Chief Scientist (AI Simulation)

Location: Remote within the United States

Salary: $224,000–$420,000 annual base salary depending on US geographic pay tier, plus equity and performance-based incentives.

Company

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

What you will do

• Own the scientific charter and technical roadmap for the Magnets vertical, covering phase stability, magnetocrystalline anisotropy, finite-temperature coercivity, and microstructure engineering.
• Build, lead, and mentor a multidisciplinary team of research scientists, computational and ML scientists, and postdoctoral researchers.
• Define requirements for magnetism-aware Large Quantitative Models, data generation, and multi-scale modeling in partnership with platform engineering and data-generation research teams.
• Architect computational modeling and experimental validation feedback loops to accelerate the Design-Build-Test-Learn cycle.
• Lead scientific engagements with national laboratories, magnet manufacturers, defense organizations, and equipment companies.
• Oversee IP development, external scientific communications, licensing opportunities, and co-development partnerships.

Requirements

• PhD in Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, or a related discipline, with deep specialization in magnetism, intermetallics, or hard magnetic materials.
• 10+ years of post-PhD experience leading magnetic-materials programs at principal scientist, fellow, director, or comparable level.
• Experience translating first-principles, multi-scale, and ML-driven modeling into manufacturable magnet formulations, including powder metallurgy, sintering, and heat treatment.
• Track record of building multidisciplinary scientific teams and delivering research roadmaps for industrial or government partners.
• Strong publication and patent record, with the ability to represent scientific work to senior government, defense, and industrial audiences.
• Experience taking permanent-magnet materials through scale-up, qualification, and transfer to pilot or commercial manufacturing.

Nice to have

• Hands-on experience with Fe-N, Mn-based, Sm-Co, or other rare-earth-lean permanent-magnet systems.
• Experience with lithography stages, vacuum pumps, precision actuators, or defense platforms.
• Experience with CHIPS Act, DOD, DOE, export-control, or federally funded R&D programs.
• Prior involvement in NewCo formation, IP licensing, or commercial manufacturing operations.

Culture & Benefits

• Remote work within the United States, with flexible hybrid arrangements also supported as a company benefit.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) with company match, and generous parental leave.
• Generous paid time off and a work environment that respects focus time and recovery.
• Exposure to CHIPS Act-funded programs, senior scientific and executive leadership, mentorship, and dedicated learning budgets.
• Equity and performance-based incentives in addition to base compensation.