Maxar adds former Airbus exec

Maxar Technologies has hired nearly 25-year space industry veteran and former Airbus executive Jim McClelland as vice president for the newly-established mission architecture function.

He will focus on Maxar’s efforts to diversify its space infrastructure business and further expand in civil and national security markets with an emphasis on architecture and satellite system engineering activities for new mission designs, the company said Wednesday.

McClelland will report to Maxar Chief Technology Officer Walter Scott in this new position that spans both the space infrastructure and Earth intelligence businesses.

This appointment marks a return of sorts to Maxar for McClelland, who worked at the former DigitalGlobe between 1996 and 2011 in technical and management roles. DigitalGlobe became part of what is now Maxar in 2017.

In his prior role at Airbus, McLelland worked as chief technology innovation officer for that company’s U.S. space and defense subsidiary. He is also a former chief technology officer for OneWeb Satellites and held vice president roles at Millennium Space Systems and Skybox Imaging.