Senior Systems Engineer - Hardware Prototyping - SandboxAQ

About the Role:

This unique opportunity is part of the Quantum Navigation Group, which is responsible for technology development, advanced concepts, design, development, delivery, integration and test, verification and validation, and operation of developing novel navigational methods using GNSS alternatives. In this role, you will have the unique opportunity to bring new and exciting technologies to market. As a Senior Systems Engineer, you'll play a critical role in designing and building our product from its earliest stages through development.

As a Senior Systems Engineer, you will be responsible for three major work streams:

1. Discovery: You will work with our Research and Development team to conceptualize, source, build, and validate new, innovative, prototype devices.
2. Assessment: You will work with these teams to evaluate performance of these devices and identify paths for future improvement, as well as identification of problem areas in need of remediation or new conceptual approaches.
3. Implementation: You will be the hands-on expert in bringing these concepts to reality and fielding these devices in real-life environments. 

A final offer for this position will be provided after contract award.

Core Responsibilities:

• Architect the system block diagram to delineate information flow between sensors, data acquisition, user interface, and control feedback subsystems
• Gather and document prototype requirements (power, thermal, mechanical, EMI,  integration, etc)
• Collaborate with R&D team to create technical development roadmaps to de-risking all aspects of the system diagram, with iterative MVP milestones
• Specify and design parts, assemblies, and enclosures
• Interface with EE team when necessary to design and integrate PCBs
• Assess Size, Weight, and Power plus Cost (SWAP+C) impacts of various designs, and generate Bills of Material (BOM)
• Identify technical risk factors related to design decisions and conduct effective cost-benefit analysis for decisions
• Collaborate with stakeholders in product, software engineering, and customer engineers to manage expectations and timelines on hardware readiness
• Manage and oversee field deployments of prototype products for conducting experiments and system validation

Qualifications

• MS in engineering or a relevant STEM field, and 5 years experience OR BS and 8+ years industry experience in rapid prototyping
• Proficient in high-level programming (e.g. Python or C++ or  Rust or MatLab or Julia, etc.)
• Demonstrable experience with sprint planning and rapid prototyping
• Experience designing for fast iteration cycles using commercially available components, edge computing devices, embedded systems, and sensors
• Creative problem solving experience and attention to detail
• Experience communicating concepts and designs through sketches and low fidelity prototypes
• Ability to diagram and specify requirements at system, subsystem, and component levels to aid in the realization of design decisions
• Significant career experience working with sensor suites, evaluating novel sensors, and evaluating their applications
• Must be comfortable with working on U.S. Government contracts
• Ability to work onsite in Palo Alto, California

It would be great if you also had these:

• Desire to build things from scratch
• Guidance, Navigation, and Control experience
• Passion for Physics and AI
• Knowledge of Aerospace applications and environments
• Proficiency in a low-level language (C, Verilog, Systemverilog, etc.)
• Experience building realtime systems in RTOS environments
• Bonus: Familiarity with magnetometers, accelerometers, gyroscopes, precision clocks, and other navigation related sensors.