Project Scientist

Project Scientist

COVE

Dartmouth, NS

COVE is a global technology partner advancing high-impact solutions from seabed to space. COVE transforms innovation into market-ready technologies through testing, commercialization support, market expertise and access to critical infrastructure. Leveraging its networks and mission-driven platform, COVE connects investors, innovators, industry, and the research community to drive cutting-edge capabilities for commercial and defence applications.

Based in Canada and operating internationally, COVE supports the full lifecycle of maritime and multi-domain technologies – from research and development to manufacturing, integration, and export – linking Canadian innovation to global markets. COVE has built a globally recognized innovation platform, with an ecosystem of more than 700 organizations spanning startups, multinational firms, researchers, Indigenous partners, and public sector collaborators.

Through its programs, facilities, and partnerships, COVE enables real-world testing and validation, strengthens supply chains, and accelerates technology adoption in complex operating environments. With strong connections across the North Atlantic, the United States, and the Arctic, and as part of international networks including NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), COVE plays a key role in advancing technologies that support economic growth, environmental sustainability, and global security.

As COVE experiences rapid expansion, it is actively seeking to expand its team to further bolster its transformational influence as a global technology partner in advancing high-impact solutions. COVE recognizes that its journey toward this goal hinges on the strength of its team – a group of individuals who collaborate, innovate, and continually strive for excellence. Join COVE as it embarks on this exciting journey of discovery and advancement.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Project Engineer, the Project Scientist provides scientific leadership, technical oversight, and subject matter expertise to support the successful delivery of projects throughout the project lifecycle. The role provides subject matter expertise in environmental science, oceanography, marine sensing, environmental monitoring, data collection, and technology validation across COVE's defence, ocean technology, and dual-use innovation programs. Working within a matrix environment, the Project Scientist supports a portfolio of concurrent projects by ensuring scientific activities are planned, executed, and delivered in accordance with recognized scientific standards, regulatory requirements, and project objectives.

What You'll Do

The Project Scientist conducts scientific research, performs technical analyses, and prepares technical documentation and reports to support project planning, execution, and delivery. The role reviews scientific methodologies, sampling and monitoring plans, analytical approaches, and technical deliverables, translating scientific requirements into clear scopes of work, technical specifications, and acceptance criteria. Working closely with internal project teams, government clients, research institutions, industry partners, Indigenous organizations, and scientific consultants, the Project Scientist provides scientific leadership throughout project execution, evaluates technical proposals and deliverables, identifies scientific and regulatory risks, and ensures contracted scientific work complies with organizational quality, performance, and compliance requirements . 

• Serve as a scientific advisor, providing scientific oversight and ensuring the integrity, defensibility, and quality of scientific work across multiple projects.
• Review and evaluate scientific methodologies, sampling plans, analytical approaches, data quality, and scientific deliverables to ensure they meet project objectives and accepted scientific standards.
• Translate scientific requirements into clear scopes of work, technical specifications, acceptance criteria, and procurement requirements.
• Assess scientific proposals, deliverables, and vendor performance to ensure technical validity, regulatory compliance, cost appropriateness, and alignment with project objectives.
• Identify scientific, technical, and regulatory risks and recommend appropriate mitigation strategies throughout the project lifecycle.
• Collaborate with Project Managers, Systems Engineers, government clients, industry, research institutions, and other stakeholders to provide scientific guidance and support project delivery.
• Prepare and contribute to technical reviews, stakeholder briefings, project reports, and scientific presentations while communicating complex scientific concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Support scientific field activities, technology demonstrations, and validation programs as required.
• Identify opportunities to improve scientific processes and project efficiency.
• Stay current with emerging scientific developments, technologies, and regulatory changes relevant to the organization's projects.
• Participate in training and professional development activities.
• Occasional travel as required.
• Ensure compliance with COVE’s policies and procedures, including human resources, safety, and operational standards.
• Take on additional responsibilities as required to support the success and growth of COVE’s programs and strategic initiatives.

What You Bring

• Post-secondary education in Oceanography, Marine Science, Science or a marine related field.
• 3-5 year’ experience in a similar role.
• Eligibility to obtain and maintain a Government of Canada security clearance is required.
• Strong knowledge of environmental science, ocean science, defence, marine science, ecology, or a related scientific discipline, including scientific methods, data analysis, and quality assurance principles.
• Experience evaluating scientific methodologies, sampling programs, analytical approaches, scientific data, and technical reports for accuracy, defensibility, and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to provide scientific leadership and work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, government, industry, academia, Indigenous organizations, and external contractors.
• Conduct technical research, data collection, analysis and interpretation for project decisions.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex scientific information into practical recommendations for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and the ability to quickly learn new technologies, systems, and data management tools.
• Highly organized, self-motivated, and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Additional Assets

• Knowledge of environmental regulatory frameworks, scientific standards, and permitting processes.
• Experience supporting multidisciplinary projects involving government, industry, academia, or Indigenous partners.
• Familiarity with project management principles, procurement processes, and scientific data management tools.

Working at COVE

At our core, we are a team driven by our passion for empowering marine tech innovators, serving as unwavering advocates for every visionary who walks through our doors. Integrity, creativity, and diversity are not just values to us - they are the bedrock of our identity. We thrive within an integrated team environment, where collective efforts culminate in tangible results. Embracing diversity in our workforce is paramount for fostering genuine collaboration and fulfilling the impactful responsibilities we hold within our community. We cultivate a workplace culture that celebrates individual differences, ensuring that each person's unique talents and strengths are fully recognized, appreciated, and utilized. Operating within a hybrid and flexible work environment allows us to optimize the collective potential of our highly collaborative team, enabling us to achieve the best possible outcomes.

Benefits

• Opportunity to learn and make an impact by working for a dynamic, growing company on meaningful projects that find solutions to real-life problems.
• Comprehensive paid time off including vacation, personal sick time, and additional days for family illness or medical appointments.
• Hybrid work model with flexibility to work remotely 1 day/week.
• Team wide bonding activities and casual work environment.
• Tech focused office location, convenient via transit and bike paths.
• Employee wellbeing including full medical & dental benefits and a health spending account.
• Group RRSP matching program & Income Insurance Plans.
• Maternity & parental leave top-up allowance
• Learning and growth opportunities.
• Employee referral program.
• Competitive salary.

Talent Pool

As part of our ongoing recruitment efforts, we continually identify candidates who demonstrate the skills, experience, and potential to contribute to our organization. By submitting your application, you will be considered for current and future opportunities that match your qualifications and interests.

Should your profile align with our current or future needs, a member of our recruitment team may reach out to you to discuss potential opportunities and to further assess your fit for specific roles within our organization.

At COVE, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role, but your past experience does not align with every single qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

We are committed to ensuring accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during the recruitment, assessment and selection processes and will provide reasonable accommodation upon request.

For more information: . Salary will be commensurate with experience, relocation costs are not supported.