--- title: 'Senior Software Engineer — Maritime Optimization at Sofar Ocean' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-maritime-optimization-sofar-ocean-united-states-pxsqwf5qsnqv' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-06' --- # Senior Software Engineer — Maritime Optimization at Sofar Ocean - **Company:** Sofar Ocean - **Location:** United States - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** remote - **Posted:** 2026-09-02 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-06 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/sofarocean/7cd6c2b3-2172-42f4-bdf6-2b8eb24b4387 ## Job description ## THE COMPANY Sofar is on a mission to connect the world’s oceans. We design, build, and deploy the largest privately owned network of marine weather sensors to power the world’s best marine weather forecasts. Our data helps customers increase efficiency and reduce emissions, while providing governments and other stakeholders with tools to better understand and operate in the ocean environment. We live on Planet Ocean, and our goal is to create the ocean intelligence needed to ensure a sustainable future. ## THE ROLE We are looking for an experienced Senior Software Engineer to work on maritime route optimization, vessel performance modeling, and voyage analysis capabilities for U.S. Government and defense customers. This is a hands-on software engineering role working directly on the software that models vessel performance and evaluates candidate maritime routes. Depending on the problem, you may be refining optimization algorithms, translating vessel performance and fuel-consumption models into software, building simulation and evaluation tooling, or improving how route recommendations are scored and explained. You’ll work on problems involving: - Maritime voyage optimization and route evaluation - Vessel performance and fuel-consumption modeling across varying operating and environmental conditions - Voyage constraints, transit time, fuel efficiency, and operational considerations - Optimization algorithms and the software that supports them - Simulation and evaluation capabilities used to understand optimizer behavior and route quality - Clear, explainable results that allow users to understand and evaluate optimization recommendations You’ll contribute to both existing Sofar technology and new software developed for government maritime applications as these capabilities evolve. ## THE IMPACT Maritime route optimization means balancing competing considerations: fuel consumption, transit time, vessel performance, environmental conditions, voyage constraints, and operational needs. You’ll collaborate with engineers, product experts, and maritime domain specialists to translate those real-world problems into practical software solutions. Your work will focus on the core engineering behind voyage analysis and optimization — improving models, algorithms, simulation capabilities, and the software that connects them — with the goal of producing recommendations that are useful, understandable, and defensible. Our optimization, modeling, and simulation software includes Rust and Python. You may work across both high- and low-level languages while contributing to algorithms, models, services, APIs, testing, and related software components. This position supports U.S. Department of Defense customers. Candidates should be comfortable working on technology used in defense and military applications. Previous defense experience is not required. ## ABOUT YOU Eligibility - U.S. citizenship is required for this position - Must be able to successfully pass a background check ## REQUIREMENTS - 5+ years of professional software engineering experience - Strong software engineering fundamentals and experience contributing to production software - Experience with Python and/or a compiled language such as Rust, C++, C, or similar - Comfortable working with algorithms, data structures, and computational problems - Ability to translate domain or mathematical concepts into maintainable, testable software - Strong communication skills and a collaborative mindset when working across engineering and domain disciplines - Comfortable working on software supporting U.S. Government and Department of Defense customers YOUR EXPERIENCE DOESN’T HAVE TO COME FROM MARITIME We don’t expect candidates to arrive with maritime route optimization experience. Relevant experience may come from robotics, logistics, aerospace, autonomy, transportation, scientific computing, operations research, simulation, or other domains involving optimization of physical systems. What matters is your ability to take complex real-world problems and translate them into software that can model, evaluate, and help solve them. ## BONUS POINTS These are helpful, but not requirements: - A degree in physics or a related technical field - Experience developing optimization, modeling, or simulation software for real-world systems - Maritime or naval domain experience - Previous experience supporting U.S. Government or Department of Defense customers - A personal connection to or passion for the oceans! We know great candidates don’t always check every box. If this role interests you and you believe your experience translates well to the problems we’re working on, we encourage you to apply. ## About Sofar Ocean ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Sofar Ocean is an ocean intelligence platform that connects the world’s oceans to power a more sustainable future by deploying a global sensor network to provide real-time marine weather data and voyage optimization for shipping, research, and defense. - **Entity Type**: Private (Series B-III) - **Headquarters**: San Francisco, California, United States - **Founded**: 2016 - **Founders**: Tim Janssen, PhD (Co-Founder & CEO) ## Core Business - **Primary industry/industries**: Marine Technology, Ocean Intelligence, Data Analytics, Maritime Shipping, Climate Tech - **Target customers**: B2B — shipping companies, commercial operators, charterers, vessel performance managers, governments (NOAA, U.S. Navy), researchers, and defense organizations - **Mission or purpose statement**: "To connect the world's oceans to power a more sustainable future." ## Products & Services - **[Wayfinder](https://www.sofarocean.com/)**: Voyage optimization software that recommends the best route, speed, and schedule for each voyage. Built for shipping companies, it combines live maritime weather data, vessel performance models, and commercial constraints to cut fuel use and emissions while keeping schedules on track. - **[Spotter Platform](https://www.sofarocean.com/)**: A global network of solar-powered sensing platforms that measure waves, weather, and subsurface data in real time. Used by governments, researchers, and defense for live ground truth data from the ocean. Capabilities include surface sensing (waves, wind, weather), subsurface sensing (sound, currents, temperature, water quality, water level), and mobile autonomous operations. - **Marine Weather**: Real-time storm warnings, seakeeping alerts, and hyperlocal forecasts powered by the company’s own sensor network. Trusted by NOAA, the U.S. Navy, and the world's largest shipping fleets. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed - **Key Metric**: Total funding raised of **$73.25M** (Series B-III, last raised ~1 year ago) [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/sofar-ocean-technologies) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Peter Rive (Chairman, founding team), NOAA, U.S. Navy, and the world's largest shipping fleets [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/about) - **Growth Signals**: - Operates the largest privately-owned ocean sensor network in the world, collecting **1.5 million real-time observations daily** [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean) - Marine weather forecasts are **up to 50% more accurate** than traditional models [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean) - Over **2,500 Spotters deployed globally** and **25 million+ hours of ocean observations** collected [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/) - Trusted by NOAA, the U.S. Navy, and the world's largest shipping fleets [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/) - **125 total employees** [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean) ## Competitive Advantages - **Largest privately-owned ocean sensor network in the world** — a proprietary data moat that competitors cannot easily replicate. - **50% more accurate marine weather forecasts** than traditional models, powered by real-time data from their own Spotter buoys [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean). - **Proven traction with top-tier customers**: Trusted by NOAA, the U.S. Navy, and the world's largest shipping fleets [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/). - **Hardware + Software + Data flywheel**: The Spotter hardware network feeds proprietary data into Wayfinder software, creating a self-reinforcing competitive advantage. - **Mission-driven brand**: "If we have to choose between more profit or better oceans, we choose the ocean" — strong alignment with sustainability and climate goals. ## Strategic Focus - **Scaling the sensor network**: Continuing to deploy Spotters globally to increase data density and forecast accuracy. - **Expanding commercial shipping adoption**: Driving fuel savings (4–8% average reduction) and emissions reduction for the maritime industry. - **Defense & government contracts**: Deepening relationships with NOAA, U.S. Navy, and other government agencies for ocean intelligence. - **Product development**: Enhancing Wayfinder routing software and Spotter platform capabilities (mobile autonomous, subsurface sensing). - **Global expansion**: Hiring for roles in APAC/Singapore, indicating international growth. ## Why Work Here - **Mission-driven culture**: "If we have to choose between more profit or better oceans, we choose the ocean" — strong environmental purpose [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/careers). - **Hybrid work model**: Most roles are hybrid (combination of remote and on-site), with a beautiful waterfront office in San Francisco that is dog-friendly [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean). - **Generous benefits**: Flexible PTO (plus 10 office closure days and the last week of December off), 12 weeks parental leave (with an additional 4 weeks for birthing parents), healthcare (medical, dental, vision), 401(K), company equity [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean). - **Remote support**: One-time home office stipend for remote team members, relocation bonus for those moving to the Bay Area, Green Card & Visa sponsorship for eligible team members [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/careers). - **Culture**: Team-driven celebrations, autonomy and ownership, annual onsite week with all remote team members, strong internal community of ocean-lovers, dog-friendly office [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/careers). - **Values**: "Oceans First" — if they have to choose between more profit or better oceans, they choose the ocean. "Build for the mission, be pragmatic, and move fast. Ocean health can’t wait." [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/careers) ## Sources 1. [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/) 2. [sofarocean.com/company/careers](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/careers) 3. [sofarocean.com/company/about](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/about) 4. [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean) 5. [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/sofar-ocean-technologies) ## Other roles at Sofar Ocean - [Senior Software Engineer — Fleet Workflow Integrations](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-fleet-workflow-integrations-sofar-ocean-san-diego-72xvd121nh2h) — San Diego, CA - [Senior Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-zzwa5h3fhd97) — San Francisco, CA - [Senior Mechanical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanical-engineer-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-d3rsdc2n3t52) — San Francisco, CA - [Sourcing Partner, Talent Acquisition](https://feeny.ai/job/sourcing-partner-talent-acquisition-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-h6pea0hp4sbg) — San Francisco, CA - [Senior Firmware Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-firmware-engineer-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-n8jw4vhpx2rj) — San Francisco, CA - [Science Engagement Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/science-engagement-lead-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-wnegda8ere7h) — San Francisco, CA - [Defense Customer Success Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/defense-customer-success-lead-sofar-ocean-united-states-r6bayj4ybegk) — United States - [Staff Scientist - Underwater Acoustics](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-scientist-underwater-acoustics-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-jn3mw90vqnxh) — San Francisco, CA - [Principal Scientist - Underwater Acoustics](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-scientist-underwater-acoustics-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-rdy81m33sgxx) — San Francisco, CA