Name: Terence Lee
Job Title: Spacecraft Systems and Integration Engineer
Company: MDA
Industry: Aerospace
What I Do
I’m a spacecraft systems and integration engineer with MDA’s Space Missions Group. I’m currently working on the RADARSAT-2 program, Canada’s next generation SAR Earth Observation satellite.
A Day in the Life
There is not really a typical day. Some days are spent fire-fighting issues. Others are spent in meetings. Others are spent in the clean room testing the satellite. Hours are typically flexible, and reflect the current activities. Core hours are usually between 9-3. Overtime hours and weekend work are fairly usual as well, particularly during a test phase.
I interact with many people on a daily basis, whether it be our technicians, other systems engineers, management, other segments of the program such as the ground segment or spacecraft operations. I also interact a lot with our subcontractors, particularly our Italian RADARSAT-2 spacecraft bus supplier in Rome.
There is also a lot of travel in this industry as our customers, sub-contractors, and facilities are quite spread out. For example on RADARSAT-2, we have sub-contractors over in Europe and the US, launch facilities in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, and Canadian Space Agency facilities in Ottawa and Montreal.
Why My Job Is Great
The space industry is very challenging and provides a very dynamic work environment.
The Downside
The long hours and sustained challenging work schedule does wear on you. The space industry is also very volatile, particularly with limited funding in Canada. It’s always a struggle to see what the next Canadian space program will be.
Off the Job
I generally like to keep active, whether it be skiing, scuba diving, playing ice hockey, running, hiking, etc.
Experiences to Learn From
I think the biggest aspect of what got me here was my involvement in the student competitions. I served as team leader for the SAE Aerodesign team for 4 years and a senior member on the Aerial Robotics team. Many jobs these days are team-based, so it’s very important to know about team dynamics and how to work well in teams.
The Best Part is
A mechanical engineer is very diverse in what he or she can do, although that’s a fair statement for engineering in general. I’ve had a chance to work on all aspects of the satellite, whether it be mechanical, electrical or software.
Something to Think About if You’re Interested in Engineering
I think mechanical engineering is one of the most versatile disciplines of engineering.