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Saronic

Develops autonomous surface vessels for military

Weld Engineer

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/23/2026
No salary listed
Entry, Junior, Mid, Senior
Bachelor's
Brownsville, TX, USA
In Person
Manufacturing & Process EngineeringManufacturing Engineering

About the job

Requirements
  • A bachelor’s degree in Welding Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related discipline.
  • Understanding of welding processes and metallurgy.
  • Four to eight years of welding engineering experience in shipbuilding, heavy fabrication, or industrial manufacturing for the mid-level qualification.
  • Experience developing welding procedures and supporting production welding operations for the mid-level qualification.
  • Familiarity with non-destructive testing methods and weld quality standards for the mid-level qualification.
  • Eight or more years of welding engineering experience in shipbuilding or large structural fabrication for the senior-level qualification.
  • Demonstrated experience implementing welding programs and supporting automated welding systems for the senior-level qualification.
  • Strong experience working with classification societies and regulatory welding requirements for the senior-level qualification.
Responsibilities
  • Develop and qualify Welding Procedure Specifications and Procedure Qualification Records for shipbuilding applications.
  • Establish weld joint design standards for plates, stiffeners, panels, and structural assemblies.
  • Define welding processes and parameters appropriate for shipbuilding materials and thickness ranges.
  • Build and implement the shipyard’s welding engineering program in coordination with Quality Assurance.
  • Establish welding standards, technical guidance, and documentation for production teams.
  • Develop weld inspection criteria and acceptance standards aligned with classification society rules.
  • Support implementation of automated welding systems, including panel line welding, robotic welding, and mechanized welding processes.
  • Define welding parameters and procedures for automated production systems.
  • Collaborate with automation and equipment vendors to optimize welding productivity and quality.
  • Work with production engineering to ensure welding processes support block construction and panel fabrication strategies.
  • Identify opportunities to improve welding efficiency through process improvements or automation.
  • Provide technical support to fabrication shops and assembly teams.
  • Define welder qualification requirements and certification standards.
  • Support development of welder training programs and qualification processes.
  • Ensure welders are qualified to applicable procedures and codes.
  • Partner with Quality Assurance to develop weld inspection programs, including visual inspection, non-destructive testing methods, and acceptance criteria.
  • Support root cause investigations related to weld defects or failures.
  • Participate in corrective action programs and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Ensure welding procedures comply with classification society rules, such as ABS, DNV, or equivalent.
  • Maintain compliance with applicable welding codes and shipbuilding standards.
  • Support regulatory and classification audits related to welding operations.

About the company

Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASVs) from Saronic Technologies support naval and maritime operations. The vessels use adaptive path planning, passive sensors, edge computing, and resilient multichannel communications to identify, track targets, and coordinate manned and unmanned vessels in contested waters. The ships run onboard algorithms and can be customized and integrated to fit specific missions and CONOPs. The goal is to improve situational awareness, extend operational reach, and increase survivability in maritime engagements.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

Series D

Total Funding

$2.6B

Headquarters

Austin, Texas

Founded

2022

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Saronic closed $1.75 billion Series D at $9.25 billion valuation in 2026.
  • September 2026 Port Alpha groundbreaking with JD Vance validated political and defense support.
  • Samsung Heavy Industries partnership expands shipbuilding automation and credibility across 2026.

What critics are saying

  • Saronic's March 2026 Court of Federal Claims protest exposes contracting-strategy dependence.
  • Port Alpha needs billions, permits, and construction execution before 2028 revenue arrives.
  • A Navy repricing or cancellation would crush Saronic's customer concentration and valuation.

What makes Saronic unique

  • Saronic pairs autonomous vessel design, software, and shipbuilding capacity under one roof.
  • Port Alpha targets 150,000 annual gross tons, giving Saronic industrial scale competitors lack.
  • Navy awarded Saronic contracts for Corsair, Marauder, and LCU 1700 programs.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Sick Leave
  • Parental Leave
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • Stock Options
  • Life Insurance
  • Disability Insurance

Growth & Insights and Company News

6 month growth

3%

1 year growth

2%

2 year growth

7%
Bloomberg
Sep 30th, 2026
Saronic breaks ground on America's largest shipyard to scale autonomous ship production

Saronic is constructing what it claims will be America's largest and most advanced shipyard. The defence tech company's Port Alpha facility in Brownsville, Texas, will serve as the hub for scaling production of autonomous ships. Co-founder and CEO Dino Mavrookas emphasised the importance of speed in shipbuilding as the company breaks ground on the project. The facility represents Saronic's strategy to rapidly expand manufacturing capabilities for its autonomous naval vessels. The company aims to leverage the new shipyard to meet growing demand for autonomous maritime defence technology.

CNBC
Sep 30th, 2026
Saronic wins US Navy contract for unmanned vessels, breaks ground on Texas shipyard

Saronic has secured a U.S. Navy contract to produce medium unmanned surface vessels. The defence technology company is breaking ground today on its Port Alpha shipyard in Brownsville, Texas. Vice President JD Vance and Texas Governor Greg Abbott are expected to attend the ceremony. The development marks a significant milestone for Saronic as it expands its manufacturing capabilities for autonomous naval vessels.

Yahoo Finance
Aug 6th, 2026
US Congresswoman invests up to $100K in drone firm with $392M Navy contract

Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) disclosed a $50,000 to $100,000 investment in Saronic Technologies, a privately held maritime drone and autonomous vessel company. The trade was made on 15 July 2026 by her spouse. Saronic was valued at $9.25 billion earlier this year following a $1.75 billion Series D funding round led by Kleiner Perkins. In December, the company secured a $392 million production contract from the US Navy for autonomous maritime vessels. The investment timing drew attention, occurring just before Saronic announced a new Texas shipyard on 16 July and a strategic partnership with Samsung Heavy Industries on 24 July. McClain chairs the House Republican Conference and is a close ally of President Donald Trump. This marks her third private company investment since late 2025.

Yahoo Finance
Jul 17th, 2026
JPMorgan commits $24M to Philadelphia shipbuilding, Saronic to build major Texas shipyard

JPMorganChase announced $24 million to strengthen Philadelphia's shipbuilding and maritime manufacturing industry, including $18 million in direct loans and investments and $6 million in grants. The funding will support expansion of a submarine manufacturing facility expected to create 450 permanent jobs and provide workforce training for thousands of local workers in roles like welding and electrical work. Separately, Saronic selected Brownsville, Texas, as the location for Port Alpha, its next-generation shipyard designed to expand US shipbuilding capacity. JPMorganChase CEO Jamie Dimon said the initiative aims to train workers for urgent shipbuilding needs and strengthen supply chains. The funding combines the bank's American Dream Initiative with its Security and Resiliency Initiative, a $1.5 trillion, 10-year plan for industries critical to US economic and national security.

PR Newswire
Jul 16th, 2026
Saronic to invest $3B in Port Alpha shipyard in Texas, creating 10,000 jobs

Saronic has selected Brownsville, Texas as the location for Port Alpha, its next-generation shipyard designed to restore American maritime strength. The Austin-based company plans to invest more than $3 billion in the facility. The project is expected to generate more than $160 billion in regional economic impact for Cameron County and $264.5 billion for Texas, whilst creating up to 10,000 direct jobs. This makes Port Alpha one of the largest economic development projects in modern Texas history. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2026, with Port Alpha expected to open for operations in 2028. The facility will initially sit on 835 acres at the Port of Brownsville, with potential expansion to nearly 4,400 acres. Port Alpha will be capable of producing vessels up to 850 feet long, with future expansion potentially supporting vessels over 1,200 feet.