Job OverviewThe Autonomous Sea Trials Test Planner is responsible for planning, executing, evaluating, and documenting pier-side and underway autonomous vessel test events. This role translates autonomy and control-system requirements into safe, repeatable sea trial procedures; leads onboard execution with vessel crew and engineering teams; and produces internal and class ready trial packages including test plans, SITREPs, test reports, discrepancy tracking, and corrective action documentation. The role interfaces daily with software development teams, vessel operators, vendors, and internal stakeholders to verify autonomy functionality and rapidly converge issues to resolution. This position will be working directly with the software team.
Responsibilities- Author and maintain autonomous sea trial test plans covering pier-side and underway verification of autonomy behaviors, machinery control, navigation control, and integrated voyage execution.
- Build test matrices mapping requirements to objective pass/fail criteria, safety controls, data capture needs, and contingency actions.
- Develop event-ready documentation packages including test cards, run sheets, communications plans, safety briefs, and go/no-go checklists.
- Serve as on-scene test lead for autonomy trials, directing real-time execution and ensuring safety-of-test.
- Lead verification of system functionality during operational events to confirm performance against acceptance criteria.
- Coordinate test readiness across vessel condition, maintenance status, and trial prerequisites.
- Establish required logs, timestamps, system states, and annotations to ensure complete data capture.
- Track issues using structured defect workflows including reproducibility steps, severity, and corrective actions.
- Coordinate prioritization of fixes and verify corrections through structured retest events.
- Produce daily SITREPs and formal trial documentation including test reports, discrepancy logs, and corrective action summaries.
- Develop opportunity for improvement work flow that produces failure reports and troubleshooting reports that can be used by internal software teams to improve software.
- Maintain traceability across software baselines, vessel configuration changes, and retest evidence.
- Working directly with and reporting findings to remote software teams daily.
- Support vessel modifications and testing impacts through internal stake holders and support vessel POC's.
- Coordinate maintenance periods and readiness actions protecting test schedules.
- Interface with classification society survey activities (e.g., ABS) to align compliance and test execution.
Required Qualifications- 7+ years in test/validation, trials, port engineering, or operational readiness roles for complex systems.
- Demonstrated experience leading pier-side and underway test execution.
- Working knowledge of shipboard activities and vessel readiness.
- Experience tracking sea trial defects, recording them and producing corrective actions.
- Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional communication skills.
- Ability to work onboard vessels for prolonged periods of time. Scheduling to be determined during test cycles.
Preferred Qualifications- Experience supporting builder's trials and customer trials on autonomous platforms.
- Experience coordinating with classification societies and shipyard periods.
- Marine engineering or naval architecture background.
- Bachelor's degree in Marine Engineering or related field; advanced engineering degree preferred.
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
