Maritime Autonomy Engineer

Booz Allen Hamilton; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 78,000 - 176,000; Full time

Job summary

Booz Allen Hamilton in San Diego seeks a Maritime Autonomy Engineer to design and deploy autonomous systems for USVs, UUVs, and coastal platforms. You will work across perception, planning, and control to deliver robust maritime robotics software.

You will collaborate with robotics, hardware, and mission stakeholders, contribute to sensor fusion, state estimation, and real-time control, and help field-test deployments.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in robotics or systems engineering for hardware equipment.
• Experience with ROS/ROS 2 for sensor integration and orchestration.
• Proficiency in C++ or Python for embedded Linux and real-time systems.
• Strong percepton capabilities including SLAM, LiDAR, or camera/sonar.
• Knowledge of state estimation, localization, planning, and control.
• Able to support mobile robot sensing, localization, navigation, and behaviors.
• Communicate complex topics clearly and use ROS for custom messages/nodes.
• Experience with version control, CI/CD, packaging, and containerization.
• Eligible for Secret clearance.

Skills

Robotics experience

ROS/ROS 2

C++/Python

Perception techniques

Autonomous systems concepts

Communication of technical topics

Software maintenance and deployment

Security clearance eligibility

Bachelor's degree in CS/EE/CE/Robotics

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/EE/Computer Engineering/Robotics Engineering

Tools

Git

Docker

CI/CD

Job description

Maritime Autonomy Engineer

We are an autonomy-focused engineering team operating at the intersection of robotics, artificial intelligence, and the maritime domain. Our mission is to design, develop, and deploy intelligent autonomous systems that operate in complex, contested, and unstructured ocean environments. We develop perception, planning, and control solutions for unmanned surface vessels (USVs), unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), and multi-agent maritime platforms enabling advanced autonomy capabilities that address real-world operational challenges at sea. Our work spans the full autonomy stack, from sensor fusion and state estimation to mission planning, decision-making, and human-machine teaming, all with a rigorous focus on safety, reliability, and performance in dynamic maritime conditions. The role will contribute to the design and implementation of autonomous behaviors for maritime robotic systems. They will work within a multidisciplinary team to develop and validate software modules across the perception, planning, and control stack translating operational requirements into deployable autonomy solutions. They will participate in the full software development lifecycle, from architecture and prototyping through integration, field testing, and iterative refinement, while collaborating closely with systems engineers, hardware leads, and mission stakeholders. Join us. The world can't wait.

You Have:

• 3+ years of experience with robotics or systems engineering for equipment hardware, including circuits or sensors
• Experience with Robot Operating Systems such as ROS or ROS 2 for sensor integration, communication, and system orchestration
• Experience with C++ or Python for embedded Linux systems, robotics, and real-time systems development
• Experience with perception techniques such as sensor fusion, object detection, or environmental mapping such as SLAM, LiDAR, or camera, sonar
• Knowledge of autonomous systems concepts including state estimation, localization, path planning, and feedback control
• Ability to provide algorithms and software support for mobile robot sensing, perception, localization, navigation, and behaviors in aerial or ground domains
• Ability to effectively communicate complex technical topics to a variety of audiences in written and verbal formats and use ROS for the development of custom messages, nodes, packages, or stacks
• Ability to provide software maintenance and deployment, including version control, CI/CD, packaging, containerization, and documentation
• Ability to obtain a Secret clearance
• Bachelor’s degree in CS, EE, Computer Engineering, or Robotics Engineering

Nice If You Have:

• Experience developing architectures and algorithms for multi-agent, distributed collaborative autonomy
• Experience with Git-based version control, branch or tag strategies, Docker image development, and container deployment
• Experience with multi-agent coordination, swarm behaviors, or collaborative autonomy frameworks
• Experience with simulation environments such as Gazebo, Isaac Sim, or marine-specific simulators such as VRX or UUV Simulator
• Experience with mission planning frameworks, behavior trees, or finite state machines for autonomous task execution
• Experience with maritime robotic platforms including unmanned surface vessels (USVs), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), or unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs)
• Knowledge of military strategy, operations, and tactics and maritime-specific sensing modalities such as acoustic sonar, radar, GPS, INS, and Doppler Velocity Log (DVL)
• Ability to develop strategy for internal research and development efforts to support reaching specific business goals
• Ability to professionally interact with clients to understand their needs, recommend courses of action, and present or demonstrate results
• Master’s degree in CS or Engineering preferred; Doctorate degree in CS or Engineering a plus

Compensation

At Booz Allen, we celebrate your contributions, provide you with opportunities and choices, and support your total well-being. Our offerings include health, life, disability, financial, and retirement benefits, as well as paid leave, professional development, tuition assistance, work-life programs, and dependent care. Our recognition awards program acknowledges employees for exceptional performance and superior demonstration of our values. Full-time and part-time employees working at least 20 hours a week on a regular basis are eligible to participate in Booz Allen’s benefit programs. Individuals that do not meet the threshold are only eligible for select offerings, not inclusive of health benefits. Salary at Booz Allen is determined by various factors, including but not limited to location, the individual’s particular combination of education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, as well as contract-specific affordability and organizational requirements. The projected compensation range for this position is $77,600.00 to $176,000.00 (annualized USD). This posting will close within 90 days from the Posting Date.

Identity Statement

As part of the hiring process, we will ask you to complete an identity verification process that leverages advanced biometrics and artificial intelligence to ensure authenticity and protect against identity fraud. You are expected to be on camera during interviews and assessments. We reserve the right to take your picture to verify your identity and prevent fraud.

Candidate AI Usage Policy

AI is a part of our daily work at Booz Allen, and we are committed to the responsible and ethical use of AI tools. However, we want to ensure a fair candidate process based on your own skills and knowledge. As part of this commitment, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or other tools to assist with responses during interviews (whether in-person or virtual) is prohibited unless permission is explicitly provided.

Work Model

Our people-first culture prioritizes the benefits of collaboration, whether it occurs in person or virtually. To support engagement and effective communication, employees working virtually are generally expected to have their cameras on during meetings. Remote: If this position is listed as remote, there may still be occasions when you are required to work in person at a Booz Allen or customer facility. Hybrid: If this position is listed as hybrid, you will be expected to work from a Booz Allen facility frequently, in alignment with leadership expectations and the needs of the role. You may also be required to work from or visit a customer facility. Onsite: If this position is listed as onsite, work will primarily be performed at a Booz Allen office or customer facility, where employees will collaborate directly with colleagues and customers as required by the role.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local, or international law.

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