Senior Software Engineer – Maritime Autonomy (USV)

Location: Florida (One week a month in Florida and the rest remote)

Salary: Up to $160k + Stock Options + 15% bonus

About the Company

I am working with a maritime defense start-up building autonomous surface vessels (USVs) for real-world operations.

They focus on deployable autonomy in contested environments, not just prototypes, working at the intersection of AI, distributed systems, and C2.

Small, technical team. High ownership. Real systems in the field.

The Role

You’ll design and deploy autonomy software directly onto operational platforms, focusing on:

• Path planning & navigation algorithms
• Edge compute & real-time decision making
• Multi-sensor integration (EO/IR, radar, etc.)
• ROS/ROS2-based distributed systems
• Software deployment onto live vessels

Requirements

• Strong C++ and Python
• Experience with ROS/ROS2
• Background in robotics / autonomy / navigation
• Linux / embedded systems experience

Nice to Haves

• CCS, DDS, ABL, UMAA
• ATAK / WINTAK
• USV/UUV or defence experience

Why Join?

• Build real-world autonomy systems, not just simulations
• Work in a high-impact, engineering-led team
• Shape core architecture from an early stage
• Fast-moving environment with real deployment cycles

Interested?

Drop me an email at callum.stephens@darwinrecruitment if you’d like to learn more.

Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

Callum Stephens