Senior Forward Deployed Software Engineer

Saronic Technologies is building autonomy for real-world maritime operations, where software, networking, and sensing must work reliably in dynamic environments. In this Senior Forward Deployed Software Engineer role in Arlington, VA (onsite), you will help integrate, deploy, and continuously improve autonomous service vessels through hands-on field testing, debugging, and performance optimization grounded in operational data.

What you’ll do

• Lead the design, development, and optimization of advanced autonomy, networking, and mission execution software with a focus on robust performance in maritime conditions
• Drive field testing and deployment strategies, validating autonomy, perception, and control systems under operational conditions while proactively identifying systemic issues
• Own analysis of mission-critical performance data and turn operational insights into software improvements that increase reliability and responsiveness
• Architect and integrate new autonomy capabilities, ensuring compatibility across software, sensors, and vessel hardware using a modular and scalable design approach
• Collaborate directly with operators, mission planners, and end-users to translate feedback into actionable requirements and guide evolution of the autonomy stack
• Lead incident response and root cause analysis across software, hardware, and networking layers, then implement durable fixes to strengthen system resilience
• Mentor and work with cross-functional teams to align autonomy development with product and mission goals, improving engineering practices across the organization
• Establish and maintain technical standards, including deployment protocols, diagnostic tools, and documentation to support scaling autonomy systems in operational fleets

What you bring

• 5+ years of experience developing autonomy or robotics systems, with a strong software engineering foundation
• Strong programming skills in C++, Rust, Python, or similar languages, including experience building performance-critical systems
• Deep technical background in robotics, autonomy, or embedded systems, especially within maritime, aerospace, or defense contexts
• Solid understanding of networking protocols and distributed systems, including TCP/IP, UDP, DDS, and message-passing frameworks such as ROS and ZeroMQ
• Hands-on experience integrating perception sensors including cameras, radar, GPS, and IMUs with emphasis on real-time sensor fusion
• Ability to debug and resolve complex cross-disciplinary issues spanning software, hardware, networking, and autonomy behavior
• Experience adapting autonomy systems to real-world constraints such as variable environments, limited communications, and platform-specific limitations
• Willingness and capability to lead field deployments (up to 50%), with experience 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 understanding of mission-critical operational needs
• Familiarity with distributed autonomy and multi-agent coordination, including decentralized planning and task-sharing under communication-limited settings
• Experience delivering robust, deployable systems through system integration, testing, and operationalization across engineering, product, and field teams

Technologies you’ll work with

• 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 (for example, 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.