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Spear AI

AI-enabled defense software and maritime sensors

Manufacturing Technician

Full-Time
No salary listed
Mid
Falmouth, MA, USA
In Person
Manufacturing & Production OperationsProduct Assembly

About the job

Requirements
  • Exemplary attention to detail, a focus on quality, and an uncompromising focus on safety.
  • Experience with mechanical fabrication techniques such as additive manufacturing, basic machining, composites, welding, and assembly.
  • Experience with electrical fabrication techniques such as wiring harnesses, board population, board repair, and battery pack fabrication.
  • Experience with testing both components and systems, including system turn-on, pressure testing, cable verification, visual inspection, and measurement verification.
  • Suitable written and verbal communication skills for working in a high-performing development team.
  • Ability to physically participate in at-sea deployment, testing, and recovery operations, including lifting, carrying, and maneuvering on shore or on a small boat at sea, communicating verbally, and carrying out fine manipulations.
  • Ability to physically carry out fine and/or heavy manufacturing and testing tasks, including fine manipulation and the ability to repeatedly lift 50 pounds.
  • May be asked to obtain a Secret security clearance, at no expense to the candidate.
Responsibilities
  • Work with other technicians and engineers to build, assemble, and test sensor systems.
  • Build wiring harnesses, assemble electrical components, and assemble battery packs.
  • Fabricate and assemble mechanical components and systems for sensor systems and buoys.
  • Perform basic configuration and testing of Linux-based compute systems.
  • Test components, subsystems, and systems in the lab and in the field with limited documentation and procedures.
  • Troubleshoot systems in the lab and the field with limited documentation and procedures; interact with engineers to elicit required information and help improve documentation.
  • Organize and eventually lead maritime test operations, including deployment, maintenance, and recovery of instrumentation systems from small boats.
  • Provide feedback to engineers on designs, durability, documentation, maintainability, and other relevant design aspects; in the future, organize feedback from additional technicians and serve as the focal point for feedback.
Desired Qualifications
  • Maritime operations experience, including small boat operations, over-the-side handling, field repair, and test-event logistics.
  • Basic experience with the Linux command line.
  • Prior experience with mechanical computer-aided design, especially OnShape.
  • Prior experience with wiring harness documentation.
  • A United States Coast Guard captain's license or extensive experience operating small boats.
  • Veteran status or significant familiarity and comfort interacting with enlisted and commissioned military personnel.

About the company

Spear AI builds AI and machine-learning tools for national security and maritime missions. Its Horizon AI Platform labels and manages acoustic data, while Forerunner handles edge AI processing and it also offers field-ready maritime sensors; combined with consulting services on AI strategy and data pipelines, the company provides a deployable hardware-software stack. The solutions help operators interpret passive acoustics to distinguish background sounds from potential threats, improving decision-making and situational awareness in challenging maritime environments. The team’s Navy background and focus on defense use set it apart, aiming to support Navy and allied operations with reliable, integrated tools for detection, data management, and edge computing.

Company Size

1-10

Company Stage

Seed

Total Funding

$2.3M

Headquarters

Washington DC, District of Columbia

Founded

2022

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • August 2026 BlueTIDE win strengthens sales credibility entering new Navy competitions.
  • July 2025 seed funding from Cortical Ventures and Scare the Bear financed expansion.
  • August 2026 careers page showed active hiring across eight Services roles, signaling growth.

What critics are saying

  • Navy concentration remains severe; one buyer dominates revenue and procurement timing.
  • Defense primes and better-funded maritime startups can outspend Spear AI on integration.
  • If Navy programs shift away from acoustic submarines, Spear AI loses its core thesis.

What makes Spear AI unique

  • Former Navy intelligence and submarine leadership give Spear AI operator credibility.
  • Horizon and edge sensors target passive acoustic workflows, not generic defense AI.
  • BlueTIDE 2026 award validated Counter UxS performance against peer maritime teams.

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Benefits

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Paid Sick Leave

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

11 Paid Holidays

Professional Development Budget

Remote Work Options

Flexible Work Hours

Hybrid Work Options

401(k) Company Match

Relocation Assistance

Employee Referral Bonus

Performance Bonus

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Home Office Stipend

Professional Certification Support

Company News

PR Newswire
Sep 1st, 2026
Spear AI earns BlueTIDE Maritime Defense Innovation Award.

Spear AI earns BlueTIDE Maritime Defense Innovation Award. Sep 01, 2026, 05:00 ET NEWPORT, R.I., Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Spear AI received the BlueTIDE Maritime Defense Innovation Award at Polaris Tech Bridge's BlueTIDE 2026 event, held Thursday, Aug. 27. Spear AI competed in the Counter UxS & Defensive Autonomous Systems technical focus area, which showcased solutions enabling the detection, identification, tracking, and mitigation of unmanned threats across operational environments. The award recognizes Spear AI as the top performer among the companies that demonstrated in the Counter UxS technical category. A group of subject matter experts evaluated participants based on their original applications, test plans, and in-person visits to each booth throughout the day. "We're excited to be recognized by Polaris Tech Bridge and the BlueTIDE evaluation panel. The opportunity to talk to real users of our technology was incredible," said Michael Hunter, CEO and Co-Founder of Spear AI. "This recognition reflects what we've believed from day one. We're solving the right problem, at the right time, for the people who need it most," said John McGunnigle, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of Spear AI. BlueTIDE 2026, hosted by Polaris Tech Bridge, brought together a select group of finalists across multiple technical focus areas to demonstrate maritime defense technologies for the broader defense community in Newport. About Spear AI Spear AI specializes in artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions tailored for maritime defense and national security operations. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with offices in Falmouth, MA; Groton, CT; and Duluth, MN, Spear AI develops advanced software platforms and integrated maritime sensor systems, and provides engineering support services and subject matter expertise. Spear AI was co-founded in 2021 by Navy veterans and is venture-backed by Cortical Ventures and Scare the Bear Capital. For more information, visit Spear.ai. SOURCE Spear AI

Intelligence360 News
Aug 11th, 2025
Spear AI Secures Seed Funding Round

Spear AI announced the completion of its seed funding round with investments from Scare the Bear Capital and Cortical Ventures. The funding will help expand Spear AI's product portfolio, scale its Horizon platform, and enhance maritime sensor capabilities. The company aims to accelerate delivery of AI solutions to defense and commercial partners, focusing on transforming maritime data into actionable intelligence.

Read Magazine
Jul 28th, 2025
Spear AI Secures Seed Funding from Scare the Bear Capital and Cortical Ventures to Accelerate Maritime AI Solutions and Expand Technical Services

Spear AI secures seed funding from Scare the Bear Capital and Cortical Ventures to accelerate maritime AI solutions and expand technical services.

Tekedia
Jul 27th, 2025
Navy Veterans' Startup Spear AI Raises $2.3M, Wins $6M Navy Contract to Revolutionize Underwater Surveillance with AI

In parallel, Spear AI announced a $2.3 million seed funding round backed by venture capital firms with a focus on artificial intelligence and national defense technologies.

TechStartups
Jul 25th, 2025
Spear AI raises $2.3M to bring AI-powered threat detection to U.S. Navy submarines

Spear AI, an AI startup based in Washington, has secured $2.3 million in its first outside funding round to accelerate its work decoding underwater sounds using artificial intelligence, Reuters reported.