VP of Product, Saronic
Plus opportunities for performance-based bonuses and stock options
Unmanned vehicles for maritime security
Job no longer available
Unmanned vehicles for maritime security
501-1000 employees
Job no longer available
Plus opportunities for performance-based bonuses and stock options
501-1000 employees
Company mission
To redefine maritime superiority.
Role
Who you are
- Proven experience (10+ years) in product leadership roles, preferably in the defense, autonomous systems, or robotics industries
- Strong understanding of DoD procurement processes, military regulations, and defense industry standards
- Deep technical knowledge of autonomous systems, particularly in maritime and surface vessel technologies
- Demonstrated experience building and scaling product teams in high-growth, innovative environments
- Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with technical, business, and government stakeholders
- Experience managing product development from concept to commercialization, including overseeing large, complex projects with a focus on quality, security, and compliance
- Strong strategic thinker with the ability to balance long-term vision with short-term execution
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment with shifting priorities and requirements
- Advanced degree in engineering, computer science, business, or a related field is a plus
What the job involves
- The VP of Product will be responsible for overseeing the full product lifecycle—from concept to commercialization—of Saronic’s autonomous surface vessels
- This includes setting the product vision, driving product strategy, ensuring successful execution, and aligning product initiatives with both Saronic’s mission and the needs of the DoD
- As a key member of the leadership team, the VP of Product will work closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering, operations, and business development, to build world-class products that drive our company's growth and position us as a leader in autonomous maritime technology
- Product Strategy & Vision: Develop and communicate a compelling product vision and strategy that aligns with Saronic’s overall goals, particularly the needs of defense and maritime operations. Ensure that the product roadmap is forward-thinking and includes innovation in autonomous technologies
- Leadership & Team Building: Lead, mentor, and scale the product management team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and high performance. Build a cross-functional, agile environment with clear roles and responsibilities to drive success
- Product Development Lifecycle: Oversee the entire product development lifecycle, from ideation and design through engineering, testing, and deployment. Ensure that products meet rigorous military standards, safety protocols, and compliance requirements
- Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with DoD and defense contractors to understand mission-critical requirements, ensuring that products align with customer needs and regulatory standards. Manage relationships with key stakeholders to incorporate feedback and guide product enhancements
- Market & Competitive Analysis: Conduct market research and competitive analysis to stay ahead of industry trends, particularly in autonomous systems and defense technologies. Use data and insights to continuously refine and improve product offerings
- Metrics & Performance: Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for product success. Leverage data to drive decision-making and measure the impact of product initiatives on the company’s bottom line
- Go-to-Market & Commercialization: Work with the sales, marketing, and business development teams to define product positioning, pricing, and go-to-market strategies for the DoD market. Play a key role in the commercialization process for government contracts and military procurements
- Innovation & R&D: Drive innovation in the product portfolio, exploring new technologies such as AI, machine learning, and advanced navigation systems that will set the company apart in the defense sector
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
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 & 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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