Director of Ship Maintenance, MUSV
23 days ago
Austin
Job DescriptionSaronic 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 requirementsQualifications, • 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 environmentPhysical 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