Senior System Lead (Aircraft Simulator)

ADGA Group is a Canadian-owned defence and security company that provides integrated, mission-critical technical solutions to Government and industry, specializing in C5ISRT, simulation and training, cyber and infrastructure security, and program delivery. With nearly 60 years of experience, ADGA supports federal clients and Canada’s intelligence and enforcement agencies through embedded teams, advisory services, and full project execution, applying deep operational expertise and innovation to strengthen national safety, resilience, and sovereignty.

Guided by a strong social mandate, the company creates meaningful employment for veterans of the CAF and RCMP and other professionals committed to public service, while fostering a safe, inclusive, and agile workplace that supports career development, professional growth, and impactful work across Canada.

ADGA is currently hiring a Senior System/Technical Lead to start as soon as possible! 

In this role, you will be the Technical Lead and oversee the full Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) for complex Modeling and Simulation (M&S) systems and "System of Systems" (SoS) products and manage the In-Service Support for deployed simulation systems.

You will bridge the gap between high-level project management and hands-on technical execution, leading a multidisciplinary team of architects, developers, and hardware specialists within a military domain.

Tasks will include:

Technical Leadership & Project Management

• Lead and supervise multidisciplinary teams through all SDLC phases, ensuring the successful delivery of simulation products.
• Manage system scheduling and ticketing within Azure DevOps (D365 environment) to track project requirements and resolve system hardware issues.
• Serve as the Primary Technical Lead for projects requiring complex integration of bespoke software and specialized hardware.
• Communicate progress through detailed regular status reports to stakeholders and domain experts.

In-Service Support (ISS) & Lifecycle Management

• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for the ongoing maintenance, stability, and operational availability of deployed systems.
• Proactively identify and mitigate risks related to aging hardware or software components to ensure uninterrupted service.
• Lead investigations into system discrepancies or performance degradation, providing robust fixes that preserve the integrity of the established baseline.
• Maintain documentation and version control to ensure consistency across all environments.
• Prioritize and execute technical tasks in alignment with Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to meet client expectations for uptime and reliability.

Software Engineering & System Design

• Design, develop, and maintain high-performance M&S software using C++, ensuring functionality and performance stability.
• Develop custom extensions and add-ons for 3rd-party simulation software to meet specific mission requirements.
• Translate user feedback into functional software and hardware requirements, modifying existing architectures to meet evolving needs.
• Collaborate with domain experts to ensure simulation fidelity and operational relevance.

Systems Integration & Infrastructure

• Oversee "System of Systems" deployment, including the integration of virtual servers and hardware components.
• Implement Obsolescence Management Plans to identify and replace aging hardware, ensuring long-term system sustainability.
• Act as the Network Administrator across multiple environments; responsible for managing user access, developer environments, and performing Level 2/3 networking tasks, including switch/router configuration, VLAN management, and hardware-level troubleshooting.

Skills & knowledge we are looking for:

• Systems Integration: Ability to design and troubleshoot the interplay between custom software, virtualized hosts, and specialized physical hardware.
• Virtualization & Infrastructure: Experience managing and supporting virtualized server environments hosted on VMware ESXi.
• Software Engineering: Expert-level C++ development; proficiency in scripting languages such as Lua or Python is highly desirable.
• Full SDLC & Agile: Proven success leading the entire lifecycle, from requirement elicitation to testing and deployment, within an Agile/Scrum framework.
• Simulation Interoperability: Hands-on experience with industry-standard protocols, specifically DIS, HLA, and CIGI.
• Network Operations: Functional knowledge of networking protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP), VLAN management, and troubleshooting connectivity within a complex, multi-site or integrated environment.
• Military Domain Context: Experience developing high-fidelity Modeling & Simulation (M&S) training applications within a defense environment.
• Previous experience providing system engineering / leadership support for an "Aircraft Simulator"

• 10+ years of experience in an application field of Engineering.
• 4+ years of experience (in the last 5) performing the role of a systems engineer doing design, development, deployment, and in-service support of “System of Systems” products.
• Demonstrated experience across the complete engineering lifecycle within a complex SoS environment, balancing immediate operational needs with long-term system evolution:
• Requirements Engineering: Eliciting and deriving technical requirements from high-level operational needs, while managing the evolution of existing baselines through direct stakeholder engagement.
• System Design: Designing robust architectures for new capabilities while ensuring the continued stability and integration of existing multi-component ecosystems.
• Validation & Verification (V&V): Executing rigorous V&V for new designs and comprehensive regression testing for maintenance updates to ensure seamless functionality within the broader system.
• Technical Documentation: Generating and maintaining high-quality technical records, design documents, and version-controlled updates.
• Experience identifying and mitigating risks (such as technical debt or obsolescence) to ensure maximum system uptime and performance.
• A Bachelors’ degree from a Canadian University in a field of Engineering related to Information Technology.

• Must be eligible to apply and obtain a Secret Level 2 Government Security Clearance with PSPC.
• Work will be performed on-site on a full-time basis. Located in a building on the Carleton University campus. Pay parking not included.

*Our recruitment systems include artificial intelligence–enabled tools; however, AI is not used to screen, evaluate, or make decisions about applicants for this role.

*Unless otherwise stated, all job postings reflect a current vacancy at the time of publication.

Work-Life Balance  

We strongly support a healthy and productive work-life balance. This starts with a flexible approach to work, and policies designed to support employees through their day-to-day routines and major life events. For example, we offer a Maternity/Parental Top-Up (up to 52 weeks) and a Reservist Leave Top-Up (up to 180 days). 

Belong@ADGA  

ADGA continuously strives to integrate advanced Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) approaches and practices into our work culture. Our employee-based DEI Committee explores activities and invites discussions that foster an environment where all employees feel valued, respected, and heard.

Compensation  

Above and beyond our commitment to offer a competitive base salary, ADGA has a company-wide profit-sharing plan for all full-time and part-time employees.

Comprehensive Benefits and Total Rewards  

We offer a comprehensive benefit program, providing employees with the choice between base or enhanced plans. Depending on the plan, ADGA pays for Health & Dental, a Health Spending Account, Short-Term Disability, an Employee Assistance Program, and a Telemedicine service. Also offered: discounts on gym memberships, 5,000+ perks through Perkoplis, a Deferred Profit Sharing Plan, and access to a wide range of other employee-centric services and savings programs.