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Saronic Technologies is developing autonomous surface vessels for maritime defense. The Autonomous Sea Trials Test Planner is responsible for planning, executing, evaluating, and documenting all pier-side and underway autonomous vessel test events. This role translates autonomy and control-system requirements into safe, repeatable sea trial procedures and leads onboard execution with vessel crew and engineering teams.
Key responsibilities include authoring and maintaining comprehensive autonomous sea trial test plans covering pier-side and underway verification of autonomy behaviors, machinery control, navigation control, and integrated voyage execution. You will build detailed test matrices mapping requirements to objective pass/fail criteria, safety controls, data capture needs, and contingency actions. You'll develop event-ready documentation packages including test cards, run sheets, communications plans, safety briefs, and go/no-go checklists.
As the on-scene test lead for autonomy trials, you will direct real-time execution, ensure safety-of-test, and lead verification of system functionality during operational events to confirm performance against acceptance criteria. You'll coordinate test readiness across vessel condition, maintenance status, and trial prerequisites, and establish required logs, timestamps, system states, and annotations to ensure complete data capture.
The role involves structured defect tracking and management, including reproducibility steps, severity assessment, and corrective actions. You'll produce daily SITREPs and formal trial documentation including test reports, discrepancy logs, and corrective action summaries. You'll work directly with remote software development teams daily, reporting findings and supporting rapid issue resolution. Additionally, you'll interface with classification society survey activities (e.g., ABS) to align compliance and test execution, coordinate maintenance periods protecting test schedules, and support vessel modifications through internal stakeholders.
Required qualifications include 7+ years in test/validation, trials, port engineering, or operational readiness roles for complex systems; demonstrated experience leading pier-side and underway test execution; working knowledge of shipboard activities and vessel readiness; experience tracking sea trial defects and producing corrective actions; and strong stakeholder management and cross-functional communication skills. You must be able to work onboard vessels for prolonged periods. Preferred qualifications include experience supporting builder's trials and customer trials on autonomous platforms, coordinating with classification societies and shipyard periods, marine engineering or naval architecture background, and a bachelor's degree in Marine Engineering or related field.
