Senior Applications Development Manager - Composites

Rippling; Calgary; On-site; CAD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A pioneering manufacturing startup is seeking a Senior Applications Development Manager to bridge customer needs with advanced carbon materials. You will engage with customers to identify challenges, lead technical excellence initiatives, and collaborate across teams to ensure innovation meets user needs. The ideal candidate has over 8 years of experience in polymer application development and a strong understanding of material science. This role offers an annual salary range of 130,000 - 150,000 CAD, and the opportunity to contribute to sustainability efforts.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in polymer or composite application development.
• Direct experience working with customers to solve technical challenges.
• Deep understanding of polymer rheology and compounding.

Responsibilities

• Engage directly with customers to identify unmet needs.
• Translate customer needs into actionable product attributes.
• Collaborate with R&D and product development teams.

Skills

Customer engagement

Polymer application development

Technical communication

Problem-solving skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or related field

Tools

Technical report writing

Job description

Senior Applications Development Manager - Composites

About Carbonova

Carbonova is a pioneering manufacturing startup leading the charge in sustainability, specializing in carbon capture technology to produce advanced carbon nanofibers. Our commitment to environmental responsibility, innovation, and excellence positions us at the forefront of the green manufacturing revolution. Through a novel chemical catalytic process, Carbonova is converting greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and methane) into solid carbon products for everyday applications ranging from construction materials and plastics to electronics. We are at the forefront of the green manufacturing revolution and seeking proactive and driven individuals committed to environmental responsibility, innovation, and excellence to join us!

Introduction

Are you passionate about bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology and real-world customer needs? At Carbonova, we’re transforming greenhouse gases into advanced carbon materials for next-generation polymers, composites, and infrastructure. As we expand our commercial reach, we’re seeking a Senior Applications Development Engineer to help customers unlock the full potential of our breakthrough products—and to help us shape a more sustainable future.

What you'll do

• Discover Customer Opportunities: Engage directly with customers to identify unmet needs, pain points, and performance gaps in polymer and composite applications. Go beyond surface-level feedback to uncover the true challenges customers face, ensuring our solutions address root causes—not just symptoms.
• Translate Needs into Innovation: Develop a deep understanding of customer applications and translate those insights into actionable product attributes, technical requirements, and development priorities.
• Drive Technical Excellence: Benchmark Carbonova’s materials against incumbent solutions, map technical features to customer value, and prepare compelling datasheets, case studies, and presentations.
• Collaborate Across Teams: Work closely with R&D, product development, and commercial teams to align customer expectations with technical feasibility and manufacturing readiness.
• Lead Customer Engagement: Act as the technical interface during customer evaluations, field trials, and qualification programs. Build strong, long-term relationships with technical and application leads, and provide hands-on support during trials and post-installation assessments.
• Shape Market Strategy: Contribute to market segmentation, opportunity assessment, and early-adopter engagement. Feed customer insights into the product roadmap and commercialization strategy.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemistry, or a related field (Master’s or MBA a plus)
• 8+ years in polymer or composite application development (thermoplastics, masterbatch, or filled systems preferred)
• Direct experience working with customers to solve technical challenges
• Deep understanding of polymer rheology, compounding, and structure–property relationships
• Experience with carbon black, CNT, CNF, silica, talc, or other particulate fillers
• Excellent communication skills—able to translate technical findings into business value and deliver compelling presentations
• Demonstrated ability to confidently initiate cold calls, engage with customers, and build relationships in a variety of professional settings
• Purpose-driven mindset, motivated by solving customer problems and advancing sustainability
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally (up to 25%)

Bonus Points For

• Experience preparing customer presentations, technical reports, and application summaries
• Demonstrated success bringing advanced materials from lab to field through customer collaboration
• Experience supporting joint development programs and partnerships
• Positive, collaborative, and resilient under uncertainty
• Business maturity; balances scientific curiosity with commercial awareness

Why Carbonova?

Join a team where your technical expertise, curiosity, and customer focus will drive real-world impact. At Carbonova, you’ll help commercialize breakthrough materials, work alongside visionary leaders, and contribute to a more sustainable future for industry and the planet. Ready to make your mark? Apply today and help us redefine what’s possible with advanced materials!

The pay range for this role is:

130,000 - 150,000 CAD per year (Carbonova Headquarters)