Mission Operations Sustainment Engineer

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

You will join the team responsible for keeping Saronic's Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) platforms mission-ready: low-signature, autonomous vessels built to move critical supplies across contested littoral environments without a sailor on board. As a Sustainment Engineer, you'll support the propulsion, electrical, hydraulic, and hull systems that keep these platforms running, help diagnose and repair faults in the field under the guidance of senior engineers, and assist in training military technicians to sustain the platforms long-term. This role sits at the intersection of field maintenance and product development. Your hands-on findings from vessel maintenance and the waterline help inform how these platforms are engineered for reliability. The ideal candidate brings a foundational marine or mechanical engineering background, hands-on comfort with autonomous systems, and the ability to communicate clearly with both technicians and engineers.

Responsibilities

Vessel Maintenance & Repair

• Assist with scheduled and unscheduled maintenance on Saronic's USV platforms (propulsion, electrical, hydraulic, and hull systems) in both shore-based and forward-deployed environments.

• Help diagnose and troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, and software-interfaced system faults, and support repairs to restore mission readiness within operational timelines.

• Conduct pre- and post-mission inspections (dockside and waterborne) to verify system integrity, watertight/structural condition, and safety of the vessel prior to launch.

• Maintain maintenance logs, technical records, and configuration status in accordance with class society guidance and DoD material condition standards.

• Support spare parts inventory management, technical documentation, and OEM/vendor coordination for critical propulsion, power, and control components.

• Assist in developing and maintaining maintenance SOPs, technical manuals, troubleshooting guides, and casualty/emergency repair procedures, including remote scuttle system servicing.

• Support coordination with operators on waterspace deconfliction, safety boat integration, and range safety compliance during maintenance test runs and sea trials.

Training & Technician Development

• Support the development and delivery of platform maintenance training courses across the full curriculum: Technician Fundamentals, Preventive Maintenance, Corrective Maintenance & Troubleshooting, and Advanced Systems Repair.

• Assist in training and qualifying military personnel on platform-specific maintenance procedures, including propulsion and electrical system servicing, confined-space engine access, and safe work practices in marine environments.

• Help build and run train-the-trainer programs that establish long-term organic military maintenance capability with the platforms.

Product Development & Stakeholder Engagement

• Support the liaison relationship between Mission Operations/Maintenance and Saronic's Product and Engineering teams, helping ensure field reliability data informs design decisions.

• Capture and synthesize failure modes, MTBF/MTTR data, and technician feedback from testing and deployments to refine requirements, roadmaps, and system maintainability.

• Support engagements with government customers and DoD program offices on maintenance status and readiness.

• Build reporting and visualization tools to communicate fleet health, maintenance backlog, system performance, and readiness risk to internal and external stakeholders.

• Support Mission Operations/Maintenance representation at PDRs, IDRs, and CDRs, contributing subject-matter input on reliability and maintainability.

• Assist in planning and conducting site surveys to assess port infrastructure, maintenance facility requirements, tooling, and logistics constraints ahead of field operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in marine engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field, or equivalent operational experience.

• Minimum: valid U.S. Coast Guard Third Assistant Engineer license (unlimited horsepower, oceans) with an unrestricted STCW endorsement as Officer in Charge of an Engineering Watch (OICEW), STCW Regulation III/1.

• Experience maintaining marine propulsion, electrical, or mechanical systems aboard vessels in the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, or Special Operations (internship, co-op, or military training experience considered).

• Experience maintaining unmanned surface vessels (USVs), autonomous systems, or remotely operated maritime platforms is a plus.

• Working knowledge of diesel and/or electric propulsion systems, hydraulics, marine electrical systems, and shipboard control/automation systems.

• Familiarity with GPS-denied or communications-degraded system architectures is a plus.

• Willingness and aptitude to help deliver technical maintenance training to military personnel.

• Strong diagnostic and troubleshooting skills; able to make quick, sound decisions under pressure in dynamic field environments.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to help author maintenance manuals, SOPs, and discrepancy/casualty reports for both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Prior SOF experience or work with DoD or other government agencies is a plus.

• Possess an active clearance or have the ability to obtain one.

• Up to 75% travel required for field trials, demonstrations, and customer engagements.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to swim and tread water; ability to certify as fit for duty is required.

• Regularly lift, push, and carry up to 50 lbs., including tools, parts, and maintenance equipment.

• Work in confined and elevated spaces, including engine compartments and equipment bays, using flashlights and hand tools.

• Operate in daylight, low-light, and night conditions using marine navigation and diagnostic equipment.

• Perform physically demanding work (stooping, bending, reaching, squatting, kneeling, crouching, twisting, and crawling) for up to 12 hours a day.

• Climb and maintain balance on ladders, platforms, and scaffolding.

• Stand and walk for up to 10 hours a day over varied and uneven terrain.

• Work in marine environments including sun, wind, rain, cold, and saltwater spray for extended periods.

• Work in hot and humid conditions with adherence to hydration and heat safety practices.

• Detect alarms, verbal instructions, and hazards in high-noise environments.

• Wear and maintain PPE including safety glasses, safety shoes, hard hat, and hearing protection in compliance with site safety requirements.

Benefits

Medical Insurance: Comprehensive health insurance plans covering a range of services

Saronic pays 100% of the premium for employees and 80% for dependents

Dental and Vision Insurance: Coverage for routine dental check-ups, orthodontics, and vision care

Saronic pays 100% of the premium under the basic plan for employees and 80% for dependents

Time Off: Generous PTO and Holidays

Parental Leave: Paid maternity and paternity leave to support new parents

Competitive Salary: Industry-standard salaries with opportunities for performance-based bonuses

Retirement Plan: 401(k) plan with company match

Stock Options: Equity options to give employees a stake in the company’s success

Life and Disability Insurance: Basic life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage

Pet Insurance: Discounted pet insurance options including 24/7 Telehealth helpline

Additional Perks: Free lunch benefit and unlimited free drinks and snacks in the office

Saronic CCPA Notice for Candidates and California Employees

If this role is based in the United States, it 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. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.