Staff Hardware Engineer, AQNav
Staff Hardware Engineer, AQNav
Employer Active
Job Alert
You will be updated with latest job alerts via email
Share
Job Alert
You will be updated with latest job alerts via email
Job Description
About SandboxAQ
SandboxAQ is a high-growth company delivering AI solutions that address some of the worlds greatest challenges. The companys 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 weve cultivated an environment that encourages creativity collaboration and impact. By investing deeply in our people were building a thriving global workforce poised to tackle the worlds 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.
About the Role
As a Staff Hardware Engineer within AQNav you will participate in the full product lifecycle of a novel sensing avionics system from planning and design to integration testing and this role you will define and implement avionics system architectures performing trade studies on performance complexity risk and effort to deliver designs that meet both system-level and certification requirements. Your work will directly contribute to bringing novel sensing systems from prototype to flight-ready certified hardware. You will ensure compliance with DO-178C DO-254 DO-160 and ARP4754A processes while balancing the speed of prototyping with the rigor of aviation certification.
This is an on-site hands-on role based in Palo Alto working closely with research teams and product stakeholders across the Sensing organization. You will lead the design integration and certification-readiness of multi-modal sensing systems ensuring compliance with aviation regulatory requirements throughout the product lifecycle.
What Youll Do
- Define and implement avionics system architecture balancing performance complexity risk and certification requirements.
- Design develop and troubleshoot avionics hardware (e.g. IMUs computing sensing communication power) from concept through production.
- Generate compliance documentation (e.g. Plans Standards Checklists Test Procedures Reports) consistent with DO-178C DO-254 DO-160 and ARP4754A processes.
- Conduct benchtop environmental hardware-in-the-loop and on-aircraft testing; drive improvements and perform root-cause investigations in safety-critical environments.
- Collaborate across hardware software and field operations teams to ensure readiness for airborne operations and maintain audit-ready documentation.
- Travel to integration and test sites including aircraft modification facilities to install verify and validate system performance in operational conditions.
About You
- Masters degree in Electrical Computer Mechanical Engineering or related field with 8 years in aerospace hardware/software development including 3 years working directly on certified avionics systems.
- Hands-on experience with DO-178C DO-254 DO-160 and familiarity with ARP4754A processes.
- Skilled in system-level design requirements definition and certification-aligned documentation.
- Proficient in programming (Python C C MATLAB) ECAD tools (e.g. Altium) and comfortable in RTOS environments.
- Experience reading electrical wiring schematics.
- Expertise in designing automated test equipment.
- Proven ability to work across engineering disciplines mentor peers and balance hardware development with long-term certification goals.
Job Requirements
- U.S. Citizenship (due to USG contract requirements) and ability to obtain/hold a U.S. Secret clearance.
- Willingness to work from our Palo Alto location 50% of the time (hybrid) and travel internationally as required (<25%).
- Track record of successfully integrating hardware/software into certified airborne platforms.
Nice to Haves
- Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) experience.
- Familiarity with quantum sensors magnetometers accelerometers gyroscopes precision clocks or other advanced navigation-related sensors.
- Experience with software tool qualification processes and verification automation in support of certification efforts.
- Experience with FPGA development and High-Level Synthesis (HLS) for hardware acceleration safety-critical control systems and real-time signal processing.
The US base salary range for this full-time position is expected to be $171k-239kper year. Our salary ranges are determined by role and level. Within the range individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills experience and relevant education or training. This role may be eligible for annual discretionary bonuses and equity.
SandboxAQ welcomes all.
Required Experience:
Staff IC
Employment Type
Full-Time
