MDA Space Accelerates in Montreal: An Additional $474 Million in Contracts

Montreal’s space sector has just received a major boost. MDA Space’s contract with Telesat has increased by $474 million, following Ottawa’s announcement of a $2.3 billion investment to strengthen Canada’s military communications capabilities in the Arctic. For the local talent market: these next-generation satellites will be designed, assembled, and tested at MDA’s recently expanded manufacturing facility in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Montreal, which was enlarged to meet growing demand.

Telesat is expanding its low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation by 69 additional satellites, increasing MDA’s order book for this project from 198 to 225 satellites. Each spacecraft will now include dedicated military Ka-band spectrum alongside its previously planned commercial capabilities, a technical enhancement that significantly increases the manufacturing and engineering workload for MDA’s Montreal teams.

What This Means for Aerospace Recruitment

A contract of this scale, combined with an expanding production facility, typically translates into accelerated demand for specialized talent. MDA is likely to require satellite integration and test technicians, space systems engineers, RF and telecommunications specialists, as well as high-volume manufacturing personnel capable of supporting increased production rates.

MDA already employs more than 4,000 space professionals across Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. With Montreal designated as the manufacturing site for this contract, the city is becoming an increasingly important hub for anyone recruiting, or building a career, in the space industry.

This announcement is also part of a broader federal initiative. Ottawa has selected MDA as the prime contractor for a second phase of the program involving a secure medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellite constellation. While negotiations are still underway, one thing is already clear: Canada’s space industry, and Montreal in particular, is entering a sustained period of growth that is expected to create high-value employment opportunities in the months and years ahead.