Marine Mechanical Engineer (Associate - Principal)

NightDragon Acquisition Corp.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

PTO and Holidays

Parental Leave

Competitive Salary

401(k) Plan

Stock Options

Life and Disability Insurance

Free Lunch

Unlimited Snacks & Drinks

Job summary

Saronic Technologies is seeking a Marine Mechanical Engineer to lead the design and integration of auxiliary and propulsion support systems for autonomous surface vessels. This hands-on role emphasizes fluid systems, machinery integration, and vessel-level mechanical architecture for harsh maritime environments.

Responsibilities include system layouts, analyses, components integration, testing, and cross-team collaboration to ensure robust, manufacturable designs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Marine, or related field.
• 2+ years designing mechanical or fluid systems.
• Strong fundamentals in fluid mechanics and thermodynamics.
• Experience with piping, cooling, fuel, HVAC, or hydraulics.
• Ability to perform first-principles calculations.
• Experience with CAD tools.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop marine auxiliary systems from concept through production.
• Create system layouts and machinery arrangements.
• Perform system‑level analyses.
• Select and integrate components.
• Develop and execute test plans.
• Collaborate across engineering teams.
• Support build and integration.
• Analyze performance data and improve designs.
• Troubleshoot and perform root‑cause analysis.
• Drive design‑for‑manufacturing decisions.

Skills

2+ years experience in mechanical/flui

First-principles calculations

CAD tools proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Marine engineering

Tools

CAD tools

Job description

Saronic Technologies is a leader in revolutionizing autonomy at sea, dedicated to developing state-of-the-art solutions that enhance maritime operations through autonomous and intelligent platforms.

Job Overview

We are seeking a Marine Mechanical Engineer to lead the design and integration of auxiliary and propulsion support systems for autonomous surface vessels. This is a hands‑on mechanical design role focused on fluid systems, machinery integration, and vessel‑level mechanical architecture - not propulsion unit design itself. These systems must perform reliably in harsh, real‑world maritime environments.

Systems You Will Own

• Fuel storage, transfer, and conditioning systems
• Seawater and freshwater cooling systems
• Ventilation and HVAC for machinery spaces
• Hydraulic systems and fluid power components
• Piping, valves, pumps, and fluid distribution networks
• Auxiliary machinery and below-deck mechanical integration

Responsibilities

• Design and develop marine auxiliary systems from concept through production
• Create system layouts and machinery arrangements
• Perform system‑level analyses
• Select and integrate components
• Develop and execute test plans
• Collaborate across engineering teams
• Support build and integration
• Analyze performance data and improve designs
• Troubleshoot and perform root‑cause analysis
• Drive design‑for‑manufacturing decisions

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Marine, or related field
• 2+ years designing mechanical or fluid systems
• Strong fundamentals in fluid mechanics and thermodynamics
• Experience with piping, cooling, fuel, HVAC, or hydraulics
• Ability to perform first‑principles calculations
• Experience with CAD tools

Preferred

• Experience with marine systems
• Familiarity with diesel support systems
• Experience with testing and integration
• Experience with CFD or thermal tools
• Exposure to maritime standards

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

Physical Demands

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Occasional standing and walking within the office
• Manual dexterity to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other office equipment
• Visual acuity to read screens, documents, and reports
• Occasional reaching, bending, or stooping to access file drawers, cabinets, or office supplies
• Lifting and carrying items up to 20 pounds occasionally (e.g., office supplies, packages)

If this role is based in the United States, it requires access to export‑controlled information or items that require “U.S. Person” status. As defined by U.S. law, individuals who are any one of the following are considered to be a “U.S. Person”: (1) U.S. citizens, (2) legal permanent residents (a.k.a. green card holders), and (3) certain protected classes of asylees and refugees, as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). Saronic does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.