About The Position
TandemLaunch is a Canadian deep-tech venture builder that transforms breakthrough university research into scalable startups. They provide founders with pre-seed capital, access to cutting-edge facilities, and a network of mentors, industry partners, and investors. Their mission is to create companies that redefine industries by leveraging disruptive materials, hardware, and AI innovations. The next venture will commercialize a breakthrough platform in adaptive surface technology: engineered surfaces capable of actively modulating flow behavior to improve aerodynamic and hydrodynamic performance across a wide range of applications. This opportunity seeks a Founding Technical Entrepreneur to lead a startup focused on active surface modulation for flow control. These technologies can reduce drag, prevent flow separation, enhance lift, and improve the efficiency of fluid-interacting systems by dynamically influencing the boundary layer. Potential applications include commercial and military aircraft, UAVs, wind and jet turbines, naval vessels, marine propulsion systems, and spacecraft. The founding leader will be responsible for identifying high-value commercial entry points, developing prototype systems, and guiding the technical roadmap from proof-of-concept to deployable, manufacturable solutions.
Requirements
- Deep technical expertise in fluid mechanics, aerodynamics, or hydrodynamics, with hands-on experience in boundary layer behavior and flow control.
- PhD or master’s in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics or similar fields.
- Familiarity with active or passive surface technologies, such as smart actuators, morphing structures, or surface texturing and their effect on flow dynamics.
- Experience with experimental or computational tools: wind tunnel or water tunnel testing, CFD, structural dynamics, or electromechanical system integration.
- A track record of applied research or product development in aerospace systems, turbomachinery, naval engineering, or related fields.
- Entrepreneurial mindset: excited by uncertainty, motivated to move fast, and eager to build a company from scratch.
- Strong communication skills, capable of engaging with technical experts, customers, and investors.
Nice To Haves
- Prior startup, translational research, or defense/aerospace industry experience.
Responsibilities
- Develop and refine prototype systems demonstrating active flow control on relevant geometries (e.g., airfoils, turbine blades, hull surfaces, diffusers).
- Translate lab-scale surface actuation concepts into scalable, manufacturable processes suitable for aerospace and marine-grade environments.
- Conduct early customer discovery to identify urgent performance and efficiency pain points in target markets (aviation OEMs, wind energy, naval defense, UAV manufacturers, etc.).
- Collaborate with TandemLaunch's venture team to shape go-to-market strategy, validate regulatory and certification pathways, and secure early adopters or pilot partners.
- Recruit and lead a founding technical team of fluid dynamitists, controls engineers, and electromechanical systems specialists.
Benefits
- $600k in pre-seed funding and hands-on operational support to launch your company.
- Access to state-of-the-art facilities for surface prototyping, flow testing, and system integration.
- A curated network of industry partners in aerospace, wind energy, and advanced defense systems.
- Collaboration with our venture team for customer development, fundraising, and team building.
- A competitive founder compensation package, including significant equity and stipend support.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
Number of Employees
1-10 employees
