Chief Scientist, Magnets

SandboxAQ

3d•$224,000 - $420,000•Hybrid

About The Position

SandboxAQ is seeking a Chief Scientist to lead the scientific direction of the Magnets vertical within the Chemical Simulation group. This role involves defining the research strategy and technical roadmap, building and leading a scientific team, and applying computational materials discovery, simulation, and AI to accelerate magnet development. The Chief Scientist will work at the intersection of domain science and platform innovation, shaping magnetism-aware Large Quantitative Models (LQMs) and multi-scale modeling strategies in collaboration with AI simulation platform teams. They will also guide dataset strategy, modeling priorities, and experimental validation to translate research into manufacturable magnet technologies. Additionally, this leader will serve as a key external scientific representative, engaging with national labs, manufacturing partners, defense organizations, and equipment companies. The Magnets team focuses on developing high-performance permanent magnets that reduce reliance on rare earth elements and can be produced in the United States, aiming to match or exceed the performance of current NdFeB magnets for demanding applications.

Requirements

PhD in Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, or a related discipline, with deep specialization in magnetism, intermetallics, or hard magnetic materials.
15+ years of post-PhD experience leading scientific programs in magnetic materials, including significant industrial or national-lab leadership at the principal scientist, fellow, or director level.
Demonstrated ability to translate first-principles, multi-scale, and ML-driven modeling into manufacturable magnet formulations, including coupling to powder metallurgy, sintering, and heat-treatment processes.
Track record of building and leading multidisciplinary scientific teams and shaping research roadmaps that deliver against external commitments (industrial, government, or both).
Outstanding external scientific presence: publication and patent record, ability to represent the work to senior government, defense, and industrial audiences.

Nice To Haves

Hands-on experience with Fe-N, Mn-based, Sm-Co, or other rare-earth-lean permanent magnet systems and their bulk processing challenges.
Familiarity with applications in lithography stages, vacuum pumps, precision actuators, or defense platforms (fighter jets, drones, submarines).
Experience operating within CHIPS Act, DOD, DOE, or other federally funded R&D programs, including export-control and IP considerations.
Prior involvement in NewCo formation, IP licensing, or scaling research IP into commercial manufacturing operations.
Demonstrated track record of taking permanent magnet materials from concept through scale-up, qualification, and transfer into pilot or commercial manufacturing environments.
Proven ability to translate system-level application requirements such as force density, thermal operating envelope, demagnetization margin, vacuum compatibility, and reliability into composition, processing, and microstructure targets for simulation platform.

Responsibilities

Own the scientific charter and technical roadmap for the Magnets vertical, including phase stability, magnetocrystalline anisotropy, finite-temperature coercivity, and microstructure engineering across Fe- and Co-based intermetallic systems with U.S.-accessible alloying elements.
Oversee the translation of generative design outputs into a robust IP portfolio, ensuring the team owns the most valuable "white space" in substrate chemistry and structural design.
Build, lead, and mentor a multidisciplinary team of research scientists, computational/ML scientists, and postdocs; set the scientific bar, run technical reviews, and develop talent toward NewCo readiness.
Specify and prioritize the magnetism-aware LQM, datageneration, and multi-scale modeling capabilities required from the AISim platform; serve as the senior scientific counterpart to Platform Engineering and DataGen Research for this vertical.
Lead scientific engagement with national lab and industrial partners (e.g., NHMFL, domestic magnet producers, ASML, defense primes), translating partner constraints into well-posed scientific problems and delivering partner-grade results.
Architect the feedback loops between computational modeling and experimental lab validation to accelerate the Design-Build-Test-Learn (DBTL) cycle.
Work closely with the commercial team to identify buyers for our novel IP, structuring high-value licensing agreements and co-development partnerships.
Author the external scientific narrative of the vertical for quarterly updates, peer-reviewed publications, conferences, and prospective NewCo investors; protect scientific rigor and IP integrity throughout.