Mission Operations Engineer (Platform)

Location: San Diego, California, United States; onsite. The role requires up to 50% travel, field operations in marine environments, and access to export-controlled information requiring U.S. Person status.

Company

Saronic Technologies develops autonomous and intelligent maritime platforms for defense and maritime operations.

What you will do

• Develop a deep understanding of underwater unmanned vessel hardware and software architecture and integrated operation.
• Lead structured field tests covering autonomous navigation, perception, communications, sensor integration, software updates, autonomy behaviors, and integrated functionality.
• Diagnose and troubleshoot autonomy, networking, onboard hardware, and software issues in real time during test events.
• Own data logging and telemetry monitoring, maintain vessels and test environments, and ensure data integrity for post-test analysis.
• Perform root cause analysis and issue triage, prepare post-mission reports, and report findings to relevant review boards.
• Develop test procedures, checklists, safety protocols, and solutions that improve vessel reliability, operational safety, and test efficiency while meeting applicable DoD standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• At least 1 year of hands-on engineering experience; design team experience and previous internships qualify.
• Ability to obtain U.S. Person status for access to export-controlled information or items.
• Ability to certify as fit for work by demonstrating the ability to swim and tread water.
• Ability to lift, push, and carry up to 75 lbs., carry 20 lbs. up and down stairs, and perform physically demanding work for up to 12 hours per day.
• Ability to work in marine environments and operate in daylight, low-light, and night conditions using marine navigation systems and visual cues.

Nice to have

• Strong hardware and software troubleshooting skills and experience working in challenging offshore or open-water conditions.
• Experience planning and executing complex test operations involving autonomous systems and multidisciplinary integrated systems.
• Knowledge of networking protocols and communication systems used in autonomous vessels.
• Systems engineering experience and experience with sensor integration, including EO/IR, radar, IMU, and data processing.
• Experience with robotics, AI, machine learning, embedded systems, real-time computing, or maritime operations.
• Familiarity with Rust, Python, CLI environments, and DoD requirements and standards for autonomous systems.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time employment with comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance; Saronic pays 100% of employee premiums and 80% of dependent premiums under the stated plans.
• Generous paid time off, holidays, and paid maternity and paternity leave.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match, stock options, life insurance, and short- and long-term disability coverage.
• Pet insurance options, including a 24/7 telehealth helpline, plus free lunch, drinks, and snacks in the office.
• Performance-based bonus opportunities and industry-standard compensation.