What is the role of an R&D scientist? 

Research and development (R&D) scientists play a central role in driving innovation and advancing scientific knowledge within their respective fields, including in (bio-)technology, pharmaceuticals, medicine, materials science and more.

 

They are responsible for spearheading research initiatives, conducting experiments, and analyzing data to push the boundaries of scientific understanding. Their work is instrumental in developing new technologies, products, and solutions while upholding rigorous scientific standards and ethical principles.

Apply now for a job as an R&D scientist!

Senior Discovery Scientist

Location: Toronto

Branche: Pharmaceuticals

Expertise: Research & Development

Experience: 3 years

Responsibilities Develop and perform biochemical and/or cell-based assays to characterize the activity of early-stage ligands, such as ELISAs, cytotoxicity assays, or fluorogenic reporter assays. Passage and prepare mammalian cells to be used in assays. Develop methods to assess compound affinity, retention, and internalization of compounds. Support the generation of in vitro assay data for established projects. Interface with external vendors to support early discovery activities. Critically assess data and methods, adapting and adjusting procedures as necessary. In conjunction with managers, establish priorities and meet timelines for key experiments. Provide clear communication of scientific data to co-workers through internal presentations and written methods. Support preclinical and late-stage assets as necessary.

Project Accountant

Location: Vancouver

Branche: Mining

Expertise: Purchase

Experience: 4 years

Be a courageous safety leader, adhere to and sponsor safety and environmental rules and procedures. Maintain and demonstrate commitment to safety and environmental protection as a core value. Represent the Project Accounting function and support its incorporation into the Projects group overall strategic plans and within the Organization. Implement project-focused accounting policies, procedures and templates for best practices related to accounting in a project setting. Interface with other Business Units on relevant matters to ensure alignment of expectations and requirements related to capitalization, accounts payable, accruals, auditing, and cost reporting. Work with the Business Unit finance teams and Projects group Project Controls, Engineering and Project Management to maintain a WBS structure and data collection parameters to facilitate the end of project capitalization and historical data gathering. Facilitate and maintain the Progress Payment Certificate (PPC) and invoice approval workflow focusing on efficiency, accuracy, and speed including providing weekly status reports to Project Controls, Contracts/Procurement, and Senior Leadership as required. Provide guidance on tax related questions (PST, GST, HST, WHT) as required and liaise with corporate and BU finance when necessary. Help to develop a Projects group auditing program with an emphasis on evaluating contract and purchase order compliance, adherence to Delegation of Authority (DOA) approval limits, SOX, Projects group accounting procedures and liaisons with various financial service departments. Design, perform and lead construction audits both for contractual compliance as well as project site performance under the guidance of the Manager, Cost Control. Mentor and coach more junior Project Accounting team members. Relay audit results back to Projects group Senior Management for decision-making purposes with the focus on resolution and recovery of cost. Facilitate the month-end accrual and reconciliation processes between the projects' Project Controls teams, the various Business Unit finance teams, and any third-party service providers. Alert and report to the Manager, Cost Control and other Projects group team members as deemed appropriate of all critical trends with respect to the financial performance of various projects in the Projects group portfolio. Prepare ad hoc reports as required. Perform job-related administrative duties as required.

Bilingual Administrative Support Representative

Location: Montréal

Branche: Renewable Energy

Expertise: Communications & Distribution

Experience: 0 years

Responsibilities Provide effective and efficient administrative support for Real Estate team. Preparing and distributing documents Scheduling and coordinating meetings Assistance to internal customers - including redirecting phone/email inquiries to appropriate personnel. Minute taking as requested Assist in the development of reports/ presentations Format all reports/presentations using Siemens Energy branding guidelines. Create and maintain SharePoint site for Siemens Energy Real Estate - customer facing, internal to team Format/create/distribute Posters/emails as required using provided templates Provide admin support for tasks such as Fire Safety Plans, annual procedure reviews Provide order processing support for creating vendor's shopping carts/processing invoices Support Vendor management & Onboarding Travel Management / quality gate for expense report Ad hoc requests from Regional Headquarters

Mechanical Equipment Engineer

Location: Peterborough

Branche: Conventional Energy

Expertise: Production & Manufacturing

Experience: 4 years

Provide execution of, and lead, design/analysis/test/commissioning activities for complex mechanical equipment and systems throughout the entire product life cycle. Prepare, approve, or lead design documentation (technical documents, drawings, BOMs), technical specifications, development/test plans, and engineering quotations. Develop and verify 3D models for conceptual design and perform stress analysis. Apply and guide design for manufacturability/assembly (DFMA) techniques. Provide technical support to CAD, Procurement, Manufacturing, Test, Quality, and Commissioning teams. Lead internal and external meetings (design reviews, technical presentations). Prepare and/or verify project deliverables including evaluations, reports, and assessments. Ensure engineering and product excellence, effective task management, on-time/on-budget delivery, and defect-free designs. Lead by example in adherence to processes, industry codes, standards, quality systems, and contractual requirements. Report on project status, identify risks, analyze solutions, and implement corrective actions. Support customer relationships and market alignment through direct interaction with clients, subcontractors, and cross-functional teams. Contribute to proposals, including scope review, estimates, and customer presentations. Provide technical oversight and direction for design activities, including document and drawing reviews. Ensure health, safety, and compliance in all activities. Travel occasionally to meet with clients and stakeholders.

Accountant

Location: Wawa

Branche: Mining

Expertise: Purchase

Experience: 3 years

Be a safety leader, adhere to and sponsor safety protocols and procedures Assist with the month end close process with the preparation and recording of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expense entries by compiling and analyzing account information. Provide financial data and perform cost analyses to find opportunities, efficiencies, and waste which may include trend and variance analysis Explain and mentor department heads on their financial performance versus plans Assist in preparation of budgets and forecasts Review and validate financial reports and respond to financial queries Assist in the development of the departments Standard Policies and Procedures Support the annual audit process through liaison with external and internal auditors Ad-hoc tasks as required

Senior Mine Shutdown Planner

Location: Kamloops

Branche: Mining

Expertise: Planning & Testing

Experience: 3 years

Work with the HVC MLE project and HVC Operational readiness teams to develop a comprehensive shutdown schedule. Manage the schedule during the shutdown and help coordinate overall activities during the shutdown. Help prepare fortnightly reports on the status of the shutdown preparations Work with HVC operation, HVC operational readiness, HVC MLE project and construction contractor's teams for the interface items and provide input to project planner schedule. Assist in on-site planner scheduler in maintaining the construction schedule, particularly tie-in and shutdown related milestones or activities. Attend operation 8 Weeks Shutdown Review meeting and provide input for construction 2 months tie-in and shutdown required milestone or schedule. Collect information related to tie-in or shutdown for construction schedule update. Works with the Senior Project planning specialist to integrate shutdown scheduling and planning activities with regulatory bodies, external consultants and Teck internal groups. Performs quality reviews on third party schedules. Recommends corrective actions and supervises their implementation. Integrates third party schedules into overall program master schedule. Responsible for identifying schedule deviations on scope with package owner, and working with package owner to identify and implement mitigations. Notifies package owners on potential schedule trends and opportunities for improvement. Responsible to support forecasting on a monthly basis, as directed by Project Controls Lead (Manager). Responsible to support project reporting and project presentations, as directed by Project Controls Lead (Manager). Responsible for performing scheduling audits on service providers, as appropriate. Responsible for providing schedule input to help the project team define project execution plans and scope Responsible for ensuring Project Controls Overviews and Standards are properly applied and followed on a project with respect to Planning.

Mining Engineer

Location: Regina

Branche: Mining

Expertise: Planning & Testing

Experience: 5 years

Develop, update, and maintain detailed project schedules in Primavera P6 and/or Microsoft Project Work with project managers, engineers, and site teams to gather scope, progress, resource, and constraint data Develop mine designs, layouts, and development plans for shaft sinking, lateral development, and production operations. Support feasibility studies, cost estimates, schedules, and construction planning for new and ongoing projects. Perform engineering analysis related to ventilation, dewatering, material handling, ground control, and support systems. Prepare and review technical documentation, including drawings, specifications, design reports, and bid packages. Collaborate with structural, civil, mechanical, and geotechnical engineers to ensure integration of mine designs with surface and underground systems. Conduct field visits, inspections, and site walkdowns to validate design assumptions and support execution teams. Monitor project performance, evaluate risks, and recommend engineering solutions to maintain safe and efficient operations. Provide engineering support to tendering teams, including methodology development and productivity analysis. Ensure compliance with applicable mining regulations, standards, and company procedures. Mentor junior mining engineers and technologists, contributing to technical knowledge transfer within the organization.

Lead Mechanical Engineer

Location: Toronto

Branche: Mining

Expertise: Production & Manufacturing

Experience: 5 years

Lead Mechanical Engineer Toronto or Burlington, Ontario (office) Introduction Brunel is currently looking for a Mechanical Lead for our mining client in their Toronto office. As a Mechanical Lead, you will be responsible for overseeing and executing all aspects of mechanical engineering design for large-scale mining projects. You will develop equipment specifications, review and approve detailed designs, resolve complex technical challenges, and ensure compliance with industry standards. Working closely with engineers, designers, and project teams, you will provide hands-on technical leadership, mentor junior staff, and drive the successful delivery of critical project phases from Basic and Detailed Engineering through to Construction. Responsibilities Deliver mechanical engineering design according to required timeframes and standards by supervising the performance of mechanical engineers, reviewing deliverables and providing high level technical expertise. Facilitate the purchase of appropriate equipment by specifying requirements and assisting procurement with the purchase of equipment. Contribute to the cost-efficient delivery of mechanical engineering by managing the man hour budget and reviewing and approving mechanical capital cost estimates, recommending alternative approaches where possible. Take on a mechanical lead role on major projects, including managing engineers and designers and organizing mechanical work on the project, managing project budget and schedule and reporting mechanical activities internally and to the client. Assist the development and review of relevant mechanical contracts by providing advice and input as required. Issue drawings and engineering deliverables for construction by working with engineers and designers. Motivate engineers and other project team members towards superior performance by supporting daily performance and providing ongoing mentoring. Requirements Undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering. Registered Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in Canada. Extensive experience in the Minerals & Metals sector; Oil & Gas experience is considered an asset. 12-15 years of mechanical design engineering experience in relevant industries such as mining, mineral processing, and materials handling, with preference for gold and copper projects. Demonstrated ability to resolve complex technical issues efficiently using personal expertise, external consultants, and in-house resources. Proficiency in AutoCAD, 3D designs software, and Microsoft Office suite. Strong understanding of multi-disciplined engineering principles and integration. Proven commitment to mentoring, coaching, and developing engineering personnel. Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and influence teams at all levels. Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple deliverables effectively.

What are the required skills for an R&D scientist? 

To excel as an R&D scientist, individuals must possess exceptional analytical and critical thinking skills, which are indispensable for experimental design, data interpretation, and drawing insightful conclusions. Effective communication skills are essential for collaborating with cross-functional teams and disseminating research findings to peers and the wider audience.
 

Additionally, R&D scientists should demonstrate proficiency in laboratory techniques pertinent to their specific domain, such as molecular biology, chemistry, or engineering. Staying current with advancements in their field and upholding the highest ethical standards in research and experimentation are also imperative.

Where do R&D scientists work? 

R&D scientists find rewarding career opportunities in diverse settings, including research institutions, industrial companies, pharmaceutical firms, and government research agencies. They frequently collaborate with experts from various disciplines, bridging the gap between scientific research and practical applications.

Common R&D scientist responsibilities

  • Maintain and operate laboratory equipment, ensuring optimal functionality, and manage lab material inventories;
  • Plan and execute laboratory experiments and research projects to explore scientific phenomena and potential innovations;
  • Conceptualize and validate experimental protocols, including the development of novel methodologies;
  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to integrate research findings into practical applications and solutions;
  • Analyze complex data sets, extract meaningful insights, and provide recommendations based on research outcomes;
  • Author research papers, technical reports, and scholarly articles for dissemination in scientific journals;
  • Stay abreast of cutting-edge developments in their field and incorporate emerging technologies into research endeavors;
  • Maintain meticulous records of experiments, protocols, and findings, adhering to industry-standard practices;
  • Adhere to the highest ethical standards in research, ensuring the responsible conduct of experiments;
  • Present research findings at conferences and contribute to knowledge exchange within the scientific community;
  • Drive the development of innovative technologies and products that advance scientific understanding and benefit society.

Qualifications for R&D scientists 

To pursue a career as an R&D scientist, candidates typically hold a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, or a related discipline. Many R&D scientists also pursue advanced degrees such as Master's or Ph.D. for research-intensive roles.
 

Other important qualifications include:

  • Expertise in laboratory techniques and research methodologies;
  • Exceptional analytical and critical thinking abilities;
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills;
  • A strong foundation in ethical principles governing research and experimentation;
  • A willingness to adapt and embrace new tech and methodologies;
  • Collaborative aptitude, enabling effective teamwork in interdisciplinary research environments;
  • A steadfast commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and driving innovation for the betterment of society.

Share this article