Senior Forward Deployed Engineer, Saronic
+ Equity options + Opportunities for performance-based bonuses
Unmanned vehicles for maritime security
Job no longer available
Unmanned vehicles for maritime security
1001+ employees
Job no longer available
+ Equity options + Opportunities for performance-based bonuses
1001+ employees
Company mission
To redefine maritime superiority.
Role
Who you are
- 5+ years of experience developing autonomy or robotics systems, with a strong foundation in software engineering
- Proficient programming skills in C++, Rust, Python, or similar languages, with experience building and maintaining performance-critical systems
- Deep technical background in robotics, autonomy, or embedded systems, particularly within maritime, aerospace, or defense sectors
- Strong understanding of networking protocols and distributed systems, including TCP/IP, UDP, DDS, and message-passing frameworks (e.g., ROS, ZeroMQ)
- Extensive hands-on experience with perception sensors such as cameras, radar, GPS, and IMUs, with emphasis on integration and real-time sensor fusion
- Proven ability to debug and resolve complex, cross-disciplinary issues, spanning software, hardware, networking, and autonomy behavior
- Experience adapting autonomy systems to real-world constraints, including variable environments, limited communications, and platform-specific limitations
- Willingness and capability to lead field deployments (up to 50%), with a history of testing and refining autonomous systems in operational maritime or expeditionary contexts
- Expertise in motion planning, control systems, and behavior architectures, including behavior trees and adaptive navigation algorithms
- Domain knowledge in maritime systems, naval operations, or defense technology, with an understanding of mission-critical operational needs
- Familiarity with distributed autonomy and multi-agent coordination, including decentralized planning and task-sharing in communication-limited settings
- Leadership in system integration, testing, and operationalization, collaborating across engineering, product, and field teams to deliver robust, deployable 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)
What the job involves
- We are seeking a Senior 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
- Lead the design, development, and optimization of advanced software systems for autonomy, networking, and mission execution, with a focus on robust performance in dynamic maritime environments
- Drive field testing and deployment strategies, overseeing validation of autonomy, perception, and control systems under operational conditions, and proactively identifying systemic issues
- Own the analysis of mission-critical performance data, translating operational insights into high-impact software improvements that enhance system behavior, reliability, and responsiveness
- Architect and integrate new autonomy capabilities, ensuring compatibility across software, sensors, and vessel hardware, while maintaining a modular and scalable system design
- Partner directly with operators, mission planners, and end-users, translating feedback into actionable requirements and guiding the evolution of the autonomy stack to meet mission needs
- Lead incident response and root cause analysis for complex issues spanning software, hardware, and networking layers, and implement durable solutions that strengthen system resilience
- Mentor and collaborate with cross-functional teams, aligning autonomy development with broader product and mission goals, and elevating engineering practices across the organization
- Establish and maintain technical standards, authoring deployment protocols, diagnostic tools, and documentation to support the reliable scaling of autonomy systems in operational fleets
- 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)
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.
Saronic is clearly charting an ambitious course for the future of maritime innovation too. Through its strategic partnership with NVIDIA, the company has embedded cutting-edge AI and edge computing directly onto its autonomous vessels. By combining Saronic's shipbuilding and autonomy expertise with NVIDIA's advanced computing, the company is delivering smarter platform while modernizing US shipbuilding for the era of autonomy. With this momentum, Saronic should be able to scale its next-generation maritime solutions and lead the transformation of a critical industry.
Kirsty
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
Company
Funding (last 2 of 5 rounds)
Mar 2026
$1.8bn
SERIES D
Feb 2025
$600m
SERIES C
Total funding: $2.6bn
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 & CTO)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 & COO)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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