Mission Operations Engineer (Program)

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 OVERVIEW As a Mission Operations Engineer, you will be hands-on with the deployment, validation, and iterative improvement of our autonomous surface vessels. You will be a member of the Integrity & Performance element, the focused execution arm for high-priority validation efforts that strengthen product confidence, improve capability performance, and increase reliability. Your work will directly support both project-based deliverables (e.g., capability rollouts) and ongoing programs (e.g., V1 software release). You will help ensure our systems meet rigorous technical and operational standards through detailed testing, data analysis, and cross-functional coordination. You are able to meet deadlines and achieve desired outcomes as both an individual contributor and as a part of your team. Responsibilities: How you support the mission - Develop deep understanding of vehicle HW and SW architecture, and how the vehicle operates as an integrated system. - Lead planning and execution of structured field tests for vessel performance pertaining to autonomous navigation, perception, communications, and sensor integration, among other vessel functionalities. - Diagnose and perform real-time troubleshooting of autonomy, networking, and onboard hardware or software during test events. - Implement solutions for testing, safety of vessel operations, and system robustness to maximize efficiency. - Own data logging and telemetry monitoring systems; ensure data integrity for post-test analysis. - Contribute to root cause corrective action (RCCA) and issue triage workflows after field anomalies, with reporting to relevant review boards to eliminate repeat issues. - Support day-to-day operation of autonomous vessels and support craft, using telemetry and onboard diagnostics to diagnose issues and improve reliability. - Ensure testing aligns with DoD performance, compliance, and safety standards when applicable. How you support the team - Lead planning and execution of test cases to validate software updates, autonomy behaviors, and integrated system functionality. - Interface with autonomy, software, hardware, and systems teams to translate product requirements into field-validated test objectives. - Foster a collaborative and positive team environment, promoting open communication, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement. - Develop test procedures, checklists, and safety protocols to support repeatable and safe vessel operation and overall mission execution while eliminating process waste. - Create post-mission reports with detailed logs, data plots, issue summaries, and engineering feedback. Qualifications: Basic Qualifications - Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field - 1+ years of hands-on engineering experience (design teams and previous internships qualify) Preferred Qualifications - Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills (HW/SW) and ability to work effectively in challenging field conditions such as off-shore in open water - Experience and knowledge of best practices in planning and execution of complex test operations involving autonomous systems - Knowledge of networking protocols and communication systems used in autonomous vessels - Systems engineering experience, ability to understand multi-disciplinary integrated systems - Experience with sensor integration such as EO/IR, radar, IMU, and data processing - Experience with integration and testing of multi-disciplinary integrated systems - Experience with robotics, AI, or machine learning applications - Familiarity with software development in Rust, Python, or other languages and CLI environment - Familiarity with maritime operations - Understanding of DoD requirements and standards for autonomous systems - Experience working w