Senior Scientist

Job description

This role is based out of Lower Mainland/Vancouver, BC. Candidates must be eligible to work in Canada.

About us

ALUULA Composites Inc. , TSXV: AUUA) is premium fabric brand headquartered on Canada's rugged west coast. Embracing the challenges of nature's elements, ALUULA's technology is not just about pushing boundaries but also preserving the very environments we explore. Through close collaboration with leading brands and factories, ALUULA brings forth a new era of products, from bags to sails, that offer unparalleled performance, construction quality, and sustainability. With a proven track record in performance windsports, ALUULA now extends its dominance into adjacent verticals, enabling people to soar higher, further, and faster with minimal environmental impact.

With strong year over year growth and ambitious plans, ALUULA is building its team to capitalize on the opportunities in front of us. If you are driven to succeed, feel a need to be challenged and want to be a part of a burgeoning brand, please introduce yourself and let's see how you might be a part of our exciting future.

Senior Scientist / Senior Engineer – Early-Stage R&D Leader

We are seeking a Senior Scientist/Engineer to lead the day-to-day operations of our early-stage Research & Development programs. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in exploratory environments—where experiments are rapid, hypotheses evolve quickly, and creativity, structure, and technical depth all matter. You will guide technical direction, coordinate hands-on work, and build the operational backbone that enables a small R&D team to execute efficiently and build for the future.

This is a hybrid technical and leadership role that blends science, engineering rigor, operational ownership, and an entrepreneurial mindset. Travel may be required for partner visits, testing, manufacturing trials, and conferences (up to 25%).

Key Responsibilities

Early-Stage R&D Leadership

• Lead and manage day-to-day operations across exploratory R&D programs.
• Translate early-stage concepts into structured experimental plans and proof-of-concept trials.
• Drive rapid prototyping, testing, and iteration with a bias toward learning and advancement.
• Provide deep technical insight to help shape hypotheses, architectures, and next-step decisions.

Operational Execution & Lab Management

• Oversee laboratory operations including equipment use, maintenance, calibration, and safety practices.
• Streamline workflows, establish SOPs, and implement systems for documentation, data capture, and experimental reproducibility.
• Maintain inventory, procure materials, and coordinate with external vendors, CROs, and testing labs.
• Ensure efficient use of R&D resources and identify improvements to accelerate experimental throughput.

Project Coordination & Team Support

• Manage project timelines, priorities, and resource allocation for the R&D team.
• Mentor junior staff, providing technical guidance and fostering a high-performance learning environment.
• Run technical meetings, standups, and cross-functional updates; maintain clarity on milestones and deliverables.
• Identify risks, interdependencies, and bottlenecks early, proposing solutions proactively.

Technical Analysis & Reporting

• Interpret experimental results, troubleshoot issues, and guide next-step experiments.
• Prepare internal technical reports, experiment summaries, and presentations.
• Support IP generation through invention disclosures, patent draft inputs, and documentation practices.
• Communicate progress to leadership, partners, and stakeholders clearly and effectively.

External Engagement

• Coordinate with partners, collaborators, suppliers, CROs, and test facilities as required.
• Travel to partner sites, pilot trials, conferences, or customer visits—up to 25%.

Qualifications

Required

• Significant hands-on R&D experience in early-stage, exploratory, or proof-of-concept environments.
• Demonstrated ability to lead small technical teams and manage day-to-day R&D execution.
• Strong foundation in experimental design, prototyping, validation, and data interpretation.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills; comfortable owning timelines and deliverables.

Preferred

• Graduate degree (M.Sc., M.Eng., or Ph.D.) in engineering, materials science, chemistry, physics, or a related discipline.
• Experience in advanced materials, polymers, composites, chemical processes, sustainability technologies, or similar fields.
• Experience working in start-ups, small R&D groups, or IP-driven organizations.

Attributes of a Strong Candidate

• Entrepreneurial mindset
  —resourceful, proactive, creative, and comfortable operating with ambiguity.
• Builder mentality
  —enjoys setting up systems, processes, and infrastructure from scratch.
• Hands-on leader
   who balances directing work with rolling up their sleeves when required.
• Bias for action
  —speed, iteration, and learning. Comfortable making decisions on the fly.
• Scientifically rigorous
  , but adaptable when moving from concept to prototype rapidly. Rational.
• Collaborative communicator
   who lifts up team members and drives alignment.
• Curious, experimental, and resilient
  , with a strong sense of ownership.

Bonus Skills

• Experience in the wind-sport industry (kites, wings, sailing, etc) or the outdoor industry a plus.
• MYOG or DIY projects in the textile space.
• Basic understanding of Microsoft Automate / Power BI.
• Python or R experience; developing automated processes
• AI/ML experience
• Strong interpersonal skills.

What we offer

• The opportunity to join a highly motivated team at a rapidly growing brand that's looking to disrupt the status quo.
• Opportunity for career advancement in a growing team environment.
• Work closely with the top outdoor brands around the world.
• Competitive salary, benefits and participation in company profit sharing program.

Benefits:

• Casual dress.
• Dental care.
• Disability insurance.
• Employee stock purchase plan.
• Extended health care.
• On-site parking.
• Paid time off.
• Profit sharing.
• Stock options.
• Vision care.

Flexible Language Requirement:

• French not required

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday; evenings and weekends as required.

Ability to Commute:

• Lower Mainland/Vancouver area.

Work Location:
 In person

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $90,000-120,000/year

Flexible language requirement:

• French not required

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Please Feel Free to Apply on our website