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Telesat

Provides satellite capacity and consulting services

Senior Defence Solutions Engineering Specialist

Full-Time
No salary listed
Senior, Expert
Bachelor's
Ottawa, ON, Canada
In PersonOnsite at Ottawa HQ required a minimum of four days per week.
Solution EngineeringPre-Sales Solution Engineering

About the job

Requirements
  • 10+ years in systems engineering, solution/sales engineering, connectivity solutions, or a closely related field, with a track record of designing advanced solutions for government and defence customers in complex, high-stakes environments.
  • Deep command of networking fundamentals: OSI Layers 1–3, 3G/4G/5G systems, and MEF 3.0 Carrier Ethernet standards
  • Expertise in satellite and RF communications.
  • Experience designing and operating solutions at high security classifications.
  • Deep understanding of government and defence cybersecurity frameworks.
  • The judgment to anticipate what a defence customer needs before they articulate it, and the credibility to present it to anyone from an engineering team to a senior officer.
  • A bachelor's in engineering (Electrical, Telecom, Networking, Computer Science)
  • Fluency in English. Fluency in a second language (French, Spanish, Italian, German, Korean) preferred
  • Willingness to travel internationally.
  • Must be eligible to work in Canada and able to obtain clearance under the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP)
  • Based at Telesat HQ in Ottawa. Regular travel and occasional off-hours work come with the territory.
  • Must be willing to work onsite at Ottawa HQ a minimum of 4 days per week
Responsibilities
  • As part of the Strategic Accounts team, you will be the technical authority on Lightspeed for its Strategic defence opportunities — across the full cycle, from first customer engagement through RFI/RFP response, proposal development, design, evaluation, and post-deployment support.
  • Lead and contribute to technical responses to RFIs and RFPs, including development of: Solution narratives, Compliance matrices, Basis of design and assumptions, Supporting technical documentation.
  • Preparation of white papers, CONOPS, and capability briefs to shape customer requirements and influence pre-procurement decisions and large-scale national programs.
  • Translate the real needs of land, sea, air, and space operators into architectures that hold up under high security classifications and operational pressure.
  • Maintain a sharp, current read on defence platforms, procurement strategies, capability gaps, and modernization priorities and know where Lightspeed wins.
  • Define technical positioning and differentiation against competing systems and architectures in contested defence procurements.
  • Work shoulder-to-shoulder with Product and Engineering to align customer requirements with the network roadmap, and surface new opportunities the portfolio should chase.
  • Support business development activities, including Opportunity shaping, Technical strategy, Risk identification and mitigation
  • Represent Telesat as a technical voice customers trust — in briefings, demonstrations, and at the events where this market makes decisions.
Desired Qualifications
  • Fluency in a second language (French, Spanish, Italian, German, Korean) preferred

About the company

Telesat operates a global satellite communications network, providing satellite capacity and consulting to governments, telecom operators, and enterprises. It uses both geostationary (GEO) and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, including the Lightspeed LEO constellation, to deliver wide-area connectivity. Services include inflight and maritime connectivity, as well as connectivity for oil and gas and corporate networks. Revenue comes from long-term contracts and service agreements. Its Lightspeed network aims to offer high-speed, low-latency links, enhancing overall performance. The company differentiates itself by combining GEO and LEO assets and by offering end-to-end connectivity solutions through a mix of satellite capacity and advisory services, targeting a diverse set of industries worldwide. The goal is to provide reliable, global communications with predictable service through long-term customer relationships.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Ottawa, Canada

Founded

1969

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • August 2026 financing added $120 million liquidity ahead of December maturities.
  • Lightspeed financing includes $2.14 billion Canada and $400 million Quebec government support.
  • March 2026 guidance kept Lightspeed spending at $1.0 billion to $1.2 billion.

What critics are saying

  • June 30, 2026 filings show $2.7 billion GEO debt current, due December 2026 to October 2027.
  • Telesat warned of material uncertainty; refinancing failure risks GEO restructuring before year-end 2026.
  • GEO revenue fell 27% in 2025, leaving Lightspeed dependent on government funding.

What makes Telesat unique

  • Telesat balances GEO cash flows with Lightspeed LEO, unlike pure-play constellation peers.
  • September 2, 2026 Farcast milestone advances integrated user terminals for Lightspeed.
  • Canada’s 15-year Arctic defense contract gives Telesat sovereign, mission-critical demand.

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Benefits

Remote Work Options

Hybrid Work Options

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

16%

1 year growth

16%

2 year growth

16%
Financial Post
Aug 13th, 2026
Telesat secures $120M loan as $2B debt maturity looms, shares plunge 13%

Telesat has secured a $120 million loan as it faces looming debt obligations, with shares dropping 13% following the announcement. The Canadian satellite operator stated in a Thursday filing that it believes existing debt will be managed to allow its GEO business to continue operations. However, the company warned of "material uncertainty" regarding Telesat GEO's debt maturities due in December 2026. The filing acknowledged substantial doubt about the division's ability to meet debt obligations when they come due, though the company provided no guarantee of successfully addressing these challenges. The development highlights mounting financial pressure on the satellite communications provider as it navigates its debt structure.

Yahoo Finance
Aug 7th, 2026
Telesat secures $1.7B Arctic satellite contract for Lightspeed network

Telesat's subsidiary has secured a C$2.3 billion, 15-year Arctic connectivity contract under Canada's Enhanced Satellite Communications Project. The agreement will fund 69 Lightspeed satellites. The announcement follows strong stock performance, with shares gaining 44.44% over seven days and 85.46% year-to-date. The stock now trades at $54.08. Telesat currently operates at a loss of $185.31 million on revenue of $388.27 million. The company's price-to-sales ratio stands at 3x, above peer and US telecom industry averages of 1.9x and 1.4x respectively. However, Simply Wall St's regression model suggests a fair P/S ratio of 6.9x, indicating potential upside if forecast revenue growth materialises. The contract prompted a special investor call.

Telesat
Nov 4th, 2025
Telesat invests US$5 million in Farcast to develop fully integrated User Terminals for Telesat Lightspeed satellite network | Telesat

Universal ConnectivityDefenceFirst RespondersTelesat Government Solutions

StreetInsider
Nov 4th, 2025
Telesat invests $5M in Farcast partnership

Telesat has invested $5 million in Farcast to develop integrated User Terminals for the Telesat Lightspeed satellite network. Farcast will deliver a Flat Panel Antenna User Terminal integrated with the Telesat Lightspeed modem, with production planned for 2027. Telesat will also join Farcast's board. Farcast's technology offers reduced Size, Weight, Power, and Cost, enhancing Telesat's value proposition. Farcast is raising a $10 million Series Extension to support commercial manufacturing.

StockTitan
Sep 13th, 2024
Telesat Completes $2.54 Billion Funding Agreements for Telesat Lightspeed Satellite Constellation with Strong Government Backing | TSAT Stock News

Telesat secures $2.54B funding for Lightspeed satellite project, aiming to bridge global digital divide. Learn how this Canadian-backed initiative plans to expand internet access and create jobs, with launches set for 2026.