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.
About the Role
As a Senior Business Development Lead within AQNav, you will be a key driver of our commercial success, spearheading the market entry and expansion of our groundbreaking magnetic navigation technology. You will be responsible for developing and executing strategic partnerships and securing high-value sales opportunities within both the commercial and defense avionics sectors. This is a high-visibility, high-impact leadership role with significant growth potential, offering a unique opportunity to shape the future of navigation and contribute to a company at the forefront of innovation.
What You’ll Do
- Develop and implement a comprehensive, multi-year business development strategy targeting key commercial and defense avionics customers, including airlines, aircraft manufacturers, defense contractors, and government agencies.
- Lead the identification, qualification, and cultivation of strategic relationships and high-value sales opportunities, managing complex sales cycles from initial engagement to contract negotiation and closure.
- Establish and nurture deep, trusted advisor relationships with C-level executives and key decision-makers within target organizations.
- Conduct in-depth market research and competitive analysis to identify emerging market trends, evolving customer needs, and potential disruptive opportunities.
- Develop compelling value propositions, tailored presentations, and persuasive proposals that effectively articulate the unique benefits and competitive advantages of AQNav's technology to diverse technical and business audiences.
- Lead complex contract negotiations and strategic partnership discussions, ensuring favorable terms, mutually beneficial outcomes, and alignment with AQNav's long-term business objectives.
- Collaborate closely with internal cross-functional leadership (engineering, product, marketing, legal) to ensure seamless execution of sales and partnership agreements, driving successful product integration and customer satisfaction.
- Represent AQNav as a thought leader at high-profile industry events, conferences, and trade shows, building brand recognition, expanding industry networks, and generating qualified leads.
- Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to sales pipeline growth, revenue generation, market share expansion, and customer acquisition cost, providing regular updates to executive leadership.
About You
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field.
- 10+ years of progressive experience in business development or sales within the avionics, aerospace, or related high-tech industry, with a demonstrable track record of exceeding ambitious sales targets and securing significant contracts.
- Extensive experience selling complex technical solutions to both commercial and defense customers, with a deep understanding of their unique procurement processes and requirements.
- Proven ability to build and manage C-level relationships and navigate complex organizational structures.
- Exceptional communication, presentation, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and persuade at all levels.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and execute successful business development strategies in competitive markets.
- Must be eligible to obtain necessary security clearances, if required for defense-related work.
- U.S. Citizenship is required due to USG contract requirements.
Preferred Qualifications
- Established network of high-level contacts within the commercial and defense avionics sectors.
- Deep understanding of magnetic navigation, inertial navigation, or other related PNT technologies.
- Experience with government contracting, FAR/DFARS regulations, and international trade compliance.
- Familiarity with export control regulations (e.g., ITAR, EAR).
The US base salary range for this full-time position is expected to be $248k - $332k per 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.
We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where we have zero tolerance for discrimination. We invest in our employees' personal and professional growth. Once you work with us, you can’t go back to normalcy because great breakthroughs come from great teams and we are the best in quantum technology.
We offer competitive salaries, stock options depending on employment type, generous learning opportunities, medical/dental/vision, family planning/fertility, PTO (summer and winter breaks), financial wellness resources, 401(k) plans, and more.
Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status.
Accommodations: We provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities in job application procedures for open roles. If you need such an accommodation, please let a member of our Recruiting team know.
What We Do
SandboxAQ is harnessing the exponential power of AI + Quantum (AQ) technology. The inspiration for SandboxAQ and some of the team originated at Alphabet Inc., becoming an independent entity in 2022. Our mission is to develop commercial products for financial services, healthcare, telecommunications, public sector, and other computationally-intensive industries.
Our team’s unique approach enables cross-pollination across a diverse range of fields, from physics, computer science, neuroscience, mathematics, cryptography, natural sciences, and more!
Our success comes from coalescing diverse talent to create an environment where experimental thinking and collaboration yield breakthrough physics + AI solutions. Join a culture where thought leadership, diverse talent, employee engagement, and technological impact will create the next tech uproar.
We are deeply committed to education as a means to advance quantum solutions and computing initiatives. We invest in future talent through internship programs, research papers, developer tools, textbooks, educational talks/events, and partnerships with universities/talent hubs to attract multi-disciplinary talent. Our hope is to inspire people from all walks of life to be prepared for the quantum era and encourage a path in STEM
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