Director, R&D

Overview

We are looking for a Director, R&D to join our team. This role will report to our CTO, and be responsible for driving success throughout AIR COMPANY’s R&D program, and will be expected to represent AIR COMPANY in various external facing activities. This position will manage a team of researchers, engineers, and scientists to develop R&D goals and strategies, oversee management of R&D programs, and lead scale-up R&D, closely communicating and collaborating with various teams in the company to define and develop strategies for maintaining a technical competitive advantage. 

At Air Company we value employees for their unique perspectives. We are an inclusive Equal Employment Opportunity employer, we consider applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

The range for this role is $140,000-$180,000. Exact compensation may vary based on the market, experience, skills and technical expertise

Job Requirements

• Lead scale-up R&D throughout the business to translate chemical and engineering systems and materials produced on laboratory-scale into commercial use.
• Develop and oversee the R&D department’s operational deliverables for both existing product enhancements as well as new product development in-line with overarching business objectives.
• Work closely with CTO and Director of Chemistry to deliver technical and chemical innovations to support Air Company’s mission of being the world’s leading carbon technology organization.
• Ensure quality and consistency in R&D project outcomes and deliverables.
• Develop and oversee strategic partnerships with key external partners to support R&D development and scale-up. This will include catalyst manufacturers as well as R&D equipment suppliers.
• Work collaboratively with senior leadership throughout the business and lead the development of an overarching R&D roadmap for AIR COMPANY. 
• Mange and direct R&D strategy and communicate with business units to understand technical development requirements and facilitate cross-functional collaboration.
• Partner closely with product management and engineering to identify and execute on an agile R&D agenda.
• Manage rapid design, prototyping, and testing cycles to rapidly evaluate technology concepts, primarily in catalyst and reactor operations.
• Coordinate with leadership to align with the company’s long term goals and establish project objectives, milestones, and success criteria.
• Develop strategies to quantify competitive positioning and highlight advantages of AIR COMPANY’s technology in the market, including life cycle analysis (LCA) and support of techno economic analysis (TEA).
• Oversee analysis of existing technical solutions in the market and in literature to drive continuous innovation and improvement of AIR COMPANY’s technology.
• Collaborate with engineering and commercial teams to define and execute R&D projects and support business development opportunities. 
• Translate understanding of technology, economics, and emerging markets into strategic recommendations for R&D department.
• Hire, develop, and lead a world-class team of engineers and scientists to achieve these outcomes.
  

Preferred Skills

• M.S or preferably Ph.D. in  chemistry or chemical engineering
• 12+ years of professional experience leading research and development of technologies that have been scaled and commercialized
• 5+ years of leadership experience
• Technical expertise and experienced people manager capable of owning all functions and aspects of the execution
• Demonstrated track record of leading innovative cross-functional teams to deliver results against tight timelines and budgets, often requiring or involving significant invention
• Willingness to work in a fast-paced environment with constant change
• Team player, extremely organized, attention to detail, and strong ability to multitask across various workflows
• Solution oriented, passion for developing and implementing solutions