Propulsion Engineer
Austin, Texas
Engineering /
Full Time /
On-site
Saronic Technologies is a leader in revolutionizing defense autonomy at sea, dedicated to developing state-of-the-art solutions that enhance maritime operations for the Department of Defense (DoD) through autonomous and intelligent platforms.
Position Overview:
We are seeking a talented Propulsion Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will be responsible for designing, analyzing, and optimizing fluid, power transmission, and thrust-generating systems for our autonomous surface vessels. This includes working with fluid dynamics, pumps, thrusters, gearboxes, shafting, and other components integral to the vessel's propulsion and power generation. Your work will ensure the system's efficiency, safety, and reliability, with a specific focus on fluid interactions and propulsion performance in marine environments.
Responsibilities
- Design and develop propulsion systems including the design of propellers, pumps, thrusters, powertrain, and more
- Develop models and simulations to characterize and validate system architectures, ensuring high performance while considering energy consumption and operational parameters.
- Perform analyses and trades to optimize system design for efficiency, pressure losses, mechanical losses, and reliability in varying marine environments.
- Work closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams to integrate propulsion systems into the broader autonomous vessel design.
- Develop and execute test campaigns to validate propulsion system requirements, ensuring they meet mission-specific performance standards under a range of operating environment conditions, vehicle speeds and loading conditions.
- Analyze test data to identify inefficiencies or potential system failures and develop corrective solutions to improve system reliability and performance.
- Participate in field testing and real-world operational assessments to refine and optimize propulsion systems.
- Develop and utilize analysis tools such as pressure loss calculators, gearbox calculations, radial and thrust load calculations, and engine performance models characterize thrust generation and ensure efficient power transfer through the propulsion system.
- Work with production to continuously improve product reliability, efficiency and performance by identifying and implementing innovative solutions, best practices, and process improvements.
- Own and burn down propulsion system-related engineering and production risks. Perform root-cause analyses to understand and resolve critical issues quickly and effectively.
- Provide subject matter expertise to the Mechanical Engineering and Production teams, offering continuous support across programs, helping derive and refine system requirements, educating and training engineers and technicians about propulsions systems.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Marine Engineering, Naval Architecture, or a related field with a strong foundation in fluid mechanics.
- 3+ years of experience in the design, analysis, and optimization of fluid power systems, especially within marine propulsion or energy systems.
- Experience with fluid dynamics analysis and modeling, including pump and thruster systems, gearing, shaft loads, and fluid flow.
- Experience using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software (e.g., STARCCM, ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM, COMSOL) to simulate fluid flow and optimize system performance is a plus
- Strong understanding of fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and energy conversion in relation to propulsion systems.
- Experience designing and testing propulsion systems, including pumps and thrusters.
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
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.
