SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
Saronic Technologies is seeking a Forward Deployed Mechanical Engineer to join their technical team developing autonomous surface vessels for maritime defense. This is a hands-on, field-oriented role that bridges lab development and real-world deployment.
You will be responsible for bringing autonomous maritime systems from the lab to operational fleet environments. This role combines mechanical design, rapid prototyping, and field integration work. You will split time between the lab, fabrication spaces, and waterfront operations.
Key responsibilities include:
- Design mechanical systems for integrating novel payloads onto Autonomous Service Vessels (ASVs) and maritime platforms
- Lead rapid prototyping efforts to support field experimentation and platform evolution
- Perform mechanical bring-up, integration, and troubleshooting of structural, sensor-mount, and payload subsystems
- Own dockside and sea trials—prepare vessels, install new mechanical hardware, and validate systems in operationally relevant environments
- Drive design-for-assembly and design-for-deployment feedback into product development
- Collaborate with Electrical, Software, and Autonomy Engineers to evolve and harden system designs
- Interface with suppliers and fabrication shops to support fast-turnaround custom mechanical components
- Contribute to documentation and training to support scaling of deployment and manufacturing
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field (Master's degree preferred)
- 3+ years of experience working on integrated mechanical/electromechanical systems, preferably in fielded or mission-critical environments
- Hands-on expertise in mechanical assembly and fabrication (CNC, sheet metal, 3D printing)
- Hands-on expertise in rapid prototyping and system-level debugging
- Proficiency with FEA (static, modal/vibration, shock analysis) and judgment on when hand calculations suffice
- Experience designing electrical enclosures and housings with thermal management and ingress protection (IP67+, sealing, venting, connector selection)
- Strong understanding of materials and corrosion in marine environments, including dissimilar-metal isolation, coatings, and fastener selection
- Experience designing sensor and payload mounts for ruggedized environments (structural brackets, masts, isolators)
- Proficiency with CAD (SolidWorks, NX, or similar)
- Experience with Linux-based operating systems
- Willingness to work in dynamic, hands-on environments, including on and near water
- Strong sense of ownership and bias for action; thrives solving open-ended problems in real-world environments
- Preferred: experience with autonomous systems, drones, or robotic platforms; familiarity with maritime environments or naval platforms; exposure to ruggedized or IP-rated hardware design
