Vice President, Science

About Daedal Systems
Daedal Systems is a plasma diagnostic company for the fusion energy industry. Today, every fusion company needs the same R&D plasma diagnostics, but each company builds them themselves in-house, despite them not being core IP. Daedal Systems is building a platform for industrialized plasma diagnostics, which will enable us to deploy suites of plasma diagnostics on fusion devices across the industry. Ultimately, we will provide the operating infrastructure for every fusion power plant.

We are seeking talented individuals spanning plasma diagnosticians, engineers and operators to join us in this mission to accelerate fusion energy with industrialized plasma diagnostics. We are building the measurement infrastructure layer upon which fusion will be realized.

The Role
Daedal Systems is looking for a Vice President of Science to be accountable for plasma and measurement science for our industrialized plasma diagnostic platform. Our diagnostic platform will enable us to deploy suites of plasma diagnostics on fusion company devices across the industry, spanning multiple architectures. You will be accountable for delivering accurate plasma diagnostic measurements, including but not limited to Thomson Scattering, Vis-UV Spectroscopy and X-ray Spectroscopy diagnostics. You will also shape the scientific direction of Daedal Systems as we build the measurement infrastructure layer for the fusion energy industry. This role will work closely with the executive team, including the Vice President of Technology and Product, who will be responsible for the engineering and product development of plasma diagnostic systems, and taking them from low-TRL, bench-top systems, to industrialized, deployable systems.

Education

• Ph.D in experimental plasma physics or a related field, or equivalent practical experience

Essential Requirements

• Demonstrable track record of scientific leadership in plasma diagnostics
• Direct experience in the fusion sector (academic, national laboratory, or commercial) at a senior or principal investigator level
• A strong record of designing, deploying, and validating diagnostic systems on real fusion or plasma devices, not solely theoretical or modelling experience
• Ability to set scientific strategy and direction with minimal organizational support, and to make high-stakes technical calls independently
• Comfortable operating as a senior scientific voice across multiple diagnostic disciplines
• Based in Toronto or willing to relocate. Relocation support will be provided.
• Comfortable with travel to support client systems and partnerships around the globe, up to 15% of time, occasionally for 2+ weeks in a row.
• Ability to interact with customers to gather, capture and prioritize product requirements to create a product strategy and product roadmap as well as communicate such to customers. Familiarity with associated feature/requirements tools such as JIRA is an asset.

Desirable

• Experience building or scaling a scientific or technical function at a startup or early-stage technical organization
• A strong publication record across plasma diagnostics, with recognition as a leading voice in the field

What You Can Expect
The opportunity to define the company's scientific direction, and by extension, the measurement infrastructure that will be applied across the fusion industry. You will lead scientific strategy across all diagnostic disciplines, mentor and guide the technical leads building each system, and represent Daedal's scientific credibility externally with clients, partners, and the broader fusion community. As one of the company's earliest senior hires, you will play a leading role in shaping Daedal's overall scientific direction and culture as it scales.

What We Offer

• Annual Salary Range: 200k-300k CAD
• Compensation range shown is indicative; final salary and total compensation will be tailored to the candidate's experience and fit.
• Significant equity ownership in an early start-up
• Immigration and relocation support
• Opportunity to lead a key business unit and shape the company's technical direction
• Health benefits

Daedal Systems is committed to an accessible and inclusive recruitment process. Accommodation is available upon request for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment, assessment and selection process. Please let us know if you require accommodation, and we will work with you to meet your needs.