Principal Engineer - Satellite Systems

At Kepler Communications, we’re not just imagining the future of on-demand space connectivity – we’re leading it!

Our mission is to provide real-time Internet access for space-based assets, enabling a new era of data-driven exploration and innovation. Kepler operates the first commercial optical data relay constellation and supports on-orbit compute and hosted payload capabilities.

What sets Kepler apart is our team: bold thinkers, skilled builders, and passionate problem-solvers who thrive on pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in space. We believe great ideas come from diverse perspectives, and we’re committed to creating an environment where you can grow, lead, and make a global impact.

If you’re ready to reach higher, move faster, and do work that shapes the future space economy – this is your launchpad. Come build the future with Kepler!

What We Offer:

• Competitive compensation with a robust equity plan to share in our success.
• Comprehensive coverage for health, dental, and vision insurance—including dependents.
• Unlimited vacation, supportive parental leave policy, and company-wide holiday shutdown.
• Semi-annual company-wide parties and frequent in-office team events.
• Relocation packages available for approved roles.
• $1,500 annual professional development fund to support your growth.
• Fully stocked Toronto office kitchen with snacks, drinks, games and top-notch kitchen appliances.
• Town Halls, Celebration Calls, and Company-wide events to stay connected and engaged.
• Kepler is a certified Great Place to Work, five years in a row.

As Principal Engineer - Satellite Systems, you will serve as a senior technical authority across Kepler’s satellite and space mission activities. Reporting to the Senior Director of Satellite Systems, you will act as a chief engineer by influence, providing independent technical oversight, guidance, and validation across multiple projects rather than being embedded within a single program. This role is intentionally designed as a cross-project, non-line-management position.

You will operate as an internal technical customer and reviewer, ensuring engineering teams are making sound architectural choices, executing against best practices, and remaining aligned with Kepler’s technical strategy and mission objectives. You will bring deep satellite system expertise and end-to-end mission experience, enabling you to challenge assumptions, identify risks early, and help teams stay on the right technical path as the company grows.

• Senior Technical Authority: Act as an independent technical authority across satellite missions and development efforts.
• Review and validate system architectures, requirements baselines, and major technical decisions.
• Ensure consistency and technical rigor across projects.
• Identify systemic technical risks and recurring challenges across ongoing work.
• Technical Review & Assurance: Serve as a reviewer for major lifecycle milestones such as SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and FRR. Critically assess design outputs, trade studies, and verification approaches produced by engineering teams. Provide clear, actionable technical feedback to ensure teams remain on a sound and executable path. Support anomaly investigations and technical issue resolution when senior judgment is required.
• Strategy to Execution Support: Translate Kepler’s satellite systems strategy into clear technical expectations and engineering guardrails. Support early-phase mission definition, concept development, and proposal activities. Help teams convert high-level mission goals into executable and technically robust system designs. Advise leadership on technical readiness, maturity, and risk across ongoing and proposed efforts.
• Mentorship & Technical Guidance: Mentor systems engineers, architects, and technical leads through guidance, review, and coaching. Act as a trusted escalation point for complex system-level technical questions. Promote disciplined systems engineering practices and strong technical judgment across teams. Influence technical culture through expertise and example rather than formal authority.
• Cross-Functional & External Engagement: Support technical discussions with…