Forward Deployed Build Engineer

The posting, as Saronic wrote it

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

We are seeking an FD Build Engineer to join our Forward Deployed Engineering team. You will have a strong mechanical or electrical background and be responsible for building, integrating, validating, and deploying the prototype hardware that brings our technology from the lab to the fleet.

This is not a traditional technician role. You will not always be building to print, and you will not be waiting for a finished design to hand you work. You will sit alongside the engineers inventing new capability for our Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASVs), bring operational reality into the design before it is frozen, build and prove the hardware, define how it gets installed and maintained, and then go to the waterfront with it. Time is split between the lab, fabrication spaces, and the water.

You will report to Forward Deployed Engineering Director and be embedded with Forward Deployed Hardware Engineers, who set design intent and priorities. Some tasks will come with clear direction. Others will come as a problem and a deadline, and you will be expected to figure out the approach, make the call on how to build it, and own the result. Technical direction stays with the engineers; execution is yours. We are looking for someone who takes direction well and leads when the situation needs it.

You will embed in a product pod supporting multiple Forward Deployed Hardware Engineers, going deep on forward deployed projects and rotating between pods as program demand shifts. This role requires significant travel, typically 50–70%, to test sites and deployment locations, and long hours are common, especially during demos and deployments.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Embed within a product pod supporting multiple Forward Deployed Hardware Engineers, focused on forward deployed projects and rotating between pods as demand requires
• Own execution of integration plans on the operational system. Take a task or a problem from an FDE hardware engineer, scope it, source it, build it, prove it, and close it out with documentation. Build, integrate, and modify prototype mechanical and electrical hardware from drawings, CAD models, and engineering sketches, with an emphasis on speed to test. Where direction is incomplete, propose the approach, make the build decisions within the engineer's design intent, and escalate design-level questions
• Fabricate brackets, fixtures, jigs, and one-off components using hand tools, shop equipment, sheet metal, and 3D printing; build wiring harnesses and cabling for the marine environment; and work with suppliers and fabrication shops for fast turnarounds of custom components and harnesses
• Lead the organization and day-to-day use of lab and shop spaces — keeping tools, equipment, and inventory in order, setting up work

[…]
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 https://saronic-assets-public.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/Saronic%20CCPA%20Notice%20for%20Candidates%20and%20California%20Employees.pdf

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) https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/8/1324b.

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.