--- title: 'Mission Operations Engineer – Technical Instructor at Saronic Technologies' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/mission-operations-engineer-technical-instructor-saronic-technologies-san-diego-0s168wzb7kde' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-10' --- # Mission Operations Engineer – Technical Instructor at Saronic Technologies - **Company:** [Saronic Technologies](https://feeny.ai/companies/saronic-technologies) - **Location:** San Diego, CA - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-04-10 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-10 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/saronic/b25f3085-57cb-41e2-9e52-9d75c3dd4d43/application **Skills:** C++, Linux, Embedded systems, Real-time computing, Software development, Technical troubleshooting, Robotics, Autonomy, Maritime systems > Design, develop, and deliver advanced training programs for autonomous systems missions, including curriculum creation, instructor-led training, and hands-on engineering support. The role involves leading training sessions, supporting ASV operations, and collaborating with engineering teams to ensure mission readine... ## Job description Saronic Technologies is a leader in revolutionizing autonomy at sea, dedicated to developing state-of-the-art solutions that enhance maritime operations through autonomous and intelligent platforms. Job Summary Saronic is seeking a Mission Operations Engineer – Technical Instructor to design, develop, and deliver advanced training programs in support of our autonomous systems mission sets. This role blends curriculum development, operational training, and hands-on engineering support to ensure mission readiness across internal teams, contracted customers, and DoD partners. You will be responsible for both creating and executing hands-on training initiatives that encompass mission planning, ASV (Autonomous Surface Vessel) operations, system troubleshooting, and maintenance procedures. This role also requires contributing to team readiness, developing continued professional development programs within the department, driving performance standards, and ensuring operations personnel are prepared to operate and support Saronic ASVs. Responsibilities: Training Delivery & Instruction - Lead instructor-led training for internal operators and external customers on system operation, troubleshooting, and mission workflows - Facilitate hands-on labs, simulations, and mission exercises across classroom, lab, and field environments - Serve as the primary interface for trainee learning, ensuring comprehension, engagement, and operational readiness - Evaluate trainee performance, administer assessments, and provide actionable feedback and remediation - Lead certification events, operator checkouts, and mission rehearsals Curriculum & Content Development - Translate real-world mission operations and engineering workflows into structured, scalable training programs - Develop and maintain training materials, including lesson plans, SOPs, labs, simulations, and assessments - Continuously refine curriculum based on field experience, trainee performance, and product updates - Partner closely with Engineering, Product, and Mission Operations to ensure training reflects current system capabilities and best practices Customer Training & Enablement - Own customer onboarding and training delivery, ensuring successful adoption of Saronic systems - Translate complex technical concepts into clear, operator-focused instruction tailored to varying experience levels - Act as a trusted technical advisor to customers during training and early operational use - Gather customer feedback and translate it into actionable improvements for training and product teams Field Operations & Training Support - Deploy and operate ASV systems in real-world maritime environments to support training and mission execution - Lead on-water training events, demonstrations, and mission scenarios - Diagnose and resolve software and hardware issues in the field while incorporating lessons into training - Ensure training environments accurately reflect real-world operational conditions Systems Engineering & Technical Contribution - Support and provide feedback on the development, testing, and maintenance of software for autonomous surface vessels using C++ and Rust in a Linux environment - Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support system integration and performance - Conduct testing and validation of system updates in both simulated and live environments - Document technical processes, findings, and best practices ## Team Collaboration - Collaborate with stakeholders to achieve mission and training goals - Foster a collaborative, learning-focused team environment - Provide mentorship and technical guidance to other instructors and operators Role Requirements: - Demonstrated success in project coordination and leadership in current role. - Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously. - Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with team members, stakeholders, and senior management. - Demonstrated problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to addressing challenges. - Strong leadership qualities, including the ability to motivate and inspire team members. - Job requires up to 50% travel. Qualifications: - Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent technical experience - Minimum 4–8 years relevant experience - Experience in software development with C++ in Linux - Experience with embedded systems and real-time computing - Strong technical troubleshooting skills in field environments - Experience with robotics, autonomy, or maritime systems preferred Physical Demands: - Ability to certify as “fit for work” by demonstrating ability to swim and tread water - Frequently and repetitively, lift, push and carry up to 50 lbs. - Will be exposed to marine environments, including sun, wind, rain, cold, and saltwater spray, often for extended periods - Must be able to operate in daylight, low-light, and night conditions using marine navigation systems and visual cues - Ability to perform physically demanding work i.e. stoop, lay, bend, reach, squat, kneel, crouch, twist and crawl for extended periods of time including up to 12 hours/day - Climb and maintain balance on ladders, platforms, or other high structures - Ability to stand and walk for up to 10 hours a day, including over varied and uneven terrain - Climb and maintain balance on ladders, scaffolding or other high structures - Ability to work in a hot and humid environment and follow safe practices to stay hydrated - Hearing ability sufficient to detect alarms, verbal instructions, and workplace hazards in a high-noise environment. - Must be able to work in a shipyard environment, including indoor fabrication shops, onboard vessels under construction, and outdoor areas exposed to changing weather conditions. - Wear Personal Protective Equipment, including but not limited to: safety glasses, safety shoes, hard hat and adhering to prescribed safety rules and guidelines Benefits: Medical Insurance: Comprehensive health insurance plans covering a range of services Saronic pays 100% of the premium for employees and 80% for dependents Dental and Vision Insurance: Coverage for routine dental check-ups, orthodontics, and vision care Saronic pays 100% of the premium under the basic plan for employees and 80% for dependents Time Off: Generous PTO and Holidays Parental Leave: Paid maternity and paternity leave to support new parents Competitive Salary: Industry-standard salaries with opportunities for performance-based bonuses Retirement Plan: 401(k) plan with company match Stock Options: Equity options to give employees a stake in the company’s success Life and Disability Insurance: Basic life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage Pet Insurance: Discounted pet insurance options including 24/7 Telehealth helpline Additional Perks: Free lunch benefit and unlimited free drinks and snacks in the office [Saronic CCPA Notice for Candidates and California Employees](https://saronic-assets-public.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/Saronic%20CCPA%20Notice%20for%20Candidates%20and%20California%20Employees.pdf) If this role is based in the United States, it requires access to export-controlled information or items that require “U.S. Person” status. As defined by U.S. law, individuals who are any one of the following are considered to be a “U.S. Person”: (1) U.S. citizens, (2) legal permanent residents (a.k.a. green card holders), and (3) certain protected classes of asylees and refugees, as defined in https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/8/1324b. 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. ## About Saronic Technologies ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Saronic Technologies builds autonomous surface vessels (ASVs) that combine hardware, software, and artificial intelligence to deliver scalable maritime security and domain awareness for naval forces. - **Entity Type**: Private (Series D, total funding $2.6B) - **Headquarters**: Austin, Texas, United States - **Founded**: 2022 - **Founders**: Dino Mavrookas (CEO), Vibhav Altekar (CTO), Doug Lambert (COO), Rob Lehman (CCO) ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Defense and Space Manufacturing – autonomous maritime systems - **Target customers**: U.S. and allied naval forces, government defense agencies (B2G) - **Mission or purpose statement**: “Redefine maritime superiority” by providing the most advanced and capable autonomous vessels to address emerging threats and revolutionize naval warfare. ## Products & Services - **Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASVs)**: A family of unmanned vessels (including models like *Mirage*, *Cipher*, and the 150‑foot *Marauder*) designed for launch from small craft, fleet assets, or beachheads. Capabilities include adaptive path planning, passive sensor tracking, resilient multi‑channel communications, and diverse payload integration. - **Echelon Platform**: A unified software suite for mission planning, simulation, and command‑and‑control of autonomous surface vessels. - **Capabilities Suite**: Integrated hardware/software stack covering launch, maneuver, perceive, communicate, execute, enable, and recover. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed (latest Series D at $1.8B implies a valuation well into the billions) - **Key Metric**: Total funding $2.6B (Seed, Series A, Series B, and Series D); annual revenue reported at $9.5M - **Notable Investors/Partners**: 8VC (Seed lead), Caffeinated Capital (Series A lead), Andreessen Horowitz (Series B lead), Kleiner Perkins (Series D lead). Strategic acquisition of Gulf Craft (April 2025) to accelerate shipbuilding. - **Growth Signals**: Headcount of 785 employees (+218.7% YoY), 296 active job postings, awarded a $392M Navy contract, international offices in Australia, United Kingdom, and Japan. ## Competitive Advantages - **Founder experience**: Co‑founder/CEO Dino Mavrookas is a former Navy SEAL with eight combat tours; the leadership team includes veterans and technologists who understand military needs firsthand. - **Proven technology**: Autonomous vessels already deployed in contested environments, with a $392M Navy contract validating the platform. - **Vertical integration**: In‑house manufacturing and software development, plus the acquisition of Gulf Craft for scaled shipbuilding. - **Rapid scaling**: Massive funding and headcount growth signal strong investor and customer confidence. ## Strategic Focus - Scaling production of ASVs from prototype to full manufacturing lines (new Head of Manufacturing hired). - Expanding vessel lineup with larger platforms (150‑foot *Marauder*) and international partnerships in the Indo‑Pacific and Europe. - Deepening the software ecosystem (Echelon) for mission planning and manned‑unmanned teaming. ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: Values include “United We Win” (teamwork, respect), “Trust Fuels Triumph” (transparency, integrity), “Solutions Driven” (creative problem‑solving), and “One Mission” (national security focus). - **Work environment**: Primarily on‑site in Austin, TX, with additional offices in Australia, UK, and Japan. High‑growth startup pace with a mission‑driven defense focus. - **Perks & ratings**: LinkedIn employer rating 4.2/5.0 (compensation 4.5, culture 4.0, career 4.3). Notable talent drawn from SpaceX, Tesla, Anduril, Blue Origin, and Lockheed Martin. - **Engineering culture**: Heavy emphasis on cross‑disciplinary teams (perception, navigation, ML, C2, systems integration) and building “captainless” ships. ## Sources 1. [saronic.com](https://www.saronic.com/) – Homepage, capabilities, and news (Navy contract) 2. [saronic.com/team](https://www.saronic.com/team) – Founders, leadership, values 3. [saronic.com/mission](https://www.saronic.com/mission) – Mission statement 4. [linkedin.com/company/saronic-technologies](https://www.linkedin.com/company/saronic-technologies) – Financials, headcount, funding rounds, investors, reviews 5. [jobs.ashbyhq.com/saronic](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/saronic) – Active job postings ## Other roles at Saronic Technologies - [Electrical Engineer Intern (Summer 2027)](https://feeny.ai/job/electrical-engineer-intern-summer-2027-saronic-technologies-austin-sr88g70yk843) — Austin, TX - [Enterprise Technology Intern (Summer 2027)](https://feeny.ai/job/enterprise-technology-intern-summer-2027-saronic-technologies-austin-r63jvc3b1s45) — Austin, TX - [EHS Intern (Summer 2027)](https://feeny.ai/job/ehs-intern-summer-2027-saronic-technologies-austin-t15evetjzn5q) — Austin, TX - [Mechanical Engineer Intern (Summer 2027)](https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-engineer-intern-summer-2027-saronic-technologies-austin-17eygpev3j9b) — Austin, TX - [Information Technology Intern (Summer 2027)](https://feeny.ai/job/information-technology-intern-summer-2027-saronic-technologies-austin-e1g09fnhttd2) — Austin, TX - [Manufacturing Engineer Intern (Summer 2027)](https://feeny.ai/job/manufacturing-engineer-intern-summer-2027-saronic-technologies-franklin-sg30q2bzczjr) — Franklin, LA - [Forward Deployed Engineer Intern (Summer 2027)](https://feeny.ai/job/forward-deployed-engineer-intern-summer-2027-saronic-technologies-austin-tycf8s4x82nb) — Austin, TX - [Naval Architect Intern (Summer 2027)](https://feeny.ai/job/naval-architect-intern-summer-2027-saronic-technologies-austin-ajkpzmtdg034) — Austin, TX - [Software Engineer Intern (Summer 2027)](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineer-intern-summer-2027-saronic-technologies-austin-rdb05ss9d5a5) — Austin, TX - [People Business Partner](https://feeny.ai/job/people-business-partner-saronic-technologies-arlington-92japss6fqkg) — Arlington, VA