David Dietz

Director, Research and External Partnerships

Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

About

I’m an analytical engineer with software/hardware experience who applies systems thinking, data-driven decision-making, and structured problem-solving to create clear, efficient, and reliable solutions. I value well-defined requirements, scalable design, and documentation that keeps technical work transparent and actionable. I’m equally committed to building mutually beneficial business relationships. I believe effective engineering comes from understanding stakeholder needs, aligning on clear expectations, and maintaining open, trust-based communication. Strong partnerships lead to solutions that are technically sound and strategically impactful. Across the project lifecycle, from architecture and implementation to optimization and continuous improvement, I focus on precision, logical reasoning, and collaborative execution. I’m drawn to roles where analytical depth, structured thinking, and strong professional relationships contribute to innovation and real, long-term value.

Experience

  • Director, Research and External Partnerships Office, Faculty of Engineering at University of Waterloo
    Oct 2012 - Present · 13 yrs 10 mos

    • Promoted research expertise of the University of Waterloo's Faculty of Engineering and increased the breadth of funding (totalling >$100M up to 2025) for research and teaching. • Worked with the Dean of Engineering and Associate Dean of Research to apply for major government research funding programs in sync with the faculty's major initiatives • Assisted individual faculty members in building their research programs through introductions to industry sponsors and by writing/editing major grant proposals with them. • Increased the number of partnerships with industry, academic, and government organizations. • Collaborated with departments across the university including Co-op, Government Relations, Community Relations, the Office of Research, and Waterloo International to further the mandates of the institution.

  • BlackBerry (Waterloo, ON)
    • Director, University Research
      2007 - 2012 · 5 yrs

      • Responsible for Research In Motion's (BlackBerry) overall relationships with academic institutions globally for research collaboration, scholarships and educational outreach programs • Built a team of 12 staff, located in Waterloo Canada and Slough UK, to execute programs across the world for conducting joint university research projects on BlackBerry-related technologies, and promoting education in mobile software development and embedded systems • Developed strategic partnerships with universities in Canada, the US, EMEA, China, Colombia, and Indonesia, in some cases working directly with government ministries on formal agreements • Managed a multi-million dollar program and operating expenditures budget • Supported RIM's subsidiaries including QNX, Certicom, TAT, and Torch to implement university programs to meet their specific needs • Served as an advisory board member for an NSERC strategic research network and the Dalhousie University Faculty of Computer Science • Co-inventor of 6 granted patents in wireless technologies plus additional submitted patent applications

    • Manager, University Relations
      Jan 2006 - 2007 · 1 yr 1 mo

      Development of partnerships for collaborative research between RIM and universities globally. • Worked with academics from local Ontario universities to develop research proposals in concert with a RIM internal technical champion • Supported project applications to granting agencies including NSERC, OCE, and MITACS and maintained relationships with these organizations • Harvested project outcomes in the forms of intellectual property, knowledge, or candidates for recruiting into specialized roles at RIM • Established and managed several dozen discrete research projects as well as 3 sponsored research chairs • Collaborated with RIM’s campus recruiting team on initiatives to raise the profile of RIM as an employer among students at key universities

  • Manager, Business Development at Ontario Centres of Excellence
    2001 - 2006 · 5 yrs

    Communications and Information Technology Ontario (CITO), a division of the Ontario Centres of Excellence, promoted leading-edge research and entrepreneurship in the fields of communications, information technology, and digital media in Ontario. • Matched university researchers with industry sponsors to form strategic partnerships • Managed the primary research funding programs offered by CITO, with exceptional results • Investigated opportunities for commercialization of Intellectual Property developed at the Universities • Provided guidance to CITO spin-off companies on developing business strategy and seeking financing • Continuous program management to evaluate the results of research and monitoring of project budgets • Built relationships with executive-level contacts of technology companies, as well as other provincial and federal research-funding organizations

  • Product Manager at Pixstream/Cisco Video Networking Business Unit
    2000 - 2001 · 1 yr

    • Managed the digital video products of the Cisco Video Networking Business Unit. Product capabilities included MPEG encoding/decoding and satellite conversion to IP, ATM, DSL and cable networks. • Specified the requirements for new products and initiated development through the project gating processes • Supported multiple departments (Sales, Manufacturing, Engineering, Training, and Marketing) • Worked with international customers and colleagues in Asia, Europe, Scandinavia, and North/ South America to tailor equipment configurations to the specific needs of the user • Developed 12 – 18 month product roadmaps and presented them to customers and executives • Demonstrated products at trade shows in Asia and North America • Cisco closed the Waterloo office in April of 2001 due to market conditions

  • TELUS Multimedia (Edmonton, Alberta)
    • Sr. Engineer/Business Developer
      Aug 1997 - Jun 2000 · 2 yrs 11 mos

      TELUS Multimedia was a division of TELUS that spearheaded the digital TV service over broadband network trial using an HFC/FTTC network. TELUS is the second largest telecommunications company in Canada and provides local phone service as well as long distance, data, ISP, video and wireless services. • Investigated leading-edge technologies for development of a business case to deploy data and digital video services commercially • Performed inward and outward product management duties for Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) • Prepared RFI documents for MPEG encoders and digital Set Top Boxes • Liaison between Marketing, Engineering, and field personnel on service requirements and policies • Gathered competitive intelligence for distribution to the division’s executive team • Implemented a trial of broadband interactive services (broadcast analog and digital TV, Web Browsing, Email, Video On Demand) over Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) and Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks • Co-inventor on a patent application for digital video caching • Managed the development of the Digital Set Top Box through Alpha, Beta, and Production stages in various locations of South Korea and North America • Conducted training of customer service representatives and network provisioning technicians, and wrote a User’s Guide for the Set Top Box • Developed system integration expertise with Lockheed-Martin in California • Installed, provisioned, and maintained the broadband network elements

    • Senior Network Engineer
      May 1990 - Jul 1997 · 7 yrs 3 mos

      • Responsible for the evaluation, development, and standardization of new telecom services • Developed processes for the Sales, Provisioning, and Fault Management groups for several services • Led a network implementation team and produced a test plan and technical reference guide for the Advanced Intelligent Network program • Engineered and maintained software for digital switches (NORTEL DMS and GTD#5) used for telecommunications services • Developed software standards for POTS, CENTREX, SS7, ISDN, E911, AIN, LNP, and Operator Services • Provided technical support for the TELUS Marketing department on new services