Staff Forward Deployed Engineer, AQNav
AI summary of the role
SandboxAQ's AQNav team seeks a Senior Forward Deployed Engineer to deploy and validate GPS-independent magnetic navigation solutions on military and commercial platforms.
What you’ll do
- Lead the technical side of strategic pursuits, owning the technical workstream for high-impact customer pilots and presentations.
- Build and own field analysis tooling, developing Python-based pipelines to ingest, clean, and analyze heterogeneous sensor and navigation logs.
- Translate performance data into stakeholder narratives, converting metrics into concise stories for operators, engineers, and senior executives.
- Bridge operations and R&D by turning field observations into well-structured, testable requirements and aligning teams on success criteria.
What you’ll bring
- Strong understanding of PNT principles and modern Alt-PNT approaches.
- 3+ years in aerospace, defense, or autonomous systems with hands-on experience integrating hybrid software/hardware products for the DOD.
- Strong proficiency in Python for data analysis, signal processing, and visualization.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience presenting to engineers, program managers, and senior leaders.
Technologies
Python · IMU · GNSS · Kalman filtering · sensor fusion · magnetometers · LiDAR · digital twin · simulation
About SandboxAQ
Physics-based AI platform delivering Large Quantitative Models across life sciences, finance, materials discovery, and cybersecurity. Spun from Alphabet in 2022.
Series E
Source and classification
Production engineering · Evidence for this classification:
inspiring mission, in a community of like-minded people who value entrepreneurialism, ownership, and transformative impact. The Opportunity SandboxAQ's AQNav (Quantum Navigation) team builds global, GPS-independent, navigation solutions from military and commercial aircraft to autonomous submersible platforms. We are the bridge between cutting-edge quantum sensing research and real-world operations, working directly alongside the defense customers and platform integrators at the highest levels to prove that magnetic navigation works where it matters most. The AQNav team is looking for a Senior Forward Deployed Engineer to join our team. This role is central to our efforts to own the technical reality of how AQNav performs in the field and to serve as the primary bridge between operational users and our product, engineering, and research teams. This role goes well beyond pre-sales
More from the job description
About SandboxAQ SandboxAQ is a high-growth company delivering AI solutions that address some of the world's greatest challenges. The company’s Large Quantitative Models (LQMs) power advances in life sciences, financial services, navigation, cybersecurity, and other sectors. We are a global team that is tech-focused and includes experts in AI, chemistry, cybersecurity, physics, mathematics, medicine, engineering, and other specialties. The company emerged from Alphabet Inc. as an independent, growth capital-backed company in 2022, funded by leading investors and supported by a braintrust of industry leaders. At SandboxAQ, we’ve cultivated an environment that encourages creativity, collaboration, and impact. By investing deeply in our people, we’re building a thriving, global workforce poised to tackle the world's epic challenges. Join us to advance your career in pursuit of an inspiring mission, in a community of like-minded people who value entrepreneurialism, ownership, and transformative impact. The Opportunity SandboxAQ's AQNav (Quantum Navigation) team builds global, GPS-independent, navigation solutions from military and commercial aircraft to autonomous submersible platforms. We are the bridge between cutting-edge quantum sensing research and real-world operations, working directly alongside the defense customers and platform integrators at the highest levels to prov [... source excerpt omitted ...] itu, by using their hands-on software and hardware skills to ensure success in critical test events and demonstrations Set the tone for how we communicate with our most important customers, serving as the primary technical partner in business development efforts, presentations, and conferences Key Responsibilities Lead the technical side of strategic pursuits. Own the technical workstream for high-impact customer pilots and presentations. Design and run experiments that compare AQNav against legacy and alt-PNT solutions. Deliver clear, quantitative customer analyses. Build and own field analysis tooling. Develop and maintain Python-based pipelines to ingest, clean, and analyz [... source excerpt omitted ...] rt logs, bias drifts, error growth, and RMSE metrics into concise, accurate stories for operators, engineers, and senior executives. Contribute materially to technical content for customer briefings, program reviews, and business development presentations. Bridge operations and R&D. Turn field observations into well-structured, testable requirements. Partner with product, research, and engineering teams to prioritize issues, design follow-on experiments, and push for clarity around performance metrics, success criteria, and tradeoffs so that teams are aligned on what "right looks like." Lead field integration and represent AQNav externally. Guide integration of AQNav with missi
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