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Director of Ship Maintenance, MUSV
Saronic Technologies
Austin, TX, USA
Posted on Nov 1, 2025
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.
Job Summary:
Saronic Technologies is seeking a strong, hands-on technical leader to launch, develop, and lead our MRO program in support of Saronic’s growing fleet in the +150-foot length range.
This is a ground-zero role - ideal for someone with proven maritime repair/shipyard experience and the drive to build a program that shapes the next generation of MRO capabilities. Initially, you will support 2 to 5 ships with plans to grow beyond this as we rapidly scale.
You must establish relationships with shipyards, vendors, suppliers, docking/undocking facilities, and classification societies; define processes, policies, and KPIs for repair and overhaul; and manage execution of MRO work on Saronic’s assets and vessels under contract.
Responsibilities
- Program Establishment & Strategy
- Define the vision, scope, and roadmap for Saronic’s MRO program—covering in-service maintenance, periodic overhauls, emergent repairs, upgrades, and modifications for our growing fleet
- Build a budget, staffing, and investment plan for the MRO function
- Recruit, mentor, and lead a team of MRO engineers, planners, inspectors, and subcontractor oversight staff
- Shipyard & Vendor Relations
- Identify, evaluate, qualify, and negotiate with shipyards, repair yards, docking/undocking facilities, retrofit facilities, subcontractors, and specialty vendors to support global MRO capabilities
- Develop master service agreements, repair, and performance-based contracts to support MRO
- Act as the primary liaison between Saronic and external yards / contractors
- Project Execution & Oversight
- Oversee planning, scheduling, and execution of MRO work, both routine and capital (overhauls, refits, modifications)
- Ensure work is delivered on time, within budget, to technical and quality standards, and in compliance with classification society / regulatory requirements
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Engineering, Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering or Marine Systems
- 5+ years of experience in maritime repair, shipyard operations, vessel maintenance, or MRO of marine systems
- Proven experience negotiating and managing shipyard / repair facility contracts and partnerships
- Hands-on technical experience with vessel systems, structural repairs, propulsion, HVAC, electrical systems, etc.
- Strong project management and scheduling skills (e.g. complex multi-month overhauls)
- Experience with classification and regulatory compliance
- Strong verbal and written communication, negotiation, stakeholder management skills
- Ability to travel regularly up to 75% of the time to oversee work at shipyards / repair sites
- Must be able to move about on foot to perform essential duties and work in outdoor environments under varied weather conditions (including heat, cold, rain, and wind).
- Preferred / Desirable
- Experience starting an MRO / repair program from scratch (greenfield)
- International / multi-jurisdiction repair & classification experience
- Knowledge of reliability / predictive maintenance (condition-based, prognostics)
- Experience with maintenance management systems / Salesforce
- Experience in defense / regulated maritime environment
Physical Demands
- Ability to certify as “fit for work” by demonstrating ability to swim and tread water
- Frequently and repetitively, lift, push and carry up to 75 lbs.
- Will be exposed to marine environments, including sun, wind, rain, cold, and saltwater spray, often for extended periods
- Must be able to operate in daylight, low-light, and night conditions using marine navigation systems and visual cues
- Ability to perform physically demanding work for extended periods of time, up to 12 hours/day
- The ability to carry 20 lbs. up and down stairs
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
This role 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.