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SandboxAQ is a high-growth AI company emerging from Alphabet Inc. (2022) that develops Large Quantitative Models (LQMs) to address challenges in life sciences, financial services, navigation, cybersecurity, and other sectors. The Chemical Simulation group combines physics-based simulation, AI, materials science, and experimental validation to accelerate discovery and commercialization of materials critical to industry and national resilience.
You will serve as Director, Strategic Partnerships & Alliances for the semiconductor-materials programs, owning the full commercial motion from partner discovery through agreement execution and ongoing relationship management. This is a high-impact role building and executing partnership strategy to support CHIPS funding and broader commercial ambitions.
Key responsibilities include: developing and executing strategic-partnerships strategy across semiconductor-critical materials (catalysis, process chemicals, batteries, magnets, PFAS alternatives); identifying, qualifying, and prioritizing partners across the value chain (chemical/materials companies, semiconductor manufacturers, equipment providers, national laboratories); building trusted relationships with senior executives and technical leaders; translating SandboxAQ's scientific capabilities into compelling partner-specific value propositions; leading partnership development end-to-end from discovery through diligence, negotiation, approval, launch, and expansion; structuring and negotiating agreements (NDAs, MOUs, LOIs, joint development agreements, statements of work, validation agreements, licensing structures) in partnership with Legal and Finance; defining partner roles, technical scope, milestones, success criteria, IP treatment, publication rights, exclusivity, and commercialization pathways; ensuring alignment with government-program, export-control, and compliance requirements; coordinating cross-functional deal teams across technical, commercial, legal, financial, and executive workstreams; and representing SandboxAQ at customer meetings, industry events, and conferences.
You will operate in a high-growth, ambiguous environment, creating structure where repeatable playbooks do not yet exist. The role requires regular travel for partner meetings, customer engagements, and conferences.
REQUIREMENTS:
- 10+ years of experience in strategic partnerships, business development, alliances, licensing, corporate development, or related commercial role in a technical industry
- Demonstrated success sourcing, developing, negotiating, and closing complex multi-party partnerships, preferably involving R&D, technology licensing, government funding, co-development, or technical validation
- Strong contract and deal-structuring experience, including ability to work effectively with Legal on IP, data rights, confidentiality, economics, milestones, liability, exclusivity, and commercialization terms
- Experience translating complex technical capabilities into business value, commercial proposals, and executive-level decisions
- Experience managing long-cycle enterprise or industrial sales and partnership processes with multiple decision makers and significant technical diligence
- Strong understanding of industrial materials, chemicals, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, scientific software, or closely related domain
- Excellent written, verbal, and executive communication skills, with ability to earn trust across scientists, engineers, lawyers, finance leaders, executives, and external partners
- Demonstrated ability to operate independently in high-growth, ambiguous environment and create structure where repeatable playbook does not yet exist
- Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, chemistry, materials science, or related field; advanced degree or equivalent technical experience preferred
- Willingness to travel regularly for partner meetings, customer engagements, conferences, and business-development activities
HIGHLY DESIRED:
- Direct experience with semiconductor materials, process chemicals, catalysis, batteries, magnets, PFAS alternatives, specialty chemicals, or related industrial R&D markets
- Experience operating within CHIPS Act, DOE, DOD, national-laboratory, BAA, OTA, SBIR, or other federally funded R&D programs
- Experience negotiating partnerships involving government-funded research, domestic manufacturing, supply-chain resilience, or commercialization of research-generated IP
- Track record of closing partnerships that progressed from exploratory discussions to signed agreements, technical execution, revenue, licensing, or strategic investment
- Familiarity with technology commercialization, IP licensing, joint development, contract manufacturing, qualification, scale-up, and industrial go-to-market processes
- Existing relationships with senior leaders in semiconductor, chemical, materials, manufacturing, equipment, or national-laboratory ecosystems
- Experience building commercial processes, partner-management systems, or alliances function within growing company
