# Terranox AI Hires Engineers and Geologists to Expand Uranium Discovery Stack

**Author:** Zero G Talent
**Published:** 2026-11-12
**Category:** science
**Tags:** yc-hiring, nuclear energy, remote sensing, geophysics, machine learning, software engineering

[Read on Zero G Talent](https://zerogtalent.com/blog/terranox-ai-hires-engineers-and-geologists-to-expand-uranium-discovery-stack)

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[Terranox AI](https://zerogtalent.com/space-companies/terranox-ai) is developing an exploration platform to locate high-grade uranium deposits across North America. Founded in 2025 and backed by Y Combinator (batch W26) and angel investor Sahin Boydas with $500,000 in seed capital, the San Francisco company trains machine learning models on more than 70 years of historical exploration outcomes to identify drilling targets for nuclear energy fuel.

Traditional mineral exploration relies on long, capital-intensive geological surveys that yield inconsistent hit rates. Terranox AI is structuring a vertically integrated approach, applying computer vision and geospatial analysis across multi-modal exploration data before committing capital to drill programs.

## Geophysics and Remote Sensing Foundations

The company was established by researchers with backgrounds spanning planetary science, geophysics, and applied machine learning.

Chief Executive Officer [Jade Checlair](https://zerogtalent.com/people/jade-checlair) holds a PhD in Geophysics from the University of Chicago. Checlair previously conducted research at NASA Ames Research Center and advised mining and energy clients at Boston Consulting Group.

Chief Technology Officer [Leeav Lipton](https://zerogtalent.com/people/leeav-lipton), who completed his undergraduate science degree at the University of Toronto, previously researched remote sensing technology at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory before spending more than eight years as an AI and machine learning scientist at Borealis AI.

## Scaling the Exploration and Data Architecture

Terranox AI is currently expanding both its software and geological teams to operationalize its discovery models, with five roles open across California and Canada.

In San Francisco, the technical pipeline is being built by machine learning engineers and research scientists working onsite. As a [Founding Applied Scientist](https://zerogtalent.com/space-jobs/terranox-ai/founding-applied-scientist-94018) ($150,000 to $250,000 USD), an incoming researcher anchors the scientific foundations of the platform, working across geophysical, geochemical, geological, and remote sensing data. Alongside this scientific core, the company is recruiting an [AI/ML Engineer](https://zerogtalent.com/space-jobs/terranox-ai/ai-ml-engineer-104394) ($150,000 to $250,000 USD) to train computer vision models from scratch on sparsely-labeled, multi-modal datasets and deploy them into production to inform exploration decisions.

The company also recruits through two research and engineering internships in San Francisco. The [Fall Intern - AI/ML Engineering](https://zerogtalent.com/space-jobs/terranox-ai/fall-intern-ai-ml-engineering-104195) ($5,000 to $12,500 USD per month) embeds with the core engineering group to tackle novel model classes, while the [Summer Intern - Applied Science MSc/PhD](https://zerogtalent.com/space-jobs/terranox-ai/summer-intern-applied-science-msc-phd-94643) ($8,000 to $16,000 USD per year) focuses on research problems combining geophysics and machine learning.

## Ground Truth in Saskatchewan

Deploying computational targets requires field validation in primary mining jurisdictions. Terranox AI is hiring a [Senior Exploration Geologist](https://zerogtalent.com/space-jobs/terranox-ai/senior-exploration-geologist-94134) ($115,000 to $185,000 CAD) based remotely in Saskatchewan, Canada, with regular travel to the San Francisco office. The geologist bridges data-driven targets with physical rock formations, directing field execution and overseeing drill programs on the ground.

## Open Roles at Terranox AI

| Role | Location | Work Mode | Salary |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [AI/ML Engineer](https://zerogtalent.com/space-jobs/terranox-ai/ai-ml-engineer-104394) | San Francisco, CA, US | Onsite | $150,000 – $250,000 USD |
| [Fall Intern - AI/ML Engineering](https://zerogtalent.com/space-jobs/terranox-ai/fall-intern-ai-ml-engineering-104195) | San Francisco, CA, US | Onsite | $5,000 – $12,500 USD / month |
| [Summer Intern - Applied Science MSc/PhD](https://zerogtalent.com/space-jobs/terranox-ai/summer-intern-applied-science-msc-phd-94643) | San Francisco, CA, US | Onsite | $8,000 – $16,000 USD / year |
| [Senior Exploration Geologist](https://zerogtalent.com/space-jobs/terranox-ai/senior-exploration-geologist-94134) | Saskatchewan, Canada | Remote | $115,000 – $185,000 CAD |
| [Founding Applied Scientist](https://zerogtalent.com/space-jobs/terranox-ai/founding-applied-scientist-94018) | San Francisco, CA, US | Onsite | $150,000 – $250,000 USD |

[See all open roles at Terranox AI](https://zerogtalent.com/space-companies/terranox-ai)

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*Source: [Zero G Talent](https://zerogtalent.com), the job board for space, defense, AI, robotics and frontier-tech companies.*