecom operators, Maritime, Aeronautical, and Broadband service providers - **Mission or purpose statement**: Deliver critical satellite connectivity solutions that tackle today’s most complex communications challenges, connecting the unconnected and expanding the reach of transformational technologies. ## Products & Services - **Geostationary (GEO) Satellite Fleet**: A state-of-the-art global fleet of geostationary satellites providing reliable, high-capacity connectivity for broadcast, broadband, and enterprise customers. This is the legacy business generating current revenue. - **Telesat Lightspeed™ (LEO Network)**: A revolutionary Low Earth Orbit satellite network optimized for enterprise and government customers. Designed to provide ubiquitous, affordable, high-capacity links with fibre-like speeds for telecom, government, maritime, and aeronautical applications. This is the company's primary growth initiative. - **Technical Consultation & Support Services**: Industry-leading technical expertise and consulting services provided to satellite operators, insurers, and other industry stakeholders globally. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: $655.4 million market cap (as of recent data) - **Key Metric**: Annual Revenue of CAD $418M (LTM) / GEO Revenue guidance for 2026: C$300M-C$320M - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Publicly traded company; specific institutional investors not listed in search results. Key partners include telecom, government, and enterprise customers globally. - **Growth Signals**: - Developing Lightspeed, a next-gen LEO network with 156+ enterprise-class satellites, fully funded for global service (US$3.8B). - GEO backlog of C$800M and LEO backlog of C$1.1B (Q1 2026). - Headcount growth of +14.6% YoY (+133 people), now employing 575 people. - Identified 4,500+ enterprise and government accounts globally for Lightspeed go-to-market. - IPO in 2021. ## Competitive Advantages - **50+ Years of Heritage**: A "54-year-old start-up" with decades of industry-leading engineering excellence and reliability, combined with a disruptive, innovative culture. - **Dual-Architecture Strategy**: Operates both a mature, cash-flowing GEO fleet and a next-gen LEO network (Lightspeed), providing stability and a future growth engine. - **Enterprise & Government Focus**: Lightspeed is specifically designed for the high-reliability, mission-critical needs of enterprise and government customers (a $320B addressable market), differentiating it from consumer-focused LEO constellations. - **Established Customer Relationships**: Long-standing, collaborative partnerships with customers globally, providing deep market knowledge and a strong sales channel. ## Strategic Focus - **Lightspeed Deployment**: The primary strategic priority is the launch and operationalization of the Telesat Lightspeed LEO network, targeting global service. - **Revenue Transition**: Managing the transition from legacy GEO broadcast/broadband revenue to high-growth LEO enterprise and government revenue. - **Market Expansion**: Leveraging the Lightspeed network to capture a share of the $650B LEO addressable market, with a specific focus on telecom, government, maritime, and aeronautical verticals. - **Talent Acquisition**: Actively hiring brilliant, inspired people to bring the Lightspeed network to life and continue innovating. ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: Described as collaborative, customer-centric, and innovative. The company values openness, honesty, and integrity. It celebrates diversity and supports community involvement through volunteerism and STEM initiatives. - **Work Environment**: Collaborative office spaces designed to foster teamwork and creativity. Remote options are available for some roles (e.g., Account Executive, Government Business Development Northern Europe is listed as remote). - **Notable Perks & Benefits**: - Highly competitive salaries with performance-based compensation and annual bonuses. - Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance. - Parental and family leave benefits. - Generous paid time off, holidays, and flex days. - Retirement and pension plans with company matching. - Employee discount programs, social outings, and team-building events. - **Engineering Culture**: A strong legacy of engineering excellence. Employees work on one of the most ambitious communications challenges in history (Lightspeed). Co-op and internship programs are available for early career talent to learn from industry experts. ## Sources 1. [Telesat.com - Careers](https://www.telesat.com/careers/) 2. [Telesat.com - About Us](https://www.telesat.com/about-us/) 3. [LinkedIn - Telesat](https://linkedin.com/company/telesat.com) 4. [Telesat.com - Jobs](https://www.telesat.com/careers/jobs/) 5. [Telesat.com - Investor Presentation (May 2026)](https://www.telesat.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Investor-Presentation-May-2026-1.pdf) ## Other roles at Telesat - [Supply Chain Contract Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/supply-chain-contract-manager-telesat-ottawa-v0sn59r6rnys) — Ottawa, Canada - [Solutions Architect](https://feeny.ai/job/solutions-architect-telesat-ottawa-hyh8dtar7x0b) — Ottawa, Canada - [Senior Network Management Software Developer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-network-management-software-developer-telesat-ottawa-dp32nzwa9tjr) — Ottawa, Canada - [User Terminal System Engineering Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/user-terminal-system-engineering-specialist-telesat-ottawa-am6j0hm93shj) — Ottawa, Canada - [Senior User Terminal System Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-user-terminal-system-engineer-telesat-ottawa-ka1ntrzvqa0w) — Ottawa, Canada - [Senior Manager, Program Management Office](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-manager-program-management-office-telesat-ottawa-1dz5f077fnag) — Ottawa, Canada - [Technical Program Integration Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/technical-program-integration-lead-telesat-ottawa-nc2b7sdyxm3t) — Ottawa, Canada - [User Terminal Program Manager, Mil-Ka](https://feeny.ai/job/user-terminal-program-manager-mil-ka-telesat-ottawa-canada-or-bethesda-znse5ws10kgk) — Ottawa Canada OR Bethesda, United States - [Senior Engineering Delivery Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-engineering-delivery-lead-telesat-ottawa-9xgf9m9970kk) — Ottawa, Canada - [Senior Manager, Embedded Software](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-manager-embedded-software-telesat-ottawa-1jf24ekqbsdq) — Ottawa, Canada