Job Summary

You will be one of the first operators working under Saronic's Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) umbrella, putting a growing family of autonomous surface vessels through their paces, platforms that carry ISR, electronic warfare, and other mission payloads across extended blue-water and contested littoral waters without a crew on board. That family spans platforms built for long-endurance reconnaissance and persistent maritime domain awareness, as well as low-signature, shore-accessible craft that move critical payloads across thousands of nautical miles of contested seas. As a Mission Operations Operator, you'll translate operational requirements into executable mission plans, lead field operations, and train military personnel to own these platforms long-term. This role sits at the intersection of field operations and product development; your feedback from the water directly shapes how the fleet evolves. The ideal candidate brings deep maritime operational experience, hands-on comfort with autonomous systems, and the ability to communicate clearly in both the field and the briefing room.

Responsibilities
Mission Planning & Execution
• Plan and execute end-to-end MUSV missions across open-ocean, littoral, and ship-to-shore profiles in GPS-denied and communications-degraded environments.
• Serve as primary operator during field operations, providing real-time oversight and go/no-go decision authority.
• Operate Saronic's Echelon™ mission planning interface and Advanced Mission Planner (AMP™) to build and execute complex autonomous behaviors: loiter and avoid, counter-boarding, autodocking, and conditional mission logic.
• Develop and maintain SOPs, mission playbooks, and contingency procedures covering remote scuttle protocols, emergency response, and port coordination.
• Train and qualify operators on the MUSV mission planner for global remote control and direct line-of-sight operations, including pre- and post-operation checks.
• Coordinate waterspace deconfliction, safety boat integration, port authority notifications, and range safety compliance for all autonomous vessel operations.

Training & Operator Development
• Develop and deliver MUSV training courses across the full curriculum: MUSV Fundamentals, Operations, Mission Manager (Digital Management), Advanced Operator, and Mission Integration/Readiness Exercises.
• Train and qualify military personnel on MUSV-specific operations, including autonomous navigation in congested waterways, station-keeping, payload operations, and GPS-denied operations.
• Build and run train-the-trainer programs that establish long-term organic military capability with the platform.

Product Development & Stakeholder Engagement
• Serve as the liaison between Mission Operations and Saronic's Product and Engineering teams, ensuring field realities directly inform design decisions.
• Capture and synthesize operator and warfighter feedback from testing and deployments to refine requirements, roadmaps, and system usability.
• Act as the primary operational interface with government customers including DIU, the service warfighting labs, NIWC-PAC, and DoD program offices.
• Build reporting and visualization tools to communicate mission status, system performance, risks, and forward plans to internal and external stakeholders.
• Represent Mission Operations at PDRs, IDRs, and CDRs as a subject-matter expert.
• Plan and conduct site surveys to assess port infrastructure, environmental conditions, and logistics constraints ahead of field operations.

Qualifications
• U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential (500-Ton Master, Oceans) required.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, maritime studies, or a related field, or equivalent operational experience.
• 5+ years of operational experience in the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, or Special Operations, with expertise in littoral and blue-water operations, maritime domain awareness, or ISR/EW mission support.
• Experience operating unmanned surface vessels (USVs), autonomous systems, or remotely operated maritime platforms is a plus.
• Working knowledge of Stand-in Forces (SiF), Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO), and distributed maritime operations concepts.
• Proficiency in mission planning software and maritime navigation systems; experience in GPS-denied or communications-degraded environments is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver technical training to military personnel.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; able to make quick, sound decisions under pressure in dynamic field environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a proven ability to author SOPs, CONOPs, and mission briefings for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to possess an active clearance or have the ability to obtain one.
• Up to 75% travel required for field trials, demonstrations, and customer engagements.

Physical Demands
• Must be able to swim and tread water; ability to certify as fit for duty is required.
• Regularly lift, push, and carry up to 50 lbs.
• Operate in daylight, low-light, and night conditions using marine navigation systems and visual cues.
• Perform physically demanding work (stooping, bending, reaching, squatting, kneeling, crouching, twisting, and crawling) for up to 12 hours a day.
• Climb and maintain balance on ladders, platforms, and scaffolding.
• Stand and walk for up to 10 hours a day over varied and uneven terrain.
• Work in marine environments including sun, wind, rain, cold, and saltwater spray for extended periods.
• Work in hot and humid conditions with adherence to hydration and heat safety practices.
• Detect alarms, verbal instructions, and hazards in high-noise environments.
• Wear and maintain PPE including safety glasses, safety shoes, and hard hat in compliance with site safety requirements.

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