Senior Forward Deployed Software Engineer

Saronic Technologies is seeking a Senior Forward Deployed Software Engineer in Arlington, VA (onsite) to help integrate, deploy, and continuously improve autonomous systems in real-world maritime environments. This role combines hands-on work across software, networking, and autonomy to support reliable autonomous service vessel operations, including field testing, debugging, and performance optimization based on operational data.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and optimization of advanced software systems for autonomy, networking, and mission execution, emphasizing robust performance in dynamic maritime environments.
• Drive field testing and deployment strategies, overseeing validation of autonomy, perception, and control systems under operational conditions, and proactively identifying systemic issues.
• Own analysis of mission-critical performance data and translate operational insights into high-impact software improvements that enhance behavior, reliability, and responsiveness.
• Architect and integrate new autonomy capabilities, ensuring compatibility across software, sensors, and vessel hardware while maintaining a modular and scalable system design.
• Collaborate directly with operators, mission planners, and end-users to convert feedback into actionable requirements and guide evolution of the autonomy stack to meet mission needs.
• Lead incident response and root cause analysis for complex issues spanning software, hardware, and networking layers, and implement durable fixes to improve system resilience.
• Mentor and partner with cross-functional teams to align autonomy development with broader product and mission goals and to strengthen engineering practices.
• Establish and maintain technical standards by authoring deployment protocols, diagnostic tools, and documentation that support scalable operations across autonomous fleets.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience developing autonomy or robotics systems, with a strong foundation in software engineering.
• Proficiency in C++, Rust, Python, or similar languages, including experience building and maintaining performance-critical systems.
• Deep technical background in robotics, autonomy, or embedded systems, particularly in maritime, aerospace, or defense contexts.
• Strong understanding of networking protocols and distributed systems, including TCP/IP, UDP, DDS, and message-passing frameworks such as ROS and ZeroMQ.
• Extensive hands-on experience integrating perception sensors including cameras, radar, GPS, and IMUs, with emphasis on real-time sensor fusion.
• Proven ability to debug and resolve complex cross-disciplinary issues across software, hardware, networking, and autonomy behavior.
• Experience adapting autonomy systems to real-world constraints, including variable environments, limited communications, and platform-specific limitations.
• Ability to lead field deployments up to 50%, with a track record of testing and refining autonomous systems in operational maritime or expeditionary environments.
• Expertise in motion planning, control systems, and behavior architectures, including behavior trees and adaptive navigation algorithms.
• Domain knowledge in maritime systems, naval operations, or defense technology, including awareness of mission-critical operational needs.
• Familiarity with distributed autonomy and multi-agent coordination, including decentralized planning and task-sharing in communication-limited settings.
• Leadership experience across system integration, testing, and operationalization, collaborating with engineering, product, and field teams to deliver deployable systems.

Technologies

• C++, Rust, Python
• TCP/IP, UDP, DDS
• ROS, ZeroMQ
• cameras, radar, GPS, IMUs
• behavior trees

Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Saronic pays 100% of the premium for employees and 80% for dependents
• Generous PTO and Holidays
• Paid maternity and paternity leave
• Competitive Salary
• 401(k) plan
• Equity options
• Basic life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage
• Free lunch benefit and unlimited free drinks and snacks in the office

Physical Demands

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Occasional standing and walking within the office
• Manual dexterity to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other office equipment
• Visual acuity to read screens, documents, and reports
• Occasional reaching, bending, or stooping to access file drawers, cabinets, or office supplies
• Lifting and carrying items up to 20 pounds occasionally (e.g., office supplies, packages)

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.
• 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.