Description

Job Title: Director of Research and Development 

Must be able to relocate to Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 

 

Role Overview 

The Director of Research and Development will lead and scale the company’s operational backbone as it transitions from R&D into customer pilot projects and commercial deployment towards the manufacturing of next generation of flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays. This role is critical in translating cutting-edge materials and mechanical engineering innovation into reliable, repeatable, and cost-effective operations. The ideal candidate brings hands-on experience in deep-tech environments, manufacturing scale-up, and cross-functional leadership. Ideal candidate should also have first-hand experience with managing an R&D team consisting of materials scientists and mechanical engineers and establishing project timelines for achieving most efficient daily operational flow. 

 

Responsibilities 

  • Manage a team of material scientists and mechanical engineers to prioritize day-to-day activities, as well as keep track of longer-term goals 
  • Lead R&D strategy for coatings development, interfacial adhesion properties optimization between multilayer inorganic thin films, and delamination equipment development 
  • Build scalable processes that support the transition from lab-scale validation to pilot and production-scale operations 
  • Establish KPIs and operational metrics to track efficiency, yield, cost, and delivery performance 
  • Oversee process documentation, SOPs, quality controls, and continuous improvement initiatives 
  • Identify and mitigate technical and operational risks during scale-up 
  • Drive a culture of operational excellence, safety, and accountability 
  • Establish project management and prioritization of all R&D development to meet customer deliverables and commercialization schedule 
  • Prepare and present the R&D updates to the CEO and the board on a regular basis 
  • Willing and capable to doing hands-on work with R&D teams  
  • Create and secure intellectual property for Omniply 

Required Qualifications 

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field (Master’s or PhD preferred)  
  • 5–10+ years of experience in operations, manufacturing, or process engineering within deep-tech, advanced materials, semiconductor, MEMS, or hardware startups 
  • Demonstrated experience scaling technologies from lab or pilot stage to commercial production 
  • Strong understanding of materials processing, mechanical systems, and manufacturing workflows 
  • Proven ability to operate in fast-paced, ambiguous startup environments 

Preferred Qualifications 

  • Experience with delamination, thin films, substrates, bonding/debonding, or precision materials processing 

Key Competencies 

  • Strong execution mindset with attention to detail 
  • Ability to communicate effectively with highly technical teams and non-technical stakeholders 
  • Data-driven decision-making and problem-solving skills 
  • Hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves leadership style 

Why Join Us 

  • Opportunity to commercialize breakthrough materials technology with real-world impact 
  • Leadership role in shaping operations from the ground up 
  • Close collaboration with world-class materials scientists and engineers 
  • Competitive compensation, equity participation, and growth potential