Forward Deployed Engineer – Quantum Navigation

About the role

SandboxAQ’s AQNav team creates GPS‑independent navigation solutions for military and commercial platforms. As a Senior Forward Deployed Engineer you will own the technical reality of AQNav in the field, acting as the primary bridge between customers, product, engineering, and research teams.

Key responsibilities

• Deploy and validate AQNav on operational platforms, turning multi‑sensor test data into performance narratives for senior DOD stakeholders.
• Lead technical workstreams for high‑impact pilots, design experiments, and produce quantitative analyses comparing AQNav to legacy navigation solutions.
• Build and maintain Python‑based pipelines for ingesting, cleaning, and visualizing heterogeneous sensor logs, and create repeatable reporting templates.
• Translate performance metrics into clear stories for operators, engineers, and executives, and contribute to customer briefings and program reviews.
• Partner with product, research, and engineering to turn field observations into testable requirements and guide integration with mission computers and onboard sensors.

Required profile

• 3+ years of hands‑on experience in aerospace, defense, or autonomous systems, integrating hybrid hardware‑software solutions for the DOD.
• B.S. in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science or equivalent; willingness to travel up to 30% for tests and conferences.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to present technical concepts to both engineers and senior leaders.

Required skills

• Strong knowledge of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) fundamentals and modern Alt‑PNT approaches.
• Proficiency in Python for data analysis, signal processing, binary log parsing, and visualization.
• Experience with sensor fusion, Kalman filtering, and simulation/digital‑twin environments.
• DoD platform integration experience, familiarity with relevant standards and acquisition processes.

What we offer

• Competitive base salary, performance‑based incentives, and equity participation.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with generous employer contributions.
• Retirement savings plan with company matching.
• Fully remote work, flexible paid time off, and seasonal company‑wide breaks.
• Opportunities for professional growth and career development.