Principal, Corporate Strategy - Corporate Development (Defense)

Location: Austin, TX, United States; onsite. The role requires access to export-controlled information and therefore U.S. Person status, including U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residence, or certain protected asylee or refugee status.

Company

Saronic Technologies develops autonomous and intelligent platforms for maritime operations.

What you will do

• Own the corporate strategy agenda, frame critical questions, structure analysis, and align executives on priorities and tradeoffs.
• Build market and competitive intelligence across customers, competitors, capital markets, technology, and policy.
• Lead build/buy/partner analyses and develop strategic theses and target landscapes for the M&A pipeline.
• Originate and shape strategic partnerships, including teaming arrangements, supplier and technology partnerships, and joint ventures.
• Lead market entry, portfolio prioritization, capacity, and investment initiatives with Finance and functional leaders.
• Prepare executive and Board materials and build a small strategy team focused on analytical rigor, synthesis, and communication.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in management consulting, corporate strategy, or corporate development, including substantial leadership of engagements or strategy workstreams for senior executives.
• Track record of shaping and executing major strategic decisions, including market entry, portfolio moves, M&A or partnership theses, and operating model changes.
• Exceptional structured problem-solving, including hypothesis-driven analysis and defensible recommendations from incomplete information.
• Strong financial and business acumen in market sizing, business cases, scenario analysis, valuation, and transaction concepts.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication, including executive- and Board-level materials.
• Ability to influence and align senior stakeholders across functions without direct authority.
• Bachelor’s degree required.

Nice to have

• Experience in defense, autonomy, maritime, or advanced hardware and technology sectors.
• Familiarity with Department of Defense acquisition and budget dynamics.
• MBA.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time onsite work in Austin, Texas, with regular office-based physical activities.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance; Saronic pays 100% of employee premiums and 80% of dependent premiums under the stated plans.
• Generous paid time off and holidays, plus paid maternity and paternity leave.
• 401(k) plan with company match, stock options, life insurance, and short- and long-term disability coverage.
• Pet insurance discounts, free lunch, and unlimited free drinks and snacks in the office.
• Competitive salary with opportunities for performance-based bonuses.