Senior Forward Deployed Software Engineer

Saronic Technologies is a leader in revolutionizing defense autonomy at sea, dedicated to developing state-of-the-art solutions that enhance maritime operations for the Department of Defense (DoD) through autonomous and intelligent platforms.

Job Overview

We are seeking a Senior Forward Deployed Software Engineer in Washington, DC, who will be at the forefront of integrating, deploying, and improving our autonomous systems in real-world environments. You will work hands-on with software, networking, and autonomy, ensuring our autonomous service vessels perform reliably in operational settings. This role blends software development, field deployment, and problem-solving to ensure our technology delivers real mission impact.

You will be deeply engaged in debugging and optimizing autonomy algorithms, refining system performance based on real-world data, and working closely with end-users to adapt our technology to mission needs. Whether troubleshooting networking issues, improving sensor integration, or refining control logic, you will play a critical role in making our systems more capable and reliable.

You will be the link between groundbreaking autonomy technology and real-world success. You will work on the front lines of maritime autonomy, ensuring our systems operate effectively in the environments where they matter most. You will impact mission success and shape the future of autonomous maritime operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and optimization of advanced software systems for autonomy, networking, and mission execution, with a focus on robust performance in dynamic maritime environments
• Drive field testing and deployment strategies, overseeing validation of autonomy, perception, and control systems under operational conditions, and proactively identifying systemic issues
• Own the analysis of mission-critical performance data, translating operational insights into high-impact software improvements that enhance system behavior, reliability, and responsiveness
• Architect and integrate new autonomy capabilities, ensuring compatibility across software, sensors, and vessel hardware, while maintaining a modular and scalable system design
• Partner directly with operators, mission planners, and end-users, translating feedback into actionable requirements and guiding the evolution of the autonomy stack to meet mission needs
• Lead incident response and root cause analysis for complex issues spanning software, hardware, and networking layers, and implement durable solutions that strengthen system resilience
• Mentor and collaborate with cross-functional teams, aligning autonomy development with broader product and mission goals, and elevating engineering practices across the organization
• Establish and maintain technical standards, authoring deployment protocols, diagnostic tools, and documentation to support the reliable scaling of autonomy systems in operational fleets

Qualifications

Benefits

Physical Demands

This role requires access to export-controlled information or items that require “U.S. Person” status. As defined by U.S. law, individuals who are any one of the following are considered to be a “U.S. Person” : (1) U.S. citizens, (2) legal permanent residents (a.k.a. green card holders), and (3) certain protected classes of asylees and refugees, as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) .

Saronic does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits.

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