Training Program Manager, MUSV

Saronic Technologies is a leader in revolutionizing autonomy at sea, dedicated to developing state-of-the-art solutions that enhance maritime operations through autonomous and intelligent platforms. Job Summary: Saronic is seeking a highly experienced maritime professional to lead the development, execution, and continuous improvement of the training pipeline supporting Marauder, our mid-sized autonomous surface vessel (MUSV). In this critical role, you will own the qualification and readiness of MUSV-specific Mission Operations personnel by designing and managing a comprehensive training program that produces safe, proficient operators capable of conducting autonomous vessel missions in dynamic maritime environments. You will transform operational experience into structured curriculum, certification standards, and performance evaluation frameworks while working closely with vessel captains, engineers, and autonomy developers, and shoreside operations teams. This role plays a central part in scaling operations by ensuring personnel readiness keeps pace with vessel development, testing, and deployment. The ideal candidate combines deep maritime command experience with a strong ability to mentor, instruct, and build structured training programs in technically complex and rapidly evolving operational environments. Responsibilities: - Training Program Ownership - Design, implement, and manage the end-to-end training and certification pipeline for MUSV operations and support personnel. - Establish operator qualification standards, progression tracks, and currency requirements. - Develop scalable training throughput plans aligned with operational growth. - Maintain centralized training records, certification status, and personnel readiness tracking. - Standardize training processes across test, development, and operational deployments. Curriculum Development & Instruction - Develop structured training curriculum covering: - MUSV vessel systems and propulsion - Remote operations and autonomy supervision - Navigation, COLREGS, and maritime risk management - Emergency response and casualty control - Mission planning, execution, and post-mission analysis - Regulatory compliance and operational documentation - Build blended training approaches including classroom instruction, simulator training, tabletop exercises, and live vessel operations. - Deliver advanced instruction and certification events for senior operators and mission leads. - Create and maintain training manuals, SOPs, evaluation checklists, and operator handbooks. Operational Integration - Translate real-world mission lessons learned into updated training materials and standards. - Participate in sea trials, autonomy testing, and operational deployments to remain current on platform capabilities. - Collaborate with engineering and autonomy teams to incorporate new systems, software releases, and operational changes into training. - Support development of training scenarios that reflect realistic operational risks and mission profiles. Safety, Compliance & Certification - Embed maritime safety culture and risk management principles throughout all training phases. - Ensure training programs align with applicable USCG, SOLAS, IMO, and Class expectations where applicable. - Validate operator readiness through formal evaluation events, check rides, and scenario-based assessments. - Maintain documentation supporting inspections, audits, and operational readiness reviews. Evaluation & Readiness Metrics - Develop measurable operator performance standards and evaluation frameworks. - Conduct operator proficiency assessments and remediation planning. - Track training outcomes, qualification status, and pipeline health. - Provide leadership with readiness reports and training effectiveness metrics. External Coordination & Maritime Integration - Coordinate training-related interactions with port authorities, pilot associations, and regulatory stakeholders when required. - Develop onboa