Job description

MUST BE A US CITIZEN (Please do not apply if you are not)

Company Introduction

At BlackSea Technologies, we don't just innovate; we revolutionize.  

We are a close-knit team of creative and innovative thinkers specializing in full lifecycle development of cutting-edge maritime technology.  At BlackSea, you won't just find a job; you'll find a community of experts who aspire to solve diverse and complex challenges.  Be part of a company where your ideas matter, your expertise is valued, and your contributions make a real impact.  Together, we are not just sailing; we are charting a course to push boundaries of what's possible.

The Systems Integration Engineer position serves as a cross-functional technical lead responsible for integrating electronic, networking, autonomy, and mission systems onto unmanned maritime platforms and shepherding those systems from concept development through field testing and operational deployment.

Salary Range: $40-$55 an hour

Travel: 4 to 6 trips annually/3-5 days each trip

This role includes customer-facing activities, engineering development, software integration, field operations, and program execution. The position requires a strong systems-level perspective, balancing hands-on technical integration work with schedule coordination, vendor engagement, test support, and program execution.

The successful candidate will work closely with software developers, autonomy engineers, mechanical and electrical engineers, program managers, field test personnel, and external vendors to ensure that payloads, sensors, communications systems, networking hardware, autonomy modules, and mission equipment are successfully integrated into operational unmanned maritime systems.

This position is well-suited for individuals who are comfortable operating across multiple technical disciplines, enjoy solving integration challenges in dynamic environments, and can effectively coordinate technical activities across internal teams and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Systems Integration & Technical Execution

• Lead systems-level integration of electronic equipment, networking systems, autonomy capabilities, sensors, payloads, and mission hardware and subsystems onto unmanned maritime vessels and related support systems.

• Coordinate integration activities from initial concept development through installation, testing, troubleshooting, verification, and operational deployment.

• Collaborate with software, autonomy, electrical, mechanical, and systems engineering teams to ensure compatibility across hardware, software, networking, and operational interfaces.

• Support integration of third-party autonomy solutions, payloads, communications equipment, and mission systems into existing platform architectures.

• Assist in development and refinement of reusable integration methodologies, tools, interfaces, and best practices to accelerate future mission capability onboarding.

• Lead hands-on technical troubleshooting during integration, dockside testing, and on-water trials.

• Drive supporting personnel to develop and maintain system architecture documentation, interface definitions, wiring diagrams, network layouts, and integration procedures.

• Maintain awareness of vessel systems, onboard power distribution, communications architectures, networking infrastructure, and operational constraints that impact integration activities.

Testing, Verification & Field Support

• Plan and support integration testing activities in laboratory, simulation, dockside, and operational environments.

• Develop and execute structured test procedures and verification activities to validate system functionality, reliability, safety, and mission readiness.

• Coordinate with field operations and test personnel during on-water demonstrations, customer events, and operational trials.

• Support rapid debugging and resolution of hardware, software, networking, and integration issues identified during testing.

• Assist with collection, organization, and communication of test results, lessons learned, and recommended corrective actions.

Technical Coordination & Program Execution

• Act as a technical liaison between engineering teams, program management, field operations personnel, customers, and external technology vendors.

• Coordinate technical schedules, integration milestones, equipment deliveries, and readiness activities to support program execution.

• Manage dependencies between internal engineering schedules and external supplier timelines.

• Support customer-facing technical discussions, capability demonstrations, technical interchange meetings, and integration planning activities.

• Work with vendors and partners to evaluate potential technologies, request technical information, coordinate equipment support, and facilitate NDA execution when required.

• Assist program managers and technical leadership with integration planning, risk identification, issue tracking, and execution status updates.

Software & Networking Integration Support

• Support integration and configuration of networking equipment, communications systems, and distributed computing architectures.

• Work with software and autonomy teams integrating mission software, autonomy frameworks, payload interfaces, and communications middleware.

Requirements

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

• 3–8 years of relevant experience in systems integration, robotics, maritime systems, autonomy systems, aerospace systems, defense systems, or related technical programs.

• Experience supporting technical projects from concept development through testing and deployment.

Technical Skills

• Experience integrating electronic equipment, sensors, communications systems, networking hardware, software systems, or mission payloads into complex platforms.

• Strong systems-level understanding of hardware/software integration.

• Familiarity with networking architectures, communications systems, and distributed system integration.

• Experience supporting technical troubleshooting and root-cause analysis in integrated systems.

• Ability to interpret technical drawings, interface documentation, wiring diagrams, and system architectures.

• Familiarity with test planning, verification, validation, and structured integration processes.

• Working knowledge of Linux-based systems and modern software deployment environments.

• Familiarity with software integration concepts, APIs, middleware, or autonomy frameworks.

• Experience coordinating technical activities across multiple teams and stakeholders.

Program & Coordination Skills

• Ability to manage technical schedules, coordinate integration activities, and track dependencies across internal and external teams.

• Experience interacting with vendors, suppliers, subcontractors, or customers in a technical capacity.

• Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced development and test environments.

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent technical efforts.

Communication & Collaboration

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to engineers, operators, program managers, customers, and vendors.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in highly collaborative, cross-functional teams.

• Comfortable operating as a bridge between customer-facing activities and internal technical execution teams.

Desired Skills

• Experience with unmanned maritime systems, autonomous vehicles, robotics platforms, or defense systems.

• Familiarity with vessel systems, marine electronics, onboard networking, or maritime operations.

• Experience integrating autonomy frameworks such as UMAA or similar open-architecture systems.

• Familiarity with RTI DDS or other distributed communications middleware.

• Knowledge of Docker, Kubernetes, containerized applications, or distributed computing architectures.

• Exposure to DevSecOps workflows, CI/CD pipelines, and secure software deployment practices.

• Experience with systems engineering processes, interface control documentation, or requirements management.

• Familiarity with sensor fusion, mission systems, payload integration, or real-time data processing.

• Experience supporting on-water trials, field testing, or operational demonstrations.

• Experience developing reusable integration tools, SDKs, APIs, or integration frameworks.

• Prior experience working in defense, maritime, aerospace, robotics, or autonomous systems industries.

• Active security clearance or ability to obtain and maintain one.

• Experience working directly with customers, government stakeholders, or operational end users.

• Experience balancing hands-on technical execution with programmatic coordination responsibilities.

• Ability to travel in support of integration activities, testing, demonstrations, and field operations.

• Ability to board and traverse large and small vessels.