Senior Forward Deployed Software Engineer

Job Overview

Saronic Technologies is a leader in revolutionizing defense autonomy at sea, dedicated to developing state-of-the-art solutions that enhance maritime operations for the Department of Defense (DoD) through autonomous and intelligent platforms.

We are seeking a Senior Forward Deployed Software Engineer in Virginia Beach, Virginia, who will be at the forefront of integrating, deploying, and improving our autonomous systems in real-world environments. You will work hands-on with software, networking, and autonomy, ensuring our autonomous service vessels perform reliably in operational settings. This role blends software development, field deployment, and problem-solving to ensure our technology delivers real mission impact.

You will be deeply engaged in debugging and autonomy algorithms, refining system performance based on real-world data, and working closely with end-users to adapt our technology to mission needs.

You will be the link between groundbreaking autonomy technology and real-world success. You will work on the front lines of maritime autonomy, ensuring our systems operate effectively in the environments where they matter most. You will impact mission success and shape the future of autonomous maritime operations.

• Lead the design, development, and optimization of advanced software systems for autonomy, networking, and mission execution, with a focus on 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 the analysis of mission-critical performance data, translating operational insights into high-impact software improvements that enhance system 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
• Partner directly with operators, mission planners, and end-users, translating feedback into actionable requirements and the 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 solutions that strengthen system resilience
• Mentor and collaborate with cross-functional teams, aligning autonomy development with broader product and mission goals, and elevating engineering practices across the organization
• Establish and maintain technical standards, authoring deployment protocols, diagnostic tools, and documentation to support the reliable scaling of autonomy systems in operational fleets

• 5+ years of experience developing autonomy or robotics systems, with a strong foundation in software engineering
• Proficient programming skills in C++, Rust, Python, or similar languages, with experience building and maintaining performance-critical systems
• Deep technical background in robotics, autonomy, or embedded systems, particularly within maritime, aerospace, or defense sectors
• Strong understanding of networking protocols and distributed systems, including TCP/IP, UDP, DDS, and message-passing frameworks (e.g., ROS, ZeroMQ)
• Extensive hands-on experience with perception sensors such as cameras, radar, GPS, and IMUs, with emphasis on integration and real-time sensor fusion
• Proven ability to debug and resolve complex, cross-disciplinary issues, spanning software, hardware, networking, and autonomy behavior
• Experience adapting autonomy systems to real-world constraints, including variable environments, limited communications, and platform-specific limitations
• Willingness and capability to lead field deployments (up to 50%), with a history of testing and refining autonomous systems in operational maritime or expeditionary contexts
• 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, with an understanding of mission‑critical operational needs
• Fami…