Mechanical Engineer (Forward Deployed)

Saronic; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Saronic seeks a Forward Deployed Mechanical Engineer to bring advanced systems from lab to fleet.

You will deploy, integrate, and troubleshoot mechanical/electromechanical payloads on autonomous vessels, working hands-on in lab, fabrication spaces, and waterfront environments.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in integrated mechanical/electromechanical systems in fielded or mission-critical environments.
• Ruggedized/IP-rated hardware design preferred.
• Maritime environments or naval platforms familiarity preferred.
• Willingness for hands-on field work near water.

Responsibilities

• Deploy mechanical payloads onto ASVs and maritime platforms.
• Integrate and debug mechanical/electromechanical systems in the field.
• Lead rapid prototyping for field experiments and platform evolution.
• Prepare vessels and perform dockside sea trials.
• Collaborate with Electrical, Software, and Autonomy teams on designs.
• Interface with suppliers and fabrication shops for fast turnarounds.
• Contribute to documentation and training for deployment scaling.

Skills

Field deployment

Mechanical design

CAD

Linux

Rapid prototyping

System debugging

Autonomous systems

Sensor mounts

Marine environment

FEA

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related field

Master’s degree is a plus

Tools

SolidWorks

NX

CNC

3D Printing

Sheet Metal

Job description

• We are seeking a versatile Forward Deployed Mechanical Engineer to join our technical team. You will have a strong mechanical background and be responsible for bringing our technology from the lab to the fleet
• This is not a traditional engineering role. You will be responsible for deploying our systems into the real world, directly supporting maritime missions
• You will integrate mechanical payloads, debug complex system-level problems, and iterate hardware designs in the field to ensure success. This is a highly hands‑on and field‑oriented role with time split between the lab, fabrication spaces, and the waterfront
• Design systems to support mechanical integration of novel systems and payloads onto our Autonomous Service Vessels (ASVs) and maritime platforms
• Lead rapid prototyping efforts (mechanical) to support field experimentation and platform evolution
• Perform mechanical bring‑up, integration, and troubleshooting of structural, sensor‑mount, and payload subsystems
• Own dockside and sea trials — prepare vessels, install new mechanical hardware packages, and perform system validation in operationally relevant environments
• Drive design‑for‑assembly and design‑for‑deployment feedback into mechanical product development
• Work closely with cross‑functional teams, including Electrical, Software, and Autonomy Engineers, to evolve and harden system designs
• Interface with suppliers and fabrication shops to support fast turnarounds of custom mechanical components
• Contribute to documentation and training to support the scaling of deployment and manufacturing
• 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)

• 3+ years of experience working on integrated mechanical/electromechanical systems, preferably in fielded or mission‑critical environments
• Exposure to ruggedized or IP‑rated hardware design preferred
• Familiarity with maritime environments or naval platforms preferred
• Willingness to work in dynamic, hands‑on environments, including on and near the water
• Comfort working with CAD (SolidWorks, NX, or similar) and field integration setups
• Hands‑on expertise in mechanical assembly and fabrication (CNC, sheet metal, 3D printing, etc.)
• Experience working with a Linux‑based operating system
• Hands‑on expertise in rapid prototyping and system‑level debugging
• Experience with autonomous systems, drones, or other robotic platforms preferred
• Experience designing sensor and payload mounts for ruggedized environments, including structural brackets, masts, and isolators
• Strong understanding of materials and corrosion in marine environments, including dissimilar‑metal isolation, coatings, and fastener selection
• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field.
• Master’s degree is a plus
• Experience designing electrical enclosures and housings with thermal management and ingress protection (IP67+, sealing, venting, connector selection)
• Strong sense of ownership and bias for action; thrives solving open‑ended problems in real‑world environments
• Proficiency with FEA (static, modal/vibration, and shock) to validate designed parts and mounts, and the judgment to know when hand calcs are enough