Payload Sensor Specialist

The role

We are looking for a Payload Sensor Specialist to join our Aerospace Research Centre and support the integration of innovative sensor technologies on NRC aircrafts, including drones. You would be someone who shares our core values of Integrity, Excellence, Respect and Creativity. 

The Aerospace Research Centre is looking to expand its capability in full scale aircraft autonomy. As part of this growth, the successful candidate will take a leading role in integrating and testing sensor payloads on NRC aircrafts. In this role, the candidate will collaborate closely with specialists in earth observation / Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance, (ISR) rotorcraft, fixed‑wing flight‑controls experts, and researchers working across the full autonomy and data exploitation system stack.

A key focus of this role is the installation, configuration, calibration, and integration of payload sensors to support advanced autonomous flight and mission‑system capabilities. This includes:

• Sensor characterization, selection, and performance evaluation; 
• Sensor configuration, calibration and platform integration;
• Geo‑referencing, intrinsic and extrinsic calibration, and alignment;
• Integration and synchronization of multi‑sensor data streams;
• Working with gimbals, stabilizers, pan-tilt units (PTUs), and other mechanical/electro‑optical pointing systems;
• Ensuring accurate time‑stamping, metadata pipelines, and compatibility with autonomy and mission‑system architectures. 
   

The role will guide the establishment and optimization of facilities and competencies to advance autonomous flight innovation and foster Canadian commercialization opportunities. 

The candidate will coordinate closely with the team to ensure effective resource sharing, maximize the impact of new activities, and achieve a “force multiplication” effect through collaboration. This role will also be critical to identify and address gaps, ensuring alignment with client requirements and supporting technology readiness for operational deployment. 

Screening criteria

Applicants must demonstrate within the content of their application that they meet the following screening criteria in order to be given further consideration as candidates:

Education

Bachelor or Master’s Degree from a recognized university specializing in Engineering or Physics relating to sensor technologies.

For information on certificates and diplomas issued abroad, please see Degree equivalency

Experience

• Hands-on experience configuring, and troubleshooting aircraft sensor payloads, including intrinsic/extrinsic calibration, alignment, and characterization of electro‑optical, infrared, LiDAR, radar, or other mission‑system sensors aboard subscale or full‑scale aircrafts;
• Hands‑on experience with flight‑test instrumentation, including wiring, mounting, synchronization of multi‑sensor data streams, and working with gimbals, stabilizers, PTUs, and other pointing or stabilization systems; 
• Experience doing software development, particularly with MATLAB, Python, C, and C++, for tasks such as sensor modeling, calibration tooling, data‑pipeline development, post-flight data analysis and sensor system integration;
• Experience with geo‑referencing, navigation systems, timing systems, telemetry, or autonomy‑stack components;
• Experience integrating sensors or mission‑system payloads into aircraft systems;
• Experience with avionics is considered an asset, and;
• Experience with autonomous or semi‑autonomous aircraft platforms is considered an asset.

Condition of employment

 Secret clearance

A thorough security clearance process will be applied. 

For a Secret Clearance, verification of background information over a period of 10 years is required. Individuals must have lived in Canada for a sufficient period of time to enable the security screening process. 

Language requirements

English

Information on language requirements and self-assessment tests

Assessment criteria

Candidates will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

Technical competencies

• Ability to specify, integrate, test, and troubleshoot sensor payloads for autonomous flight systems, including communications, navigation, ISR, mission sensors, radar, EO/IR, lidar and aircraft data networks;
• Knowledge of sensor and avionics data (e.g., gimbal control) interfaces commonly used in sensors and airborne environments;
• Ability to perform airborne data acquisition, processing, and analysis, including multi‑sensor data fusion, and tools for interpreting flight‑test or mission‑system data;
• Ability to create and interpret systems block diagrams, wiring diagrams, interface control documents (ICDs), and data‑recording or telemetry documentation, ensuring compatibility across subsystems, and;
• Expertise with precise timing and synchronization systems, including GPS time, PTP (precision time protocol), PPS (pulse per second), and time‑correlated multi‑sensor data recording.

Behavioural competencies

Competency Profile(s)

For this position, the NRC will evaluate candidates using the following competency profile: Technology Extension

View all competency profiles

Compensation

This position is classified as a Research Council Officer (RCO), a group that is unique to the NRC. Candidates are remunerated based on their expertise, outcomes and impacts of their previous work experience relative to the requirements of the level. The salary scale for this group is vast, from $64,739 to $183,010 per annum, which permits for employees of all levels from new graduates to world renowned experts to be fairly compensated for their contributions.

NOTE: Please note that the full RO/RCO salary scale has five levels. Salary determination will be based on a review of the candidate’s expertise, outcomes and impacts of their previous work experience relative to the requirements of the level.  As such, the initial salary could be within another level of the RO/RCO salary scale (i.e. above or below the intended level for this position).

NRC employees enjoy a wide-range of competitive benefits including a robust pension plan, comprehensive health and dental coverage, disability and life insurance, office closure at the end of December, and additional supports to enhance your well-being throughout your career and beyond.

Discover the possible

Anything is possible at the NRC, named in 2025 one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People, Top Employer in the National Capital Region and Forbes Canada’s Best Employers!

As Canada’s largest research and innovation organization, our world-renowned research pushes the boundaries of science and engineering to make the impossible, possible. Every day we explore new ideas through innovative research and help companies discover possibilities that impact Canada’s future and the world.

At the NRC, you’ll also discover new possibilities. Our supportive workplace fosters a culture of creativity, welcoming fresh perspectives and innovation at all levels. We value teamwork. You’ll collaborate across multiple fields and with the brightest minds to find creative solutions. Most importantly, you’ll discover what’s possible within you as you grow, make valuable contributions and progress in your professional journey. From ground-breaking discoveries to a life-changing career, discover your possible at the NRC.

Notes

• Relocation assistance will be determined in accordance with the NRC's directives.
• ​A pre-qualified list may be established for similar positions for a one year period.
• Preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada. Please include citizenship information in your application.
• The incumbent must adhere to safe workplace practices at all times.
• We thank all those who apply, however only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.