Location: Pittsburgh, PA (preferred) or remote with ability to access regional lab facilities
Compensation: $8,000–$10,000/month (1099 contract basis) – contingent on SBIR award
Start Date: Flexible, pending contract award
Position Type: Part-time or full-time, temporary contract (Phase I – 6 to 18 months)

About the Role

Axyde Analytics is seeking SBIR-ready Principal Investigators (PIs) and senior technical contributors to lead R&D on VIREN — a modular, schema-based compliance infrastructure designed to bring traceability, certification, and digital trust to regulated physical and digital systems.

VIREN SBIR efforts will span multiple domains, including export control, tribal governance, battery QA, magnet certification, and AI/ML traceability. These roles are contingent on SBIR award and will focus on developing VIREN modules that go beyond code — including cert artifacts, field test integrations, and real-world compliance workflows.

Each PI will be aligned to one or more specific modules (e.g., CAINO, MX, FTD), and will work under a central Program Manager based in Richmond, VA, with core system design centered in Pittsburgh, PA.

Example Project Areas

• Field test documentation systems for degraded or disconnected environments

• Export certification overlays with schema-locked proof-of-origin

• Battery QA traceability with VIN or lot-level artifact capture

• Tribal governance and ritual-linked compliance validation

• AI/ML trust and veracity scoring (CAINO) for training datasets

• Policy-to-proof translation engines for NIST, ITAR, or DOE regulatory mapping

• Physical certification artifact generation (labels, printed certs, edge triggers)

Note: You do not need to be an expert in all these areas — we are staffing across multiple SBIR-aligned modules.

Responsibilities

• Serve as named or supporting PI on one or more VIREN SBIR proposals

• Lead execution of one or more modules (e.g., schema translation, export cert, tribal overlays)

• Collaborate with Axyde’s Program Manager and core system team to integrate deliverables

• Participate in artifact development, report writing, and field validation loops

• Assist with proposal development if available (optional but welcomed)

 Ideal Background

• PhD or equivalent experience in Systems Engineering, Cyber-Physical Systems, Policy Automation, Information Architecture, or a related field

• Strong familiarity with one or more of the following:

  • Compliance frameworks (NIST, FedRAMP, ITAR)

  • TRL mapping or acquisition documentation

  • Metadata tagging / digital signatures

  • Tribal governance or export policy

  • Battery/magnet compliance or DoD certification pathways

• SBIR or federal grant experience a plus

• Located near Pittsburgh or Richmond, or available to travel for occasional lab or test activities

What We Offer

• $8,000–$10,000/month (1099) under a work-for-hire model

• Axyde retains all IP and data rights — no co-ownership or licensing

• Flexible scope and schedule, aligned to SBIR phase and module complexity

• Opportunity to shape the compliance backbone for critical U.S. sectors

• Phase II/III continuity and expansion opportunities for aligned contributors