Project Manager, R&D
Avantages principaux
About the role
About Dream Photonics Dream Photonics is a deep-tech startup based in Vancouver, BC, developing advanced manufacturing technology for next-generation photonic systems. We are developing PICTORTM, a manufacturing platform that uses precision 3D printing to create high-efficiency, low-loss optical connections for photonic integrated circuits. Our technology addresses one of the central bottlenecks in advanced photonics: how to reliably connect light into and out of chips at scale. Our work is directly connected to the future of AI data centres, optical modules, high-performance computing, quantum technologies, sensing, and defence. As AI infrastructure pushes beyond the limits of conventional electronics, photonics is becoming essential for moving data faster, more efficiently, and with lower power. Dream Photonics is helping make that transition possible by rethinking how optical interconnects are designed, manufactured, and packaged. Backed by angel, venture capital, and strategic investors, and supported by active customer engagement, and government funding programs, we are scaling from an R&D team into a product company. We move fast, build technology with real-world impact, and team members meaningful ownership of the problems they solve. If you are excited by the intersection of optics, semiconductors, 3D printing, and advanced manufacturing, Dream Photonics is a place where you can help define the future of photonic hardware.
The Role We are looking for a Project Manager, R&D to help our R&D organization execute with greater clarity, cadence, and focus. You will work directly with the Director, R&D and the technical team to plan and drive R&D projects, make project status visible, identify risks and dependencies, and support timely decisions on priorities, resources, and tradeoffs. This role is suited to someone who can lead project execution without relying on formal reporting authority. You will not have direct reports; instead, you will create the structure, cadence, visibility, follow-up, and escalation paths that help technical contributors and leaders move work forward. This is a strong fit for someone who has managed technical or R&D projects in hardware-oriented environments and wants to help define the right blend of agile cadence and conventional hardware project management.
What You Will Do Implement and operate a lightweight project planning and execution process for R&D projects; Work with the Director, R&D and technical team members to convert ambiguous objectives into practical plans, milestones, owners, deliverables, risks, and decision points; Drive daily and weekly project cadence, including action tracking, follow-up, escalation, and closure; Coordinate project resource planning across people, priorities, timelines, equipment, vendors, and technical dependencies; Identify priority conflicts, execution constraints, resource gaps, and decision points early enough for effective action; Support clear R&D decision-making through lightweight dashboards, status summaries, project plans, and decision-support materials; Facilitate meetings that produce clear decisions, actions, owners, dates, and follow-up; Apply a practical blend of agile/iterative cadence and hardware project management to R&D work, including design reviews, build cycles, chip tape-outs, test plans, procurement lead times, external dependencies, and stage-gate decisions; Track and manage project budgets ranging from $50K to $1M+, helping to ensure all deliverables are executed within allocated financial constraints while proactively mitigating cost variances. Support a culture of execution consistent with a commercial, venture-backed, early-stage startup; Help the team overcome obstacles without creating unnecessary process overhead.
Required Qualifications 5+ years of project management experience, with at least 2–3 years managing projects in an engineering, technical, R&D, product development, manufacturing, or other complex technical environment. Experience working in an early-stage startup, scale-up, or fast-paced technology organization where priorities evolve quickly, and processes are still being established. Demonstrated success bringing structure to ambiguous environments by implementing practical project management processes, operating rhythms, and communication frameworks without creating unnecessary bureaucracy. Experience coordinating cross-functional teams across engineering, operations, leadership, vendors, and external partners, building alignment among stakeholders with differing priorities and perspectives. Experience managing project budgets, timelines, resource allocation, risks, dependencies, and competing priorities across multiple concurrent projects. Demonstrated ability to influence technical teams, drive accountability, and deliver results without formal reporting authority. Strong facilitation skills, including leading meetings that result in clear decisions, owners, timelines, and follow-up actions. Experience preparing project plans, dashboards, status reports, and executive updates that improve visibility and support decision-making. Working knowledge of Agile, Scrum, Kanban, stage-gate, or hybrid project management methodologies, with the judgment to apply the appropriate approach for hardware and R&D projects. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Assets Experience in photonics, semiconductors, optics, advanced manufacturing, robotics, aerospace, medical devices, or another deep-tech engineering environment. Experience supporting the commercialization of new technologies or transitioning R&D programs into production. Familiarity with engineering documentation, design reviews, validation testing, engineering change management, or product lifecycle management. Experience using project management tools such as Jira, Asana, Monday.com, Microsoft Project, Notion, or Confluence. PMP, CAPM, Scrum Master, Agile, or similar certification. Experience working in organizations transitioning from academic research or advanced R&D into commercial product development. Experience collaborating with researchers, scientists, and engineering teams in research-intensive environments. A degree or diploma in engineering, applied science, project management, business, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and practical experience.
Personal Attributes We are looking for someone who brings: Brings structure and organization to ambiguity, creating clarity without unnecessary process. Demonstrates intellectual curiosity and enjoys learning enough about complex technical work to ask thoughtful questions and support effective planning and decision-making. Builds trust and credibility with technical teams through consistency, curiosity, and follow-through. Is proactive, self-directed, and comfortable taking ownership in a fast-paced startup environment. Communicates with confidence, diplomacy, and empathy, adapting their approach to different audiences while keeping projects moving forward. Holds people accountable respectfully, influencing outcomes through collaboration rather than formal authority. Exercises sound judgment, knowing when to escalate issues, challenge assumptions, or facilitate decisions. Remains adaptable and composed as priorities evolve, balancing multiple projects and competing demands. Enjoys solving problems, removing obstacles, and helping teams execute successfully.
Location and Work Model This is an on-site role based in Vancouver, BC. Compensation: $90,000 to $130,000 CAD per year, depending on experience
Team Building Equity, diversity and inclusion are essential to our company’s growth. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the BC Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Métis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.
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Project Manager, R&D
Avantages principaux
About the role
About Dream Photonics Dream Photonics is a deep-tech startup based in Vancouver, BC, developing advanced manufacturing technology for next-generation photonic systems. We are developing PICTORTM, a manufacturing platform that uses precision 3D printing to create high-efficiency, low-loss optical connections for photonic integrated circuits. Our technology addresses one of the central bottlenecks in advanced photonics: how to reliably connect light into and out of chips at scale. Our work is directly connected to the future of AI data centres, optical modules, high-performance computing, quantum technologies, sensing, and defence. As AI infrastructure pushes beyond the limits of conventional electronics, photonics is becoming essential for moving data faster, more efficiently, and with lower power. Dream Photonics is helping make that transition possible by rethinking how optical interconnects are designed, manufactured, and packaged. Backed by angel, venture capital, and strategic investors, and supported by active customer engagement, and government funding programs, we are scaling from an R&D team into a product company. We move fast, build technology with real-world impact, and team members meaningful ownership of the problems they solve. If you are excited by the intersection of optics, semiconductors, 3D printing, and advanced manufacturing, Dream Photonics is a place where you can help define the future of photonic hardware.
The Role We are looking for a Project Manager, R&D to help our R&D organization execute with greater clarity, cadence, and focus. You will work directly with the Director, R&D and the technical team to plan and drive R&D projects, make project status visible, identify risks and dependencies, and support timely decisions on priorities, resources, and tradeoffs. This role is suited to someone who can lead project execution without relying on formal reporting authority. You will not have direct reports; instead, you will create the structure, cadence, visibility, follow-up, and escalation paths that help technical contributors and leaders move work forward. This is a strong fit for someone who has managed technical or R&D projects in hardware-oriented environments and wants to help define the right blend of agile cadence and conventional hardware project management.
What You Will Do Implement and operate a lightweight project planning and execution process for R&D projects; Work with the Director, R&D and technical team members to convert ambiguous objectives into practical plans, milestones, owners, deliverables, risks, and decision points; Drive daily and weekly project cadence, including action tracking, follow-up, escalation, and closure; Coordinate project resource planning across people, priorities, timelines, equipment, vendors, and technical dependencies; Identify priority conflicts, execution constraints, resource gaps, and decision points early enough for effective action; Support clear R&D decision-making through lightweight dashboards, status summaries, project plans, and decision-support materials; Facilitate meetings that produce clear decisions, actions, owners, dates, and follow-up; Apply a practical blend of agile/iterative cadence and hardware project management to R&D work, including design reviews, build cycles, chip tape-outs, test plans, procurement lead times, external dependencies, and stage-gate decisions; Track and manage project budgets ranging from $50K to $1M+, helping to ensure all deliverables are executed within allocated financial constraints while proactively mitigating cost variances. Support a culture of execution consistent with a commercial, venture-backed, early-stage startup; Help the team overcome obstacles without creating unnecessary process overhead.
Required Qualifications 5+ years of project management experience, with at least 2–3 years managing projects in an engineering, technical, R&D, product development, manufacturing, or other complex technical environment. Experience working in an early-stage startup, scale-up, or fast-paced technology organization where priorities evolve quickly, and processes are still being established. Demonstrated success bringing structure to ambiguous environments by implementing practical project management processes, operating rhythms, and communication frameworks without creating unnecessary bureaucracy. Experience coordinating cross-functional teams across engineering, operations, leadership, vendors, and external partners, building alignment among stakeholders with differing priorities and perspectives. Experience managing project budgets, timelines, resource allocation, risks, dependencies, and competing priorities across multiple concurrent projects. Demonstrated ability to influence technical teams, drive accountability, and deliver results without formal reporting authority. Strong facilitation skills, including leading meetings that result in clear decisions, owners, timelines, and follow-up actions. Experience preparing project plans, dashboards, status reports, and executive updates that improve visibility and support decision-making. Working knowledge of Agile, Scrum, Kanban, stage-gate, or hybrid project management methodologies, with the judgment to apply the appropriate approach for hardware and R&D projects. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Assets Experience in photonics, semiconductors, optics, advanced manufacturing, robotics, aerospace, medical devices, or another deep-tech engineering environment. Experience supporting the commercialization of new technologies or transitioning R&D programs into production. Familiarity with engineering documentation, design reviews, validation testing, engineering change management, or product lifecycle management. Experience using project management tools such as Jira, Asana, Monday.com, Microsoft Project, Notion, or Confluence. PMP, CAPM, Scrum Master, Agile, or similar certification. Experience working in organizations transitioning from academic research or advanced R&D into commercial product development. Experience collaborating with researchers, scientists, and engineering teams in research-intensive environments. A degree or diploma in engineering, applied science, project management, business, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and practical experience.
Personal Attributes We are looking for someone who brings: Brings structure and organization to ambiguity, creating clarity without unnecessary process. Demonstrates intellectual curiosity and enjoys learning enough about complex technical work to ask thoughtful questions and support effective planning and decision-making. Builds trust and credibility with technical teams through consistency, curiosity, and follow-through. Is proactive, self-directed, and comfortable taking ownership in a fast-paced startup environment. Communicates with confidence, diplomacy, and empathy, adapting their approach to different audiences while keeping projects moving forward. Holds people accountable respectfully, influencing outcomes through collaboration rather than formal authority. Exercises sound judgment, knowing when to escalate issues, challenge assumptions, or facilitate decisions. Remains adaptable and composed as priorities evolve, balancing multiple projects and competing demands. Enjoys solving problems, removing obstacles, and helping teams execute successfully.
Location and Work Model This is an on-site role based in Vancouver, BC. Compensation: $90,000 to $130,000 CAD per year, depending on experience
Team Building Equity, diversity and inclusion are essential to our company’s growth. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the BC Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Métis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.