Senior / Staff Robotics Security Software Engineer

Austin, TX

About the role

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 Security Software Engineer to design, implement, and harden the security controls across Saronic's autonomous surface vessel fleet. This role spans three layers: edge compute on the vessels themselves, the networks that enable vessels to communicate with each other and with the cloud, and the cloud orchestration layer that manages the fleet at scale. You will work hands-on in a Rust-first ecosystem, on NixOS-based embedded Linux platforms, building security features that ship into production and operate reliably in real-world maritime environments.

Responsibilities:

  • Edge: Design and implement secure boot, hardware roots of trust, trusted execution environments, rollback protection, and secure update and over-the-air delivery pipelines for vessel compute

  • Middleware and Mesh: Implement per-vessel identity and mutual authentication for vessel-to-vessel and vessel-to-cloud links, implement certificates, key rotation, and revocation workflows, and protect message integrity against replay and spoofing across intermittent, bandwidth-constrained, and contested links (satellite, cellular, and mesh radio)

  • Cloud Orchestration: Build and maintain cryptographic services bridging vessel and cloud infrastructure, and harden identity and access controls, secrets and key management, and containerized workloads

  • Platform and Lifecycle: Secure NixOS configurations using Nix's declarative and reproducible model, drive vulnerability management across third-party crates and dependencies, and embed security into CI/CD pipelines from build through deployment

  • Collaboration: Partner with autonomy, platform security, manufacturing, and field teams to embed security requirements from the ground up, and collaborate with the enterprise and application security teams on threat modeling, risk assessment, and incident response to ensure implemented controls align with overarching policy and standards

  • Contribute to architecture and interface design documents and participate in code and design reviews to maintain high security and coding standards

  • Build reusable security tools, libraries, and instrumentation across the codebase to solve hard security problems using automation and AI-assisted approaches

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.

  • 3+ years of experience in security software engineering, preferably in autonomy, robotics, or embedded systems.

  • Staff Engineers: 8+ years of experience in security software engineering, including architecture, cross-functional leadership, or platform ownership in autonomy, robotics, or embedded systems.

  • Proficiency in programming languages such as C/C++ or Rust and hands-on experience securing embedded Linux systems

  • Solid understanding of cryptographic primitives and protocols (keys, certificates, signatures, TLS, and mutual TLS) and experience integrating them into real systems

  • Experience with hardware security modules, secure boot, and system-level software spanning kernel and bootloader

  • Familiarity with networking protocols and IPC/message-passing frameworks

  • Knowledge of DoD standards and regulations related to security software development is advantageous

  • Prior work on autonomous systems is a plus

  • Experience with real-time systems is a plus

  • Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work in a fast-paced startup environment

  • Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams

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).

Benefits

  • Medical Insurance: Comprehensive health insurance plans covering a range of services

  • Saronic pays 100% of the premium for employees and 80% for dependents

  • Dental and Vision Insurance: Coverage for routine dental check-ups, orthodontics, and vision care

  • Saronic pays 99% 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.

About Saronic Technologies

Saronic is a defense technology company that designs, builds, and deploys autonomous surface vessels (ASVs) for naval and maritime applications. The company focuses on integrating advanced hardware, artificial intelligence, and software into scalable unmanned systems that enhance maritime awareness, extend operational reach, and improve survivability in complex environments. Its vessels are capable of functions such as navigation, target identification, communication, and payload deployment, enabling both independent and coordinated mission execution. Saronic emphasizes rapid innovation and high-throughput manufacturing to support defense and commercial maritime needs. The company primarily serves government and defense customers, aiming to modernize naval operations and strengthen maritime capabilities through autonomous, software-driven platforms.

Other roles at Saronic Technologies

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Job details

Location

Austin, TX

Company

NameSaronic Technologies
IndustryAerospace & Defense
Team Size4

Funding

Total raised

$2.6B

Last stage

Series A

Investors

Kleiner Perkins
8VC
Andreessen Horowitz
EElad Gil
CCaffeinated Capital

Founders

DM

Dino Mavrookas

CEO

LinkedIn
RL

Rob Lehman

Co-Founder & Chief Commercial Officer

VA

Vibhav Altekar

Co-Founder

What happens next.

No applications, no recruiter spam. Just the intro.

01

Confirm the fit

A few questions to make sure this role is the right shape for you. Two minutes.

02

I pitch you to the company

I write the intro, send it to the founder, and handle the back-and-forth.

03

A meeting lands on your calendar

If they’re a yes, I book the chat. You show up — that’s the whole job-hunt.