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.
Saronic Special Programs is a small pathfinding team chartered to rapidly prototype new ideas. Special Programs is responsible for generating new ideas, building and testing physical prototypes, and validating future products which continue Saronic's mission to redefine maritime superiority.
Job Overview
We are seeking a Special Programs Manager to serve as the administrative and operational backbone of our team. You will be responsible for keeping projects on track, managing resources and budgets, and creating the conditions for a small, talented group of engineers to move quickly. While this is not a hands-on engineering role, you will provide high-level technical direction during prototype reviews and partner closely with the VP of Product and CTO to evaluate and shape the next wave of ideas the team will pursue.
Responsibilities
Provide day-to-day administrative management of the Special Programs team, including scheduling, staffing, budgets, procurement, vendor coordination, and progress reporting.
Plan and track prototype builds, field testing, and demonstrations, ensuring milestones, deliverables, and resources stay aligned across electrical, mechanical, and software contributors.
Offer focused technical input during design reviews and prototype check-ins — enough to challenge assumptions, unblock the team, and translate progress to non-engineering stakeholders
Collaborate directly with the VP of Product and the CTO to surface, scope, and prioritize new ideas the team should consider pursuing, and keep Special Programs work synchronized with the broader product roadmap
Represent Special Programs internally to functions such as Growth, Finance, and Engineering, and externally as needed to suppliers and Government or commercial customers.
Qualifications
Experience managing small, fast-moving engineering or R&D teams, ideally in robotics, aerospace, defense, or another hardware-intensive environment
Working technical literacy across some combination of autonomy, embedded systems, robotics, electrical engineering, or mechanical engineering — enough to lead substantive conversations with engineers without being the deepest expert in the room
Demonstrated ability to plan and execute against budgets, schedules, and resource constraints with limited overhead
Comfort partnering with senior technical and product leaders to evaluate new opportunities and translate ambiguous ideas into structured plans
Experience supporting prototype hardware development, field testing, or Government demonstrations is strongly preferred
Familiarity with defense acquisition, export controls, or classified program management is a plus
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to keep cross-functional stakeholders aligned
High emotional intelligence, with the ability to keep teammates aligned
Strong organizational instincts and a bias toward action in ambiguous, low-process environments
Bachelors degree in engineering, or equivalent professional experience
Comfort operating with high uncertainty, minimal resources, compressed timelines, and aggressive goals and schedules
Physical Demands
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
Occasional standing and walking within the office, lab, and prototype spaces.
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).
Occasional travel to field test sites and Government demonstrations.
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
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.