Saronic Technologies develops and manufactures autonomous surface vessels and AI-driven maritime systems.
Saronic Technologies is a leader in revolutionizing autonomy at sea, dedicated to developing state-of-the-art solutions that enhance maritime operations through autonomous and intelligent platforms. As the Shipyard Manufacturing Engineering Manager at Saronic-Franklin, you will lead the technical execution and operational integration of Manufacturing Engineering activities across the shipyard. This role is responsible for ensuring vessel construction activities are technically sound, production-ready, efficiently executed, and aligned with quality, schedule, and safety objectives. The Shipyard Manufacturing Engineering Manager will oversee the Manufacturing Engineering team, which supports workstation tooling, processes, and improvements, operates the machine shop, and develops manufacturing facility improvements. Finally, the Shipyard Manufacturing Engineering Manager will work directly with the Design Engineering and Production Engineering leadership to ensure cross-functional agreement on product design improvements. This position plays a critical role in enabling scalable and repeatable vessel construction operations within a fast-paced maritime manufacturing environment. KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY 1. Team Leadership: Manage, train, and motivate a team of manufacturing engineering personnel, including hiring, performance evaluations, and professional development. 2. Engineering Oversight: Ensure manufacturing engineering deliverables support efficient vessel construction, including work packages, installation planning, technical issue resolution, and production readiness. 3. Manufacturing Engineering Management: Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives related to production flow, scheduling, planning, build sequencing, and technical operations performance. Develop and optimize manufacturing processes, tooling strategies, workflow layouts, and resource utilization to improve workstation efficiency, reduce waste, and support scalable shipyard operations. 4. Production Engineering Coordination: Coordinate with production engineering leadership to ensure effective execution of activities related to structural assembly, vessel systems integration, outfitting coordination, and product design improvements to ensure technical alignment across departments. 5. Quality Assurance: Ensure engineering and manufacturing activities comply with company standards, shipyard procedures, regulatory requirements, and applicable maritime industry specifications. 6. Safety Compliance: Work with the EHS team to enforce workplace safety protocols and ensure engineering-driven production activities are executed in accordance with Saronic EHS guidelines and company policies. 7. Reporting and Operational Metrics: Monitor and report key performance indicators (KPIs) related to production efficiency, engineering throughput, build execution, schedule performance, labor utilization, downtime for repair (DFR), and technical issue resolution. Shipyard Manufacturing Engineering Managers at Saronic-Franklin are expected to have the knowledge, skill, and ability to accomplish the below: TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE 1. Strong understanding of shipyard production operations, vessel construction sequencing, manufacturing processes, and marine production systems. 2. Ability to lead cross-functional engineering and production teams in a fast-paced shipbuilding environment. 3. Experience interpreting engineering drawings, production work packages, technical specifications, and vessel integration requirements. 4. Ability to analyze and make key operational decisions related to production workflows, staffing, manufacturing methods, tooling, and engineering priorities. 5. Ability to communicate effectively with executive leadership, engineering teams, production personnel, suppliers, and shipyard stakeholders. 6. Strong technical aptitude, organizational skills, and attention to detail. 7. Maintain proper administrative records, technical documentation, and operational reporting. JOB PROFICIENCY 1. Ensure Manufacturing Engineering teams are accomplishing tasks, roles, and responsibilities as outlined in applicable job descriptions and operational objectives. 2. Provide independent judgement to leadership regarding team performance, staffing needs, organizational structure, and operational improvements using established policies, procedures, and practices. 3. Resolve and document technical production issues impacting vessel construction, manufacturing operations, quality, or schedule performance. 4. Manage overall technical resource utilization to meet or exceed production and operational efficiency goals. 5. Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on manufacturing efficiency, production scalability, technical execution, and operational excellence. 6. Provide periodic operational documentation, technical status updates, engineering issue reporting, and shift turnover communication for compliance and continuous improvement purposes. 7. Collaborate with product design team, project management team, and production engineering team to ensure product design is in line with scaled production goals. This includes participating in conflict resolution re: design vs production issues 1. Facilitating as-built updates to drawings 2. Deriving, tracking, and implementing lessons learned in design-for-production 3. Facilitating design-for-production improvements CULTURE AND COLLABORATION 1. Follow all shipyard safety policies, including proper use of PPE, fire prevention, and confined space protocols. 2. Assist in the training and development of all engineers and engineering management on site. 3. Collaborate and communicate effectively with all shipyard departments to ensure seamless vessel production integration. 4. Work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced maritime manufacturing environment. 5. Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work area. 6. Maintain a pos