Materials Scientist – Cementitious Materials

About Us:

At EnviCore, we're transforming how the world builds by turning mineral resources and waste streams into sustainable supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). Our team brings together expertise in mineral processing, cement chemistry, and applied mineralogy to deliver low-carbon solutions to the global construction industry.

Role Overview:

We are seeking a Materials Scientist – Cementitious materials to act as the technical owner of all mortar and concrete performance data generated at EnviCore. This role is not support-oriented; it is an authoritative, decision-enabling position responsible for ensuring that all performance data is accurate, reproducible, standards-compliant, and suitable for external validation by Tier-1 industry partners.

The successful candidate will independently design, execute, and audit ASTM/CSA/AASHTO testing programs, translate material chemistry into performance outcomes, and serve as the internal reference point for all questions related to SCM reactivity, strength development, durability, and mix design behavior.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Laboratory Standards Ownership (Non-Delegable)

• Establish, maintain, and enforce laboratory SOPs for all mortar and concrete testing activities, including but not limited to:

• Reactivity: ASTM C1897 (R3 heat release, bound water) & other related

• Strength: ASTM C109, ASTM C39 & other related

• Setting & workability: ASTM C191, C1437 (where applicable) & other related

• Ensure full traceability of all test results (operator, batch ID, curing condition, equipment ID, calibration status).

• Act as final technical authority on whether data is valid, repeatable, or must be discarded.

2. Reactivity & Cement Chemistry Interpretation

• Quantitatively assess pozzolanic and latent hydraulic activity using calorimetry, bound water, and complementary techniques.
• Correlate heat release, reaction kinetics, and chemistry with observed strength and durability trends.
• Identify and document deviations caused by material variability, alkali availability, or curing regime.

3. Mortar & Concrete Mix Design Control

• Design and validate mortar and concrete mix designs targeting:
• Defined cement replacement levels
• Minimum and stretch MPa targets at 7, 28, and later ages
• Justify mix design decisions using performance data, not empirical trial-and-error.
• Flag mixes that meet strength but fail durability, consistency, or robustness criteria.

4. Durability Program Leadership

• Own the execution, tracking, and interpretation of long-term durability testing:
• Sulfate resistance (ASTM C1012)
• ASR mitigation (ASTM C1567)
• Chloride transport and resistivity (ASTM C1202, C1876)
• Ensure durability data is statistically and methodologically defensible for external review.

5. Data Integrity & Failure Analysis

• Enforce strict controls on:

• Mixing energy and sequence

• Curing temperature, humidity, and solution chemistry

• Loading rates, specimen geometry, and break procedures

• Identify root causes of anomalous results (e.g., carbonation of lime, alkali loss, mold defects, improper consolidation).

• Prevent propagation of unreliable data into decision-making or external communication.

6. Technical Reporting & Decision Support

• Produce concise, technically rigorous reports for the R&D Manager and CTO.
• Clearly distinguish signal vs noise, trends vs outliers, and validated conclusions vs open questions.
• Support external technical due diligence with auditable datasets and defensible methodologies.

Instrumentation & Equipment Skills:

Mandatory

• Compression testing machines: loading rate control, failure mode interpretation, and compliance verification.
• Isothermal calorimetry: baseline validation, data normalization, and artifact identification.
• Thermal processing: muffle furnaces with controlled heating profiles.
• Vicat apparatus and fresh-state testing tools.
• Precision analytical balances, volumetric glassware, and preparation of alkaline solutions with documented molarity control.

Strongly Preferred

• TGA/DSC and XRD interpretation for hydration and phase evolution.
• PSD (laser diffraction) and BET surface area analysis.
• Active management of curing rooms, limewater tanks, and calibration schedules aligned with ASTM/CSA requirements.

Qualifications:

• Education:
  BSc or MSc, PhD in Civil Engineering, or equivalent.
• Experience:
  Minimum 3 years of hands-on responsibility (not assistance) in cementitious materials testing in industrial setup.
• Standards Mastery:
  Proven ability to execute ASTM/CSA standards without supervision.
• Data Discipline:
  Advanced Excel or equivalent skills for statistical analysis, repeatability checks, and correlation studies.
• Operational Rigor:
  Demonstrated ability to manage overlapping curing schedules (7–91 days) with zero data loss or mislabeling.

Why Join Us?

• Technical Impact
  : Your data will directly influence commercial deployment, and external validation by global cement producers.
• Growth
  : Work at the boundary between laboratory science and industrial adoption in a rapidly scaling cleantech company.
• You will be 
  competitively compensated
   based on experience, technical depth, and level of responsibility. The role includes:
• Competitive base salary
  , benchmarked to materials science and cement R&D roles
• Equity / stock compensation
  , aligned with role seniority and long-term company growth
• Paid time off (PTO)
   including vacation and statutory holidays
• Extended health and dental benefits
• Performance-based growth opportunities
   as responsibilities and impact expand
• Direct exposure to Tier-1 industry partners
   and technically rigorous work that supports long-term career progression