Staff Forward Deployed Engineer, Saronic
+ Equity options
Travel up to 50%
Unmanned vehicles for maritime security
Open for applications
Unmanned vehicles for maritime security
21-100 employees
Open for applications
+ Equity options
Travel up to 50%
21-100 employees
Company mission
To redefine maritime superiority.
Role
Who you are
- 7+ years of experience developing software for autonomous or robotic systems, with demonstrated ownership of complex, mission-critical features across multiple deployments
- Advanced proficiency in modern systems programming languages such as C++, Rust, and Python, with a focus on architecting high-performance, maintainable software for autonomy applications
- Deep expertise in robotics, autonomy, and embedded systems, particularly within high-consequence domains such as maritime, aerospace, or defense
- Strong command of networking and distributed systems, including experience architecting reliable communication frameworks using TCP/IP, UDP, DDS, or ROS 2
- Extensive hands-on experience with perception systems, integrating and calibrating sensors like cameras, radar, GPS, and IMUs for real-time autonomous decision-making
- Proven ability to debug and resolve highly complex, cross-domain issues, from embedded firmware to autonomy stack behavior under operational conditions
- Track record of delivering autonomy software for real-world robotic platforms, especially in uncertain, dynamic, and communication-constrained environments such as open-ocean deployments
- Expertise in autonomous navigation concepts, including motion planning, behavior trees, hybrid autonomy, and control theory, with the ability to evaluate and improve algorithms at the systems level
- Familiarity with distributed autonomy and multi-agent coordination, with experience designing or contributing to collaborative behaviors in fielded systems
- Experience working at the interface of engineering and operations, translating real-world mission needs into robust, scalable technical solutions
- Domain fluency in maritime systems, naval operations, or defense technologies, with an understanding of platform constraints, CONOPS, and operational integration
- Leadership in field integration and system validation, including mentoring junior engineers and defining best practices for deployment, troubleshooting, and sustained autonomy performance
- Willingness to travel (up to 50%), serving as a senior technical presence in the field to lead testing, integration, and operational support of ASV systems
- This role requires access to export-controlled information or items that require “U.S. Person” status. As defined by U.S. law, individuals who are any one of the following are considered to be a “U.S. Person”: (1) U.S. citizens, (2) legal permanent residents (a.k.a. green card holders), and (3) certain protected classes of asylees and refugees, as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)
- Physical Demands:
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
- Occasional standing and walking within the office
- Manual dexterity to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other office equipment
- Visual acuity to read screens, documents, and reports
- Occasional reaching, bending, or stooping to access file drawers, cabinets, or office supplies
- Lifting and carrying items up to 20 pounds occasionally (e.g., office supplies, packages)
What the job involves
- We are seeking a Staff Forward Deployed Engineer who will be at the forefront of integrating, deploying, and improving our autonomous systems in real-world environments
- You will work hands-on with software, networking, and autonomy, ensuring our autonomous service vessels perform reliably in operational settings
- This role blends software development, field deployment, and problem-solving to ensure our technology delivers real mission impact
- You will be deeply engaged in debugging and optimizing autonomy algorithms, refining system performance based on real-world data, and working closely with end-users to adapt our technology to mission needs
- Whether troubleshooting networking issues, improving sensor integration, or refining control logic, you will play a critical role in making our systems more capable and reliable
- You will be the link between groundbreaking autonomy technology and real-world success
- You will work on the front lines of maritime autonomy, ensuring our systems operate effectively in the environments where they matter most
- You will impact mission success and shape the future of autonomous maritime operations
- Architect and lead the development of autonomy, networking, and mission execution software, setting technical direction and ensuring performance and reliability in real-world maritime operations
- Drive field testing campaigns, overseeing the deployment of ASV systems, leading root cause analysis of autonomy, perception, and control issues, and guiding cross-functional resolution strategies
- Lead performance analysis efforts, using data from fielded systems to inform architecture decisions and prioritize software improvements with the highest operational impact
- Own the integration of new autonomy capabilities, ensuring system-wide compatibility and defining interfaces between software, sensing, and hardware subsystems
- Serve as a technical liaison with operators and mission stakeholders, translating operational feedback into actionable technical requirements and shaping roadmap priorities
- Guide the resolution of complex field issues, drawing from expertise across software, hardware, and networking layers to improve system robustness and deployment readiness
- Mentor and influence engineering teams, facilitating cross-functional collaboration across autonomy, hardware, and field operations to align technical execution with product goals
- Define and codify engineering best practices, creating reusable tools, documentation, and scalable workflows to support long-term system maintainability and operational reliability
Our take
Unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) are vehicles which operate at the surface of the water without a crew and can be used in oceanography and environmental monitoring, as well as for cargo transport or military applications. Saronic is a company developing USVs to have enhanced awareness and improved survivability, to be employed in maritime security.
Saronic's vehicles are designed to be smarter than previous models, with capabilities including adaptive path planning, multichannel communication, and the ability to better identify and track targets through a combination of passive sensors and advanced algorithms. The company has raised significant funding that will be used to accelerate R&D as it expands manufacturing capacity in anticipation of demand for rapid production in the future.
Kirsty
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Company
Funding (last 2 of 4 rounds)
Feb 2025
$600m
SERIES C
Jul 2024
$175m
SERIES B
Total funding: $845m
Company HQ
South Manchaca, Austin, TX
Leadership
Dino Mavrookas
(Co-Founder & CEO)Board Member of the Navy SEAL Foundation, and former Entrepreneur In Residence at 8VC. Spent 11 years as a Chief Petty Officer in the US Navy, from 2004 to 2015.
Rob Lehman
(Co-Founder & CCO)Founder of 9 Line Solutions, who is also a Communications Officer in the US Marine Corps. Previously the Chair and CEO of Temeku Technologies.
Vibhav Altekar
(Co-Founder)Former Advisor and Angel Investor for Standard Metrics and Chef Robotics. Spent 4 years working in Machine Learning at Anduril Industries.
Doug Lambert
(Co-Founder)Former VP of Engineering at Terradepth. Before that, worked at Liquid Robotics for a total 8 years, ultimately as Head of Engineering.
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