We’re looking to onboard people who are passionate about contributing to the next generation of space exploration.
Join MIST
Recruitment Process
Pre-Application - A list of positions the team is recruiting for is provided in the following section. Please review the list to see which sub-teams and positions are of interest to you.
Application Submission - Please fill out the form linked below. This form allows the team to learn more about your skills and experiences. In order to gain a better understanding of your experiences, we request a cover letter and Resume/CV. Although not required for all positions, applicants are encouraged to submit a portfolio with past work/relevant projects.
Application Review - Following submission, MIST will review applications. Applicants of interest will be invited to attend an interview to assess compatibility for the team. Applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript. For those with grade points below 4.0 on the McMaster grade scale, please submit additional supporting documents such as project files, portfolios, etc.
Applicant Acceptance - Successful applicants will be notified via email and given a time period to accept the offer and begin the onboarding process.
Open Positions
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Description
Do you enjoy coordinating events and leading outreach activities? The MIST Team needs someone who can help organize team socials, events involving the wider McMaster community and large-scale outreach activities. If this sounds like something you'd like to be a part of, then consider applying to join the team.
Main Tasks and Responsibilities:
Attend weekly meetings
Coordinate all MIST outreach events (eg. SHAD and space week)
Work with Team Lead to coordinate larger events
Requirements:
Well-organized, and demonstrates strong time management skills
Good communication skills
Works well with others
Any program at McMaster welcome - must have interest in space and astronomy
Located in Hamilton or have the ability to travel to McMaster for in person outreach events year round
Preferences:
Experience working in leadership on clubs/teams/volunteer activities
Experience with outreach and event coordination
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Description:
Have you ever imagined yourself in the NASA mission control room, waiting with excitement for the launch of a rocket or deployment of a satellite? Then this is the position for you!! We're building our very own mission control center right here on McMaster's campus and we need your help!!The Mission Operations & Control team is responsible for building the software infrastructure for our ground station. This software will allow us to send commands to the satellite, and receive/visualize data transmitted from our satellite to the ground. All of the data received from the satellite will be displayed in our Grafana dashboard, along with data from a variety of sensors monitoring our ground station.
As a MOC software developer and automation engineer, your role will involve developing scripts to automate the collection and processing of data from a variety of sensors on our ground station, as well as data from devices on the CubeSat. You will be responsible for the development and maintenance of systems and tools related to the mission, with a focus on data visualization, scripting, and Linux server management.
MOC is also looking for support in integrating with other aspects of the CubeSat, if you have experience doing embedded development that would be a huge plus! The best part about working with MOC is you will have the opportunity to touch every portion of the mission, starting at the user interface design, all the way to the low-level C code.
Main Tasks and Responsibilities:
Design and develop reliable, high quality software related to:Data Collection and Processing
Automation of processes
Simulations/test procedures
Flight software integration
Ensuring all work is thoroughly documented !!!
Communicate updates at weekly meetings
Requirements:
Enrolled at McMaster University
Ability to effectively use git
Experience working in Linux environments
Experience with Python
Proficiency in Bash scripting and other scripting languages
Experience with front-end development
Experience with databases and backend API development
Experience with low-level software languages such as C
Embedded development experience
Preferences:
Experience with SQL / NoSQL databases
Experience with Typescript/JavaScript and Web Frameworks
Experience with Grafana or similar data visualization tools
Experience with continuous-integration/development practices
Familiarity with software development best practices, including version control, testing, and documentation
Strong problem-solving and analytical skillsion
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Description:
The operations team manages the internal and external communications of the satellite team. Our focus is on ensuring we have a strong social media presence, are able to run events to share our love for space with the McMaster community, recruit highly motivated individuals, and make sure the team has what they need for a successful launch.Main Tasks and Responsibilities:
Regular maintenance of website (page updates, team roster, recruitment posts, etc)
Create content such as blog posts highlighting aspects of the mission
Attend weekly operations team meetings
Requirements:
Experience with SquareSpace or similar webhost platform
Experience with Photoshop or other graphics software
Preferences:
Experience with HTML/CSS is an asset but not required
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Description
The operations team manages the internal and external communications of the satellite team. Our focus is on ensuring we have a strong social media presence, are able to run events to share our love for space with the McMaster community, recruit highly motivated individuals, and make sure the team has what they need for a successful launch. Join the Operations team as an Internal team member to gain some management experience and learn about the McMaster NEUDOSE project.
Main Tasks and Responsibilities
Attend weekly operations team meetings
Help create documents to keep the team organized (i.e. project timeline, scheduling, tasks, etc)
Work on systems to facilitate communication and organization within the team regarding human resources
Requirements
Well-organized, highly motivated, and willing to learn!
Good writing and communication skills
Comfortable working with document management, Microsoft Office Suite, and Google Suite
Preferences
Experience working in leadership on clubs/teams/volunteer activities
Our Subteams
Operations Team
The Operations Team is responsible for the management of internal and external communications for the NEUDOSE team. Our focus is on maintaining a strong social media presence, running events to share our love for space with the McMaster community, and ensuring that the team has what they need for a successful launch. We are also responsible for the recruitment, onboarding, and offboarding of all team members.
Systems Team
Systems Engineering is the most critical subteam of a space mission. We oversee all high-level design and implementation decisions and guide other subteams through each mission phase: concept development, preliminary design, critical design, AIT (assembly, integration, and testing), launch and operation. We focus on maintaining technical documentation and standards along with reviewing and approving design submissions (mechanical, electrical, and software) to ensure that subteams are working together towards a polished and consistent final product that meets all requirements and constraints from internal and external sources.
Attitude Determination & Control System Team
The Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) is responsible for controlling PRESET's attitude (i.e. orientation) and angular velocity while it is in orbit. The ADCS subteam's main tasks involve the development of mathematical algorithms (software) that can control both PRESET's attitude and angular velocity, and that can determine PRESET's attitude relative to the Earth. These algorithms will be executed through the use of 3-axis magnetorquers that are designed, manufactured, and tested by the ADCS subteam. Finally, ADCS is responsible for the design of spring-loaded hinges that can deploy PRESET's solar panels outwards, thereby increasing its frontal area (and drag) to deorbit the satellite within the required 5-year time frame.
Radio Communications Team
COMMs is the backbone of establishing and maintaining a communication link between our team located on Earth and the scientific payload in space. A communication link allows for the wireless transfer of data through the use of electromagnetic waves, specifically in the radio and microwave frequency bands.
Establishing this link allows for three key opportunities:
i. The data generated from the science payload can be obtained and analyzed.
ii. The information regarding the satellite system health and each sub-system can be monitored.
iii. Satellite operations can be changed/updated during each orbit cycle.
Command and Data Handling Team
The CDH team oversees the handling of the satellite’s data. This includes processing, storing and moving data around to various subsystems. CDH is the interface between ground crews and all other components of the satellite in addition to monitoring the health and state of the satellite.
Electrical Power System Team
The EPS team is responsible for generating, storing, and distributing electrical power to ensure all satellite subsystems operate reliably throughout the mission. Power generation is handled by solar panels converting energy from the sun into electrical power. This power is stored in a series of batteries for future use by the satellite and then provided to other sub-systems through the power distribution system. All of these systems ensure continuous and stable power delivery under varying orbital conditions. Reliable power is essential for every subsystem’s functionality, making EPS critical to overall mission success and longevity.
Mission Operation and Control Team
The Mission Operations and Control team is responsible for building the software infrastructure for our ground station. This software will allow us to send commands to the satellite, and receive/visualize data transmitted from our satellite to the ground. All of the data received from the satellite will be displayed in our Grafana dashboard, along with data from a variety of sensors monitoring our ground station.
Mechanical Team
The mechanical team is responsible for the design, manufacturing, assembly, integration, and testing of the mechanical structure of the satellite, the central payload, and its deployment mechanisms which include the satellite's antenna and deployable magnetometer. The Mechanical Team is responsible for all mechanical assemblies of PRESET, ensuring that each subteam complies with the mass and volume requirements specified by the launch provider. The team designs, manufactures, assembles, and tests the functionality of the 3U rail structure, mechanical antenna assembly, Electron Spectrometer Telescope (EST) housing, and deployable magnetometer boom. In addition, the Mechanical Team verifies that PRESET can withstand the space environment by simulating its thermal properties in orbit and conducting environmental testing, including thermal vacuum (TVAC) and random vibration tests.
Payload Team
The Payload team is responsible for the mission's scientific payload, creating radiation monitoring instruments that will enable the satellite to fulfill its primary research objectives. Key responsibilities include design and manufacture of data acquisition PCBs to be used in the instrument, writing firmware to control the instrument, and instrument calibration and testing. Members will be able to apply their technical skills to help develop a novel scientific instrument.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When is the deadline?
A: MIST recruits on a bi-monthly basis (ie. every other month), where the form will be open for two weeks. If the positions are listed above, it means that we are still actively recruiting for the role!
Q: What is the time commitment for the team?
A: You will be required to join weekly meetings with your designated sub-team (1-2 hours), where the sub-team leader(s) will assign tasks to you and check in on your progress. You will also be encouraged to join weekly general and/or systems engineering meetings (1-2 hours), which consist of team-wide discussions and decision-making. As you get to know more about the team projects, your tasks will become more complex, which will require additional time commitments outside weekly meetings.
Q: Do I need to available on campus?
A: No. Weekly meetings are either fully virtual or hybrid, allowing members to join from anywhere. Sometimes our members will need to access our labs and facilities for in-person development and testing, but this can be arranged for those who are available.
Q: Do you recruit lower/upper year students?
A: We recruit a mix of upper and lower year students. While upper year students bring more experience, lower year students are able to stay on longer and grow with the team. All passionate students are welcome to apply! However, we do require that you have finished your first year of studies to ensure that you can keep up with your academics.
Q: What can I do to increase my chances of being selected?
A: We are always looking for passion, commitment, problem solving and critical thinking skills, so make sure you demonstrate that in your application! For example, this means that we look for personal projects and experiences in addition to coursework. Also, research into the team's goals and projects goes a very long way, especially if you can come up with good questions to ask of the team.
Q: What is the interview process?
A: If selected, you will be interviewed by two or more team leaders for 30-60 minutes depending on the requirements of the role. You will be asked several non-technical questions related to your interest and availability, then several technical questions based on your past projects and experiences. Finally, you will get a chance to ask any questions you may have for the team.
Q: Will I receive support and mentorship after I join?
A: Absolutely! Your sub-team leaders will introduce you to the rest of the team and guide you through the onboarding process. As a team, we write extensive documentation and training materials to facilitate knowledge trasfer. And if you have any questions, everyone on the team will be eager to help you out!
