Autonomy Test Engineer — Maritime Field Validation

HavocAI Inc.; North Kingstown, Northern (RI, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental and Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

401k with matching

Unlimited PTO

Equity Package

Work/Home Office Stipend

Global Entry

Parental Leave

Wellness Stipend

Job summary

HavocAI Inc. is seeking a Test Engineer to support the development, integration, and validation of Autonomous Surface Vessel platforms and autonomy systems.

This hands-on role spans hardware, software, autonomy, and field operations, with testing from dockside to sea trials and real-world deployments. You will plan, execute, and analyze tests across mechanical, electrical, and embedded subsystems, collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive improvements and ensure safe, reliable

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in test engineering, systems integration, field testing, or a related engineering discipline involving complex systems.
• Strong understanding of mechanical, electrical, software, and embedded systems and how they interact within robotic or autonomous platforms.
• Hands-on experience troubleshooting complex integrated systems.
• Experience with embedded systems, networking, and communication protocols such as CAN, UDP, and TCP/IP.
• Experience testing or operating autonomous, robotic, or remotely operated systems.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to use test data to identify problems, evaluate performance, and drive technical decisions.
• Ability to read and interpret technical documentation, system diagrams, test procedures, and engineering requirements.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including clear technical documentation and test reporting.
• Comfortable working independently and making sound technical decisions in fast-moving field environments.
• Willingness to work in marine, coastal, and offshore environments.
• Ability to travel up to 50%, including multi-day field and test deployments.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
• U.S. Citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Develop, document, and execute test plans and procedures for mechanical, electrical, software, and integrated systems across multiple ASV platforms.
• Define test objectives, success criteria, configurations, and data requirements in partnership with engineering teams.
• Support testing throughout the development lifecycle, from component and subsystem validation through full-system and operational testing.
• Identify test gaps and develop new approaches to improve system validation and overall test coverage.
• Test and evaluate autonomy algorithms, control systems, sensors, and integrated vehicle behaviors in real-world maritime environments.
• Validate system performance across navigation, communications, propulsion, perception, and other onboard systems.
• Partner with autonomy, hardware, software, and networking teams to integrate and validate new capabilities, payloads, and system updates.
• Verify that integrated systems perform safely, reliably, and consistently under expected operating conditions.
• Diagnose issues across hardware, software, networking, communications, and mechanical system interfaces.
• Work directly with engineering teams to reproduce failures, isolate root causes, and validate corrective actions.
• Troubleshoot issues in real time during test events and field operations where timelines and conditions can change quickly.
• Document failures, findings, corrective actions, and recommendations to improve future system performance.
• Capture and analyze telemetry, sensor, system, and mission data to evaluate vehicle performance.
• Translate test data into clear conclusions and actionable feedback for engineering teams.
• Develop test reports that clearly communicate results, failures, risks, and recommended next steps.
• Support continuous improvement by identifying trends and recurring issues across test events.
• Deploy to coastal, offshore, and other maritime environments to support ASV testing, demonstrations, and field operations.
• Operate and support ASVs during dockside testing, sea trials, and open-water test events.
• Prepare vehicles, test equipment, sensors, tools, and supporting systems for field operations.
• Maintain high standards for safety, configuration control, test discipline, and operational readiness during field activities.

Skills

Test engineering

Systems integration

Field testing

Embedded systems

Diagnostics & troubleshooting

Networking protocols

Autonomy platforms

CAN/UDP/TCP/IP

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Electrical/Systems/Ocean Eng

Tools

ROS2

MOOS-IvP

PX4

Linux

Job description

HavocAI Inc. is seeking a Test Engineer to support the development, integration, and validation of Autonomous Surface Vessel platforms and autonomy systems.

This hands-on role spans hardware, software, autonomy, and field operations, with testing from dockside to sea trials and real-world deployments. You will plan, execute, and analyze tests across mechanical, electrical, and embedded subsystems, collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive improvements and ensure safe, reliable