Staff Forward Deployed Engineer (AI)

Location: Remote in the United States; travel up to 30% for on-site tests, integrations, customer engagements, and conferences. Candidates must already hold or be eligible to obtain a U.S. security clearance.

Salary: US Tier 1 $148,000–$222,000; US Tier 2 $133,200–$199,800; US Tier 3 $118,400–$177,600.

Company

SandboxAQ develops AI solutions powered by Large Quantitative Models for life sciences, financial services, navigation, cybersecurity, and other sectors.

What you will do

• Deploy and validate AQNav quantum navigation systems on aircraft, autonomous platforms, and other operational systems.
• Lead technical workstreams for customer pilots, demonstrations, strategic pursuits, and presentations.
• Build Python pipelines and visualization tools to ingest, clean, analyze, and report on heterogeneous sensor and navigation logs.
• Design experiments comparing AQNav with legacy and alternative PNT solutions, including quantitative performance analysis.
• Translate field data, drift, error growth, and RMSE metrics into clear narratives for operators, engineers, executives, and defense customers.
• Guide integration with mission computers, flight controllers, and onboard sensors while connecting field operations with product, research, and engineering teams.

Requirements

• 3+ years of hands-on experience in aerospace, defense, or autonomous systems integrating hybrid software and hardware solutions for the Department of Defense.
• Strong understanding of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing principles, Alt-PNT approaches, IMUs, GNSS limitations, drift, and latency.
• Strong Python skills for data analysis, signal processing, visualization, binary-log parsing, dashboards, notebooks, and automated reporting.
• B.S. in engineering, physics, mathematics, computer science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience presenting to technical and senior stakeholders.
• Must be able to work remotely from the United States, travel up to 30%, and hold or be eligible to obtain a U.S. security clearance.

Nice to have

• M.S. or Ph.D. specializing in guidance, navigation, and controls, with 5+ years in aerospace and defense.
• Experience with Kalman filtering, sensor fusion, simulation, digital twins, and mission validation.
• Experience integrating hardware and software onto manned or unmanned aircraft, UxVs, or surface vessels.
• Familiarity with Department of Defense requirements, acquisition, testing, certification, and verification environments.

Culture & Benefits

• Fully remote work with flexible paid time off and company-wide seasonal breaks.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage with employer premium contributions.
• Retirement savings with company matching, paid parental leave, and family-building benefits.
• Competitive base compensation, performance-based incentives where applicable, and equity participation.
• Continuous learning through on-the-job development, cross-functional collaboration, and internal learning programs.