Project Engineer

COVE is a global technology partner advancing high-impact solutions from seabed to space. COVE transforms innovation into market-ready technologies through testing, commercialization support, market expertise and access to critical infrastructure. Leveraging its networks and mission-driven platform, COVE connects investors, innovators, industry, and the research community to drive cutting-edge capabilities for commercial and defence applications.

Based in Canada and operating internationally, COVE supports the full lifecycle of maritime and multi-domain technologies – from research and development to manufacturing, integration, and export – linking Canadian innovation to global markets. COVE has built a globally recognized innovation platform, with an ecosystem of more than 700 organisations spanning startups, multinational firms, researchers, Indigenous partners, and public sector collaborators.

Through its programs, facilities, and partnerships, COVE enables real-world testing and validation, strengthens supply chains, and accelerates technology adoption in complex operating environments. With strong connections across the North Atlantic, the United States, and the Arctic, and as part of international networks including NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), COVE plays a key role in advancing technologies that support economic growth, environmental sustainability, and global security.

As COVE experiences rapid expansion, it is actively seeking to expand its team to further bolster its transformational influence as a global technology partner in advancing high-impact solutions. COVE recognizes that its journey toward this goal hinges on the strength of its team – a group of individuals who collaborate, innovate, and continually strive for excellence. Join COVE as it embarks on this exciting journey of discovery and advancement.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Director, Project Delivery, the Project Engineer provides engineering oversight and technical governance across for a portfolio of complex marine, defence, and dual-use technology projects.

What You’ll Do:

The Project Engineer translates operational needs into engineering requirements, reviews technical designs and test plans, validates system interfaces and acceptance criteria, and identifies technical and safety risks.Working in a matrix environment, the Project Engineer supports concurrent initiatives and provides independent technical review of vendors deliverables to confirm they are feasible, safe, maintainable, reliable, and aligned with operational and lifecycle requirements.

This role provides technical leadership throughout the project lifecycle and is accountable for ensuring that all engineering deliverables meet applicable standards, contractual and project requirements, and long-term operational needs.

• Provide engineering oversight, technical governance, engineering decision support and technical risk assessment across multiple projects, ensuring engineering deliverables align with project objectives and operational requirements, contract obligations, and applicable engineering standards.
• Serve as the Test and Validate department’s internal engineering resource by providing independent technical assessment and challenging vendor proposed solutions for alignment with operational requirements, lifecycle considerations, and organizational objectives.
• Support project planning by identifying engineering scope, project schedules, budgets, technical constraints, project milestones, resource requirements, and engineering risks.
• Review engineering designs, specifications, test plans, and vendor proposals to assess technical feasibility, safety, maintainability, cost effectiveness, reliability, operability, and compliance with applicable standards.
• Translate operational needs into engineering requirements, acceptance criteria, and integration considerations while validating system interfaces and technical dependencies.
• Provide engineering support for procurement and contract administration by developing technical scopes and specifications, evaluating proposals and contractor submissions to ensure compliance with project requirements.
• Provide technical oversight of contractor-led system integration activities, verifying that integration approaches, testing methodologies, and acceptance processes align with COVE requirements and operational objectives.
• Ensure engineering solutions consider whole-of-life support requirements, including maintainability, reliability, operability, training, technical documentation, sustainment, quality, commissioning and future scalability.
• Ensure engineering integration and safety risks and recommending mitigation strategies.
• Collaborate with project managers, contractors, government stakeholders, and technical subject matter experts to support pr