At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of secure, innovative systems for defence and government applications.
- Company: SkyWatch, a leader in democratizing access to satellite data.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, stock options, health benefits, and flexible work arrangements.
- Other info: Opportunity for significant career growth and direct impact on national security.
- Why this job: Be a founding member shaping the future of earth observation technology.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in software development with experience in secure systems and team leadership.
SkyWatch is at the forefront of revolutionizing how earth observation data is accessed and utilized globally. Our innovative platform empowers businesses, researchers, and governments to easily integrate satellite data into their operations, driving informed decision-making and unlocking new opportunities for growth and efficiency.
Founded on the principle of democratizing access to space-based technology, SkyWatch provides a seamless interface that aggregates data from numerous satellite sources, offering unparalleled access and insights. Whether monitoring agriculture, managing infrastructure, or advancing scientific research, our scalable solutions cater to diverse industries with a commitment to reliability, security, and sustainability.
The mission is to build and lead the team that puts SkyWatch's platform inside Canada's sovereign and defence environments. We are opening an Ottawa engineering team to deliver a sovereign version of our platform: deployable in private cloud, on premises and air-gapped, accredited for government use, interoperable with defence systems, and carrying our AI agents inside the security boundary. You are its first hire and its technical owner.
The role involves owning the architecture of the sovereign product line and the roadmap and delivery of the Government & Defence engineering team. You will build the team from the ground up, about six engineers and two continuously staffed co-op seats over 2027, and you are the technical acceptance authority at each delivery milestone. Reporting to the CEO, you have real say over what gets built and how.
Key responsibilities:
- Own the sovereign architecture.
- Lead accreditation.
- Hold a very high bar for user experience.
- Deliver interoperability.
- Bring AI inside the boundary.
- Run roadmap and delivery.
- Build and lead the team.
- Own the government support surface.
Who you are:
- A systems architect for constrained environments.
- Fluent in defence customers.
- Great taste in usability.
- Commercially minded.
- A team builder.
- AI-first by habit.
Qualifications:
- 10+ years building production software, including 3+ years as a principal, architect or technical lead on secure or defence systems.
- Hands-on experience with on-premises, private-cloud or air-gapped deployment, and with security assessment and authorization (ITSG-33, NIST 800-53 or equivalent).
- Experience leading an engineering team through milestone-based delivery to a government customer.
- Experience making build decisions with a business trade-off.
- Canadian citizenship and eligibility to obtain and maintain a Government of Canada security clearance (Secret or higher).
- Experience with geospatial, imagery or ISR data and defence interoperability standards strongly preferred.
- Experience deploying LLM or agent systems in regulated environments preferred.
Compensation:
Base salary plus stock options. Health benefits and on-site or hybrid work from Ottawa. Indicative base salary: CA$200,000 to CA$240,000, depending on experience and clearance.
Accessibility at SkyWatch:
At SkyWatch, we believe every candidate deserves a fair and inclusive experience. If you require an accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know — we're happy to work with you to ensure your needs are met.
Principal Defence Systems Engineer employer: SkyWatch Space Applications Inc.
SkyWatch is an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration, making it an ideal place for a Principal Defence Systems Engineer to thrive. With a commitment to employee growth, you will have the unique opportunity to build and lead a new engineering team in Ottawa, directly influencing the development of cutting-edge technology while enjoying competitive compensation and comprehensive health benefits. Our supportive work environment prioritizes simplicity, dependability, and empathy, ensuring that you can pursue meaningful projects that contribute to Canada's sovereign defence capabilities.
Contact Details:
SkyWatch Space Applications Inc. Recruitment Team
