Autonomy Test Engineer: On-Water ROS2 & Field Testing

Gokenamericallc; Melbourne (FL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Goken seeks an engineering test specialist to support autonomy stack bring-up and field testing aboard vessels. You will deploy containerized software, run SITL and on-water tests, and ensure robust data collection and analysis for post-test evaluation.

Responsibilities include logging, telemetry visualization with RViz, and real-time troubleshooting during field campaigns. You will collaborate with the marine test team and development group, traveling to client sites as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Computer Science and 1 year of relevant internship experience.
• Hands-on ROS 2 experience (nodes, topics, launch files, bags); able to debug a live stack
• Strong Linux command-line proficiency and software debugging
• Docker - build, run, and troubleshoot containers
• Able to independently bring up, build, deploy, run, and test software on hardware in the field - with remote support, but not constant supervision
• Basic data analysis and visualization (e.g., Python and plotting tools; RViz)
• Clear technical writing and reporting
• Comfortable working on the water and dockside; able to meet basic fitness-for-water requirements (swim, lift to ~50 lbs, extended time on the water)
• Demonstrated self-driven building - a personal robotics project, an open-source contribution, a competition/club robot, or similar evidence of building on your own initiative
• Marine / boating familiarity; comfort on small craft

Responsibilities

• Bring up the autonomy software stack on the vessel: build, deploy, and configure the onboard software (containerized deployment via Docker)
• Plan and execute structured field tests of autonomy behaviors - navigation, perception, control, and sensor integration - across both simulation (SITL) and on-water
• Operate the system on the water: pre-mission checkouts, launch and recovery support, live runs, and routine data-collection campaigns
• Own data logging, telemetry monitoring, visualization, and replay (rosbag, RViz); ensure data integrity for post-test analysis
• Diagnose and troubleshoot autonomy, networking, and onboard software issues in real time during test events
• Perform first-line data reduction and analysis; produce test reports, debriefs, and demonstrations
• Contribute to issue triage and root-cause analysis after field anomalies, and feed findings back to the development team
• Build and improve the tooling, test automation, and data pipelines that make field testing faster and more repeatable
• Develop a working understanding of the vehicle's hardware and software as an integrated system
• Coordinate on-water with the marine test team and remotely with the development team
• Travel to client/ test sites required.

Skills

ROS 2

Linux

Python

Data visualization

Technical writing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Computer Science

Tools

RViz

Job description

Goken seeks an engineering test specialist to support autonomy stack bring-up and field testing aboard vessels. You will deploy containerized software, run SITL and on-water tests, and ensure robust data collection and analysis for post-test evaluation.

Responsibilities include logging, telemetry visualization with RViz, and real-time troubleshooting during field campaigns. You will collaborate with the marine test team and development group, traveling to client sites as needed.