Role: Autonomy / Robotics Software Engineer – Maritime

Locations: Ann Arbor, MI or SF/Bay Area, CA (Relocation Provided)

Compensation: $230,000 Base + Significant Equity

Clearance Requirement: U.S. Citizenship Required (ITAR / Active Secret or ability to obtain)

About the Opportunity

We are partnered with a premier, venture-backed Defense Autonomy and Physical AI market leader looking for an Autonomy Engineer to drive algorithmic software development across their Autonomous Maritime Systems product line.

Our client builds the definitive software architectures, autonomy cores, and real-time decision engines powering mission-critical national security platforms. This division focuses on developing high-reliability autonomous behaviors, multi-domain command orchestration, and collaborative fleet intelligence for Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) and Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUVs).

Key Responsibilities

Develop Maritime Autonomy Engines: Design, implement, and deploy production-grade algorithms for mission planning, dynamic path replanning, and tactical behaviors across USV and UUV platforms.
Autonomous Navigation & Compliance: Formulate deterministic obstacle avoidance and maneuvering algorithms compliant with international maritime standards (COLREGs), factoring in vessel hydrodynamics, sea state dynamics, and restricted waterways.
Contested & Degraded Comms Operations: Implement distributed coordination and execution logic engineered for acoustic/RF intermittent comms, acoustic positioning (USBL/DVL/INS integration), and GPS-denied operational theaters.
Hands-on Production Code: Deliver high-reliability, low-latency modern C++ (C++17/20) services deployed directly on edge compute nodes onboard maritime craft.
Simulation, HIL & At-Sea Testing: Validate algorithmic behavior across high-fidelity hydrodynamic simulation pipelines, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testbeds, and participate in pier-side/at-sea trials and field demonstrations.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with maritime systems engineers, perception/sensor fusion specialists (SONAR, RADAR, AIS, EO/IR), and naval architecture teams to ensure seamless hardware-software integration.

Required Technical Qualifications

Maritime Robotics / Autonomy: 4+ years of hands-on software development experience with autonomous or robotic systems
Production Systems: High proficiency in modern C++ (C++17 or C++20) for Linux-based platforms, with deep knowledge of memory management, real-time constraints, concurrency, and clean API design.
Motion & Path Planning: Search-based (A*, D*, ARA*), sampling-based (RRT/RRT*), or optimization-based trajectory generation incorporating vessel hydrodynamics and environmental drift (currents, wind, waves).
COLREGs & Obstacle Avoidance: Formal implementation of marine collision regulations, encounter classifications (head-on, crossing, overtaking), and dynamic obstacle avoidance using RADAR/AIS/vision feeds.
Automated Task Planning & State Machines: Behavior Trees, Hierarchical Task Networks (HTN), or statechart architectures for mission sequencing, contingency handling, and autonomous failsafes.

Desired / Differentiating Skills

Dedicated exposure to Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs), Autonomous Underwater Vehicles / UUVs, or marine defense robotics.
Practical experience integrating marine navigation payloads, including DVL, INS, USBL, GPS/GNSS compasses, marine RADAR, single/multibeam SONAR, or AIS feeds.
Familiarity with naval defense standards, maritime battle management systems (C4ISR), or DoD programs (e.g., DARPA NOMARS, Sea Hunter, DIU maritime prototyping, UUV autonomy).
Background modeling marine dynamics, hydrodynamics, vessel drift compensation, or thruster/waterjet propulsion control allocation.
Experience with robotics communication layers and protocols common in maritime defense (DDS, ZeroMQ, ROS 2, MOOS-IvP, or custom Protobuf/gRPC messaging).

Total Rewards & Benefits

Compensation: $180,000 – $230,000 Base Salary + Substantial Equity Grant
Healthcare: 100% employer-covered premium medical, dental, and vision insurance
Retirement: 401(k) plan with competitive matching
Relocation Package: Full relocation assistance to Ann Arbor, MI or the SF Bay Area
Support & Culture: Flexible paid time off, parental leave, learning and conference budgets, and catered daily on-site meals