VP of Operations, AI Simulation

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.

We are seeking a VP of Operations to serve as the operational architect for our AI Simulation business unit at SandboxAQ. This is a role for a Builder-Operator to drive rigorous processes and deliver transformative impact by scaling operational infrastructure, developing innovative capacity planning, and navigating complex data-oriented processes all through high EQ influential team leadership.

In this role, you will be the operational engine propelling two of our most ambitious divisions centralized under AI Simulation: BioSim (Drug Discovery) and ChemSim (Materials Science). This is a role for a specialist in scaled execution. The ideal candidate is deeply tactical and data-oriented and possesses the high EQ necessary to navigate complex people dynamics. When you aren't developing dashboards to unblock the team, you are performing root-cause analysis on why a process or a team is getting stuck, and using influence to guide change, and ensure both units are positioned for global scale.

You will build and spearhead a division that is defining the future of AI-driven science. You will have the purview of a COO with the backing of a world-class organization, focused on solving the world's hardest problems in chemistry and biology.

Strategic Business Architect: Provide operational support and leadership to BioSim and ChemSim divisions, running day-to-day business operations including identifying synergies in resource allocation and operationalizing scaling systems. As a key leader on a growing team your impact will come from your ability to influence and partner with Engineering, Science, and GTM.

Rigorous Resourcing & Capacity Management: Lead the transition from high-growth experimentation to scaled operations by optimizing talent density and capacity across PhDs, SWEs, and GTM specialists. You will architect dynamic headcount models that align hiring with technical milestones and vertical-specific revenue triggers while being accountable for multi-million dollar compute budgets. You will introduce and manage telemetry around human resource capacity allocation across AI Simulation.

Tactical Execution: Be responsible for hands-on and end to end execution, track velocity across complex milestones, and rapidly shift resources (financial and talent) as requirements arise and shift. You will establish standards for tracking milestones, manage tradeoffs in resource allocation, and communicate effectively across leadership.

Interim Leadership & Chemical Simulation Oversight: Spearhead the Chemical Simulation business unit during its expansion. Your central mandate is to swiftly establish and operationalize high-priority verticals, including but not limited to Batteries, Catalysis Discovery, Semiconductor Substrates, Metal Alloys, and Magnets. You will define the playbook for how we resource and scale these initiatives and identify synergies in resource allocation, orchestration of compute requirements, and go-to-market support of ChemSim and BioSim.

Service Leadership & Organizational Health: Lead by influence with key partners in Engineering, R&D, Science, GTM, and HR; use forensic root-cause analysis and high EQ to diagnose friction, resolve organizational debt, and ensure team culture remains high-performing and mission-aligned during rapid scaling. This is a high-touch influential people leader who will navigate friction, facilitate difficult conversations and solve organizational challenges with candor and empathy.

Financial & Technical Stewardship: Manage rigorous trade-off analysis for high-stakes technical investments, ensuring resource allocation is synchronized between divisions and aligned with global revenue triggers. Diagnose bottlenecks and stuck workflows with a forensic mindset and implement structural fixes to prevent recurrence. Implement frontier AI and automation technologies to streamline internal workflows, reporting, and track revenue objectives.

• COO Pedigree: Deep experience in operational leadership, including tenure as a COO, Managing Director, or Head of Ops at venture-backed scaled startups; proven track record of scaling companies from Series B through to mature operations or successful exits.

• Technical Fluency: Deep familiarity with AI or heavy-compute environments; ability to translate the needs of Research Scientists and Executives into tactical execution against business requirements.

• Tactical Mastery: A "Builder-Operator" mindset with the ability to pivot instantly from deep-dive spreadsheet/Jira analysis to board-level strategic planning.

• Forensic Problem Solving: Proven expertise in conducting root-cause analysis on both operational delivery failures and human dynamics (attrition, team friction) within multidisciplinary teams.

• Experience setting up and scaling new business verticals or startup-within-a-startup units.

• A track record of implementing AI/LLM tools to automate internal business functions.

• Experience managing global, remote-first teams through significant organizational change.

• Proven experience navigating complex B2B sales cycles and technical partnerships with Hyperscalers or global industrial leaders.

• Familiarity with Life Sciences (Drug Discovery) or Materials Science (specifically the battery, semiconductor, or metallurgy sectors) and/or direct experience managing programs where the US Government was a primary customer, particularly regarding dual-use technology, national security R&D, or government contracting frameworks.

We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support your health, financial well-being, and life outside of work.

• Compensation: Competitive base salary, performance-based incentives or bonuses (where applicable), and equity participation.

• Benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents with generous employer premium contributions, retirement savings with company matching, paid parental leave, and inclusive family-building benefits.

• Work-Life Balance: Flexible paid time off, company-wide seasonal breaks, and support for flexible work arrangements that enable sustainable performance.

• Career Development: Opportunities for continuous learning and growth through on-the-job development, cross-functional collaboration, and access to internal learning and development programs.

We are committed to fostering a culture of belonging and respect, where diverse perspectives are actively sought and valued. Our multidisciplinary environment provides ample opportunity for continuous growth - working alongside humble, empowered, and ambitious colleagues ready to tackle epic challenges.

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.

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