Job Description

For those who dream of advancing our space in the Universe and on Earth, we'll take you there.

Serving the world from our Canadian home and our global offices, MDA is an international space mission partner and robotics & space operations, satellite systems and geointelligence pioneer with a 50-year story of firsts on and above the Earth. Today, we're leading the charge towards viable Moon colonies, enhanced Earth observation, communication in a hyper-connected world, and more.

We're fueled by a pioneering spirit that carries us beyond. And together we enable highly skilled people to continually push boundaries and tackle big challenges requiring solutions that endure and inspire.

Are you ready to launch the next stage of your career in the new space economy? We would love to hear from you!

We're on the hunt for a Senior Quality and Product Assurance Specialist on our Geointelligence team at our Richmond office.

Our mission is to turn data into insight. From detecting changes in fragile ecosystems to monitoring northern ice floes and shipping routes, our near-real time data of Earth observation and the environment makes our Geointelligence team a leader in geospatial imagery, ground stations, enterprise geospatial systems and defence programs.

The Senior QA/PA Specialist reports to the Manager, Quality & Product Assurance (QA/PA Manager). You are responsible for providing direct support and guidance to business pursuits and program projects, maintaining and assuring conformance to MDA's ISO 9001:2015 certified Company Quality System (CQS), and otherwise enabling company adherence to the Quality Policy.

Responsibilities fall under three key functions:

1. Programmatic independent reporting and support

2. Technical solution alignment

3. Quality system maintenance and support

Programmatic Support and Independent Reporting

• Supports contract negotiations
• Estimates, prioritizes, plans and coordinates QA/PA activities including tailoring standard processes as appropriate relative to pursuit or project needs.
• Defines corresponding work packages
• Authors detailed Quality Assurance and Product Assurance Plans and ensures appropriate stakeholder involvement.
• Provides QA leadership within pursuit/project and process execution contexts by engaging local leadership.
• Reviews pursuit/project plans for conformance to the CQS; reviews other records and documentation, including that being provided to customers, and provides timely and meaningful feedback.
• Plans, conducts and reports on project audits
• Leads and/or supports preparation for, conduct and follow-up of customer audits.
• Manages subcontractor/supplier qualification by confirming relevant risks are identified and appropriately controlled.
• Identifies and initiates records of nonconformance, facilitates determination of root cause(s), and establishes plans for resolution
• Provides oversight of projects to ensure effective implementation of CQS requirements
• Represents QA/PA interests in multi-stakeholder meetings including presenting information to customers
• Elevates quality concerns (including where aspects of 'reasonable', 'sufficient', 'adequate', 'relevant' and 'appropriate' proves contentious) among leadership and other stakeholders along the prescribed escalation path.
• Performs status reporting as necessary including authoring content and presenting on specific topics.

Technical Solution Alignment

• Assures solution requirements are appropriately addressed in terms of elements of design, implementation deliverables and subsequent verification and validation activities.
• Assures the configuration of solution deliverables is sufficiently specified and controlled.
• Leads and/or supports the establishment and conduct of source or incoming inspections for materials or services that appropriately address quality requirements.
• Where manufacturing and/or assembly activities are required (on or offsite), establishes with technical leadership the positioning and content/scope of relevant checks and inspections (i.e. readiness/ in-process/ finished component).
• Confirms the work environment is sufficiently established to perform relevant activities (as applicable), including:
• Equipment calibration and tool validation is established through available evidence.
• Relevant environment parameters are established and maintained through monitoring.
• Works with technical leadership to help define the inputs for integration activities and the applicable corresponding verification and validation activities.
• Chairs and/or participates in Change Control Boards (CCBs) and Material Review Boards (MRBs) to confirm effective dispositioning of solution components for subsequent activities.
• Leads and/or supports the conduct of independent test witnessing as required and performance of Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs) and Test Review Boards (TRBs).
• Reviews and approves technical documentation

Quality System Maintenance and Support

• Plans, conducts and reports on system (i.e. process) audits in accordance with the audit schedule and relative to established standards, plans and processes; completes audit plan and report content.
• Leads and/ or supports preparation for, conduct and follow-up of registration audits.
• Maintains the integrity of the Approved Suppliers List.
• Contributes to the continual improvement of MDA's CQS including engaging in process improvement activities and performing (or supporting) process-related training.
• Mentors colleagues in the conduct of QA/PA activities and updates personnel development plans accordingly.
• Provides functional supervision over assigned quality system topic areas to define and maintain consistency in practice and the data-driven determination of effectiveness.
• Stays informed on QA/PA best practices and applies new knowledge as appropriate within the current work context.

Requirements (experience/skills)

• Post-secondary degree in Science or Engineering (or equivalent) and at least 3 years of relevant experience (level commensurate with experience).
• Two or more years of experience leading audits (level commensurate with experience); certification to ISO 9001:2015 (or other certification to an international standard) as an internal auditor considered an asset.
• Experience working with ISO 9001:2015 (or equivalent, e.g. AS9100-D) requirements within the context of a company quality management system.
• Experience with space-based missions and flight-based product assurance, e.g. establishing safety and reliability, managing EEE and mechanical parts (including addressing counterfeit materials), and assessing aspects of materials composition.
• Familiarity with the subject matter of the following standards is desirable: ISO 20188:2018 Space systems - Product assurance requirements for commercial satellites and/or ISO 27025:2010, Space systems - Programme management - Quality assurance requirements
• Knowledge of the following standards would be an asset: ISO 14001 Environmental Management, ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety Management, and ISO 22301 Business Continuity Management.

Comments/Special Considerations:

Successful candidates must obtain and hold security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR.

MDA provides competitive compensation and benefits packages for its employees at all locations. As a team member of MDA, you and your qualified dependents are eligible to participate in a benefit plan that ensures a comprehensive level of protection through competitive health care including; extended healthcare and flexible drug plans, dental and vision benefits, disability income protection, life insurance, group retirement savings plans; and an employee and family assistance program.

MDA is an equal opportunity employer prizing diversity and inclusion. We are committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity. If you require assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please feel free to notify us.