Chief Engineer (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle)

Ocean Infinity; Southampton; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Ocean Infinity Solutions is seeking a Chief Engineer to take technical ownership of our Autonomous Underwater Vehicle portfolio. You will translate strategy into engineering reality and lead cross‑disciplinary teams to deliver safe, buildable underwater systems.

You will set technical direction across buoyancy, structures, propulsion, power, autonomy and payload integration, balancing performance, risk and cost while ensuring on‑time delivery and rigorous technical assurance.

Qualifications

• Significant experience developing and delivering AUVs, underwater vehicles or complex subsea systems.
• Proven track record in technical leadership roles such as Chief Engineer or Systems Lead.
• Strong understanding of the AUV technology stack: mechanicals, propulsion, power, autonomy, navigation, sensors.

Responsibilities

• Translate AUV strategy into engineering reality across the full ecosystem.
• Drive technical direction balancing capability, risk, cost and schedule.
• Act as senior technical authority for AUV system design, integration and trials.
• Capture roadmap needs, define trade-offs and prioritise capability development.
• Provide independent technical validation and oversee delivery across teams and suppliers.
• Mentor engineering teams and strengthen decision-making across the AUV organisation.

Skills

AUV experience

Technical leadership

Systems engineering

Stakeholder engagement

Maritime domain knowledge

Defense/security aware

Job description

Ocean Infinity Solutions is a pioneering business unit within the Ocean Infinity Group, focused on unlocking opportunities in emerging and strategically important markets. We design, integrate and deliver advanced robotic, remotely operated and autonomous solutions, combining cutting-edge hardware, software and services to solve some of the world's most complex operational challenges. Everything we do is driven by a clear purpose: enhancing the security, resilience and prosperity of our customers by transforming the way they operate across the maritime, subsea and wider operational domains, from seabed to sky. To achieve this, we are building a world-class team of exceptional talent united by a shared passion for innovation, a relentless focus on mission success, and a commitment to redefining the future of autonomous technology and intelligent solutions. We're now looking for a Chief Engineer to take technical ownership of our growing Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) capability. This is more than a traditional Chief Engineer role. You will become the senior technical authority and trusted engineering leader for our AUV portfolio, providing the vision, judgement and technical direction needed to accelerate delivery, improve product performance and shape the future of autonomous underwater systems. The successful candidate will become the natural technical focal point for a multidisciplinary engineering team, ensuring technical decisions are taken at pace and that our products continue to evolve against demanding customer requirements.

What you will do

You will be responsible for translating Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) strategy into engineering reality. Working closely with Product, Engineering and Solutions teams, you will drive technical direction across the entire AUV ecosystem, balancing capability, risk, cost and schedule while ensuring we continue to deliver safe, buildable, supportable and operationally effective underwater systems. You'll operate at the intersection of architecture, systems engineering, product development and technical assurance, helping shape everything from future capability roadmaps through to system integration, trials and operational deployment. Act as the senior technical authority for AUV system design, integration, production readiness and operational capability. Translate AUV strategy into practical engineering direction, technical priorities and executable backlog items. Work with Product and Solutions teams to capture roadmap needs, define trade-offs and prioritise capability development. Provide independent technical validation of Engineering team solutions, without slowing delivery or duplicating ownership. Lead technical decision-making across buoyancy, structures, propulsion, power, control systems, autonomy, navigation, sonars, sensors, communications, C2 and payload integration. Balance performance, risk, cost and schedule when making technical recommendations and delivery decisions. Support system integration, verification, validation, trials and acceptance of AUV systems and payloads. Provide technical assurance across suppliers, partners and internal delivery teams. Mentor engineering teams and strengthen technical decision-making across the AUV organisation. We're interested in technical leaders who combine deep domain expertise with the ability to bring together complex multidisciplinary engineering programmes.

You will likely have:

• Significant experience developing and delivering AUVs, underwater vehicles or complex subsea systems.
• A proven track record as a Chief Engineer, Technical Authority, Systems Lead or similar technical leadership role.
• Strong understanding of the full AUV technology stack, including mechanical systems, propulsion, power, autonomy, navigation, communications, sensors and payload integration.
• Experience leading technical decisions throughout the lifecycle from concept and architecture through to integration, trials and operational deployment.
• The ability to simplify complex technical challenges and provide clear engineering direction.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, with the credibility to influence engineers, product teams, programme leaders, customers and partners.
• A systems-thinking mindset with the judgement to balance performance, risk, cost and schedule.

Ideal Backgrounds:

• Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs)
• Underwater robotics
• Subsea systems
• Naval and maritime platforms
• Advanced defence and autonomous systems
• Research and development organisations focused on autonomous maritime technology

Given the nature of the work, this role requires you to obtain and maintain the appropriate level of UK national security clearance. You must be willing and able to undergo the necessary security vetting process, and continued employment in the role may be subject to maintaining the required clearance. Security vetting will be conducted in accordanc