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Marine Mechanical Engineer

Austin, Texas
Full Time On-site

Summary

Job Description

Job Overview

We are seeking a Marine Mechanical Engineer to lead the design and integration of auxiliary and propulsion support systems for autonomous surface vessels. This is a hands-on mechanical design role focused on fluid systems, machinery integration, and vessel-level mechanical architecture—not propulsion unit design itself. These systems must perform reliably in harsh, real-world maritime environments.

Systems You Will Own

  • Fuel storage, transfer, and conditioning systems

  • Seawater and freshwater cooling systems

  • Ventilation and HVAC for machinery spaces

  • Hydraulic systems and fluid power components

  • Piping, valves, pumps, and fluid distribution networks

  • Auxiliary machinery and below-deck mechanical integration

Responsibilities

  • Design and develop marine auxiliary systems from concept through production

  • Create system layouts and machinery arrangements

  • Perform system-level analyses

  • Select and integrate components

  • Develop and execute test plans

  • Collaborate across engineering teams

  • Support build and integration

  • Analyze performance data and improve designs

  • Troubleshoot and perform root-cause analysis

  • Drive design-for-manufacturing decisions

Qualifications Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Marine, or related field

  • 2+ years designing mechanical or fluid systems

  • Strong fundamentals in fluid mechanics and thermodynamics

  • Experience with piping, cooling, fuel, HVAC, or hydraulics

  • Ability to perform first-principles calculations

  • Experience with CAD tools

Preferred

  • Experience with marine systems

  • Familiarity with diesel support systems

  • Experience with testing and integration

  • Experience with CFD or thermal tools

  • Exposure to maritime standards

Benefits

  • Medical Insurance: Comprehensive health insurance plans covering a range of services

  • Dental and Vision Insurance: Coverage for routine dental check-ups, orthodontics, and vision care

  • Saronic pays 100% of the premium 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

  • 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

  • Additional Perks: 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 (e.g., office supplies, packages)

This role 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 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

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.

About Saronic

Saronic

Saronic is one of the fastest-growing defense technology companies focused on autonomous maritime systems for the U.S. military. Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, the company builds intelligent Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASVs) designed to improve maritime surveillance, operational reach, and force protection in contested environments. Saronic is helping modernize naval operations through AI-powered unmanned vessels capable of supporting missions ranging from reconnaissance and logistics to distributed maritime operations.

For job seekers, Saronic offers opportunities to work on some of the most advanced technologies in maritime defense, including autonomy, robotics, AI, naval architecture, software engineering, manufacturing, and mission operations. The company hires across mechanical engineering, embedded systems, autonomy software, marine design, production, and field testing—making it especially attractive to engineers, veterans, maritime professionals, and builders who want hands-on ownership of mission-critical systems.

Unlike traditional shipbuilders or legacy defense contractors, Saronic operates with a startup-style engineering culture centered around speed, rapid prototyping, and real-world deployment. Employees work closely across hardware, software, and field operations to design, test, and scale autonomous vessels faster than traditional defense timelines, giving team members direct exposure to high-impact products supporting national security missions.

As the U.S. military increases investment in autonomous naval systems and maritime modernization, Saronic continues to grow rapidly through major funding rounds, Navy contracts, and manufacturing expansion. For professionals seeking a high-growth defense company at the intersection of AI, robotics, and naval technology, Saronic is quickly emerging as one of the most exciting employers in the defense innovation ecosystem.

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