Mission Operations Engineer – Technical Instructor

Job Summary

Saronic is seeking a Mission Operations Engineer – Technical Instructor to design, develop, and deliver advanced training programs in support of our autonomous systems mission sets. This role blends curriculum development, operational training, and hands-on engineering support to ensure mission readiness across internal teams, contracted customers, and DoD partners.

You will be responsible for both creating and executing hands-on training initiatives that encompass mission planning, ASV (Autonomous Surface Vessel) operations, system troubleshooting, and maintenance procedures. This role also requires contributing to team readiness, developing continued professional development programs within the department, driving performance standards, and ensuring operations personnel are prepared to operate and support Saronic ASVs.

Responsibilities:

Training Delivery & Instruction

• Lead instructor-led training for internal operators and external customers on system operation, troubleshooting, and mission workflows
• Facilitate hands-on labs, simulations, and mission exercises across classroom, lab, and field environments
• Serve as the primary interface for trainee learning, ensuring comprehension, engagement, and operational readiness
• Evaluate trainee performance, administer assessments, and provide actionable feedback and remediation
• Lead certification events, operator checkouts, and mission rehearsals

Curriculum & Content Development

• Translate real-world mission operations and engineering workflows into structured, scalable training programs
• Develop and maintain training materials, including lesson plans, SOPs, labs, simulations, and assessments
• Continuously refine curriculum based on field experience, trainee performance, and product updates
• Partner closely with Engineering, Product, and Mission Operations to ensure training reflects current system capabilities and best practices

Customer Training & Enablement

• Own customer onboarding and training delivery, ensuring successful adoption of Saronic systems
• Translate complex technical concepts into clear, operator-focused instruction tailored to varying experience levels
• Act as a trusted technical advisor to customers during training and early operational use
• Gather customer feedback and translate it into actionable improvements for training and product teams

Field Operations & Training Support

• Deploy and operate ASV systems in real-world maritime environments to support training and mission execution
• Lead on-water training events, demonstrations, and mission scenarios
• Diagnose and resolve software and hardware issues in the field while incorporating lessons into training
• Ensure training environments accurately reflect real-world operational conditions

Systems Engineering & Technical Contribution

• Support and provide feedback on the development, testing, and maintenance of software for autonomous surface vessels using C++ and Rust in a Linux environment
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support system integration and performance
• Conduct testing and validation of system updates in both simulated and live environments
• Document technical processes, findings, and best practices

Team Collaboration

• Collaborate with stakeholders to achieve mission and training goals
• Foster a collaborative, learning-focused team environment
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to other instructors and operators

Role Requirements:

• Demonstrated success in project coordination and leadership in current role.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with team members, stakeholders, and senior management.
• Demonstrated problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to addressing challenges.
• Strong leadership qualities, including the ability to motivate and inspire team members.
• Job requires up to 50% travel.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent technical experience
• Minimum 4–8 years relevant experience
• Experience in software development with C++ in Linux
• Experience with embedded systems and real-time computing
• Strong technical troubleshooting skills in field environments
• Experience with robotics, autonomy, or maritime systems preferred

Physical Demands:

• Ability to certify as “fit for work” by demonstrating ability to swim and tread water
• Frequently and repetitively, lift, push and carry up to 50 lbs.
• Will be exposed to marine environments, including sun, wind, rain, cold, and saltwater spray, often for extended periods
• Must be able to operate in daylight, low-light, and night conditions using marine navigation systems and visual cues
• Ability to perform physically demanding work i.e. stoop, lay, bend, reach, squat, kneel, crouch, twist and crawl for extended periods of time including up to 12 hours/day
• Climb and maintain balance on ladders, platforms, or other high structures
• Ability to stand and walk for up to 10 hours a day, including over varied and uneven terrain
• Climb and maintain balance on ladders, scaffolding or other high structures
• Ability to work in a hot and humid environment and follow safe practices to stay hydrated
• Hearing ability sufficient to detect alarms, verbal instructions, and workplace hazards in a high-noise environment.
• Must be able to work in a shipyard environment, including indoor fabrication shops, onboard vessels under construction, and outdoor areas exposed to changing weather conditions.
• Wear Personal Protective Equipment, including but not limited to: safety glasses, safety shoes, hard hat and adhering to prescribed safety rules and guidelines

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

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