Job Description

Job Posting Title Senior Systems Engineer and Software Development Specialist
Job Category Systems Engineering
Language Requirements English / Anglais
Flexible Work Agreement Type Hybrid / Hybride
Posting End Date 2026-01-08
Job Grade PIPSC-4
Pay Range $127,829 - $160,581
Job Summary We are seeking a dedicated Senior Systems engineer & Software Development Specialist in Surveillance Distribution Systems (SDS) Engineering organization who will be responsible for leading, planning, organizing, developing, and testing software systems related to Surveillance distribution systems. This role combines deep hands-on engineering expertise with network architecture ownership, DevSecOps/infrastructure leadership, and software system delivery accountability within Agile environment.

What NAV CANADA offers you:

• Challenging, team-oriented work environment
• Competitive compensation and benefits
• Defined benefit pension plan
• Opportunities for growth and development
• Flexible work arrangements
• Diverse and inclusive workforce

Key Accountabilities:

• Provide technical leadership and expert guidance to surveillance teams, stakeholders, and business units across the design, prototyping, development, deployment, testing, and lifecycle support of Surveillance Distribution and related systems.
• Partner with management, software architects, system engineers, network engineering, and governance groups to support requirements management, system analysis, design, and operational sustainment.
• Lead and influence the design and evolution of surveillance data networks, supporting internal and external surveillance data sources.
• Collaborate with the NAV CANADA Cyber Security team to lead and implement cyber-security-related changes, ensuring compliance with mandated cyber requirements.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership for system and software design, development, and implementation of new features, enhancements, and special operational requirements.
• Lead the creation, review, execution, and management of test plans, test cases, test suites, and scripts for surveillance and companion systems.
• Create, analyze, review, and manage system and software requirements, ensuring traceability and alignment with business and operational needs.
• Translate business and operational requirements into scalable, modular, and maintainable system and software architectures, applying established design patterns and best practices.
• Utilize advanced debugging and diagnostic tools to identify root causes and resolve system, software, and integration issues across new and existing solutions.
• Perform data analysis and performance assessment of surveillance sources, including satellite-based ADS-B systems.
• Provide accurate and timely responses to critical service issues, operational incidents, and project requests, including field support when required.
• Lead or participate in safety and cyber security investigations, ensuring findings are addressed and mitigations are implemented.
• Actively monitor emerging technologies and industry trends, making recommendations for system enhancements, upgrades, and modernization initiatives.
• Participate in and contribute to technical working groups related to system engineering, software development, testing practices, methodologies, and policies.

Job Requirements
Education:

• Graduation with an acceptable engineering degree from a recognized university in Computer, Software, Electrical or Systems engineering.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of combined progressive experience in system analysis, requirements definition, architecture and detailed design, development, integration and testing of Air Traffic Control (ATC) Surveillance systems or equivalent mission-critical systems.
• Minimum 5 years of experience configuring, integrating, and troubleshooting Cisco networking equipment in complex, high-availability environment.
• Strong hands-on proficiency in C/C++ and Python, with the ability to review, guide, and enforce coding standards across development teams.
• Extensive experience in software development, maintenance, and system configuration on QNX and/or Linux platforms, including performance, availability, and reliability considerations.
• Demonstrated expertise in advanced debugging and root-cause analysis, leading defect resolution across software, network, infrastructure, and system boundaries.
• Proven ability to lead and mentor multidisciplinary engineering teams, providing technical direction across system analysis, detailed design, UX considerations, coding standards, unit and integration testing, implementation, and software configuration management.
• Experience defining and/or working with surveillance data formats and protocols (e.g., radar, ADS-B, multilateration).
• Hands-on leadership experience in SAFe/Agile environments, including leading daily stand-ups, iteration planning, PI planning, and cross-team technical alignment.
• Demonstrated ownership of end-to-end technical delivery, including planning, risk management, dependency management, and coordination with project management and stakeholders.
• DevSecOps and Infrastructure experience, including configuring and hardening Linux OS, and setting up virtual machines and cloud environments like Microsoft Azure for software development and surveillance data analytics.
• Experience leveraging Power BI and/or Apache Spark for surveillance data analytics
• Strong experience with source code management and CI/CD tools, including IBM Jazz and/or GitLab, with emphasis on code reviews, branching strategies, and release control.
• Proven experience designing, integrating, and supporting data acquisition, processing, and distribution systems, as well as monitoring and control software in operational environments.
• Ability to act as the technical point of contact for internal teams, customers, and external partners, supporting design reviews, technical decision-making, and issue escalation.

Knowledge:

• Thorough knowledge of modern system and software development life cycle processes, practices, and techniques, including Scaled Agile and DevOps.
• Knowledge of surveillance systems computer hardware and software (C/C++) and communication standards and protocols.
• Strong knowledge of software and systems development, testing, certification, and deployment, in particular: Real-time data acquisition and processing, Graphics, network communications, file and device I/O, data storage and retrieval, multi-threading, using operating system application interfaces and libraries, modeling/UML, test driven development, automated testing, continuous integration and change / configuration management.
• Strong knowledge of industry trends in software and systems technologies
• Strong knowledge of agile software development techniques, methodologies, and processes
• Knowledge of contract / procurement processes.
• Knowledge surveillance operations, procedures, technology, and business function in context of the air navigation business.
• Knowledge of project management, risk control management, quality, and safety management principle

Abilities:

• Excellent assessment, analytical, development and testing skills.
• Provide expert advice, guidance, and opinions in area of specialization.
• Guide very complex, or multiple complex projects, including cross-functional projects; coach project team members on project coordination issues and recommend approaches.
• Ability to set priorities, to adapt to changing priorities, to work under minimal supervision, to coordinate the day-to-day activities of a team, and to handle multiple concurrent projects.
• Ability to plan, coordinate and conduct studies and investigations and develop software design changes to improve systems.
• Ability to analyze, evaluate, design and implement solutions to resolve technical and maintenance problems.
• Ability to develop, evaluate and implement system/software standards and procedures.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to organize and plan work independently across interdependent teams

Personal Suitability:

• Influence the thinking of others cross-functionally to ensure department/functional goals are met, and resolve conflicts in an effective manner
• Recommend and communicate common goals and direction for department/functional area, coordinate cross-functional communication, problem solving and team initiatives, champion ideas and innovations
• Establish and maintain appropriate interpersonal relationship in dealings with team members, colleagues, and superiors.
• Build cross-functional relationships to gain support
• Maintain positive relationships with key customers, suppliers, etc., who have a significant impact on the success of the organization
• Maintain cooperative relationship with external organizations
• Verbal and written communication skills
• Seek out new avenues for building internal and external relationships

Working conditions:

• This position is based at Ottawa Technical Services Centre. -Hybrid - minimum 3 days in office.
• Occasional Travel required

NAV CANADA is committed to building a skilled, diverse workforce reflective of Canadian society. If you do not believe that you match every job requirement listed on this job posting, we still encourage you to apply. NAV CANADA encourages a culture of learning and growth, and recognizes that although some technical skills are mandatory, many others can be taught.
Our Company strives to create an inclusive and barrier-free selection process and work environment. If you require accommodations during this competition process, please ensure that you inform the interview coordinator or hiring manager of any accommodation measures you may require. NAV CANADA will provide accommodations throughout the recruitment and selection process to applicants with disabilities as required.
The successful candidate must meet the security requirement of the position and be legally able to work in Canada.
We thank all applicants for their interest; only those selected for next steps will be contacted.
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Skills Required