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About Us:Havoc is a leader in all-domain collaborative autonomy. Its software-defined hardware approach powers military and commercial-grade autonomous systems across sea, air, and land to sense, decide, and act together in complex and contested environments. Havoc connects assets, enabling them to share information, adapt in real time, and continue operating even when communications are disrupted or denied. Havoc optimizes mission performance and minimizes human risk.Havoc was founded in 2024 and headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. Learn more at Havoc: All-Domain Collaborative Autonomy .About the RoleAs the Vehicle Autonomy Team Lead, you will lead the team responsible for building, integrating, and fielding the on-vehicle autonomy stack for HavocAI’s autonomous surface vessels. This team owns the autonomy capabilities that run onboard our vessels and enable them to safely navigate, execute missions, respond to dynamic maritime environments, and operate reliably in the field.This is a senior technical leadership role for someone with deep experience in robotics, autonomy software, motion planning, controls, vehicle behavior, and real-world system integration. You will lead a team of engineers from a technical perspective, set engineering priorities, guide architecture decisions, mentor teammates, and ensure that autonomy capabilities are delivered with speed, rigor, and operational reliability.This role is hands-on and field-oriented. You should be comfortable moving between system design, code review, debugging logs, evaluating autonomy performance, supporting field tests, and working cross-functionally with perception, mission software, embedded systems, hardware, and operations teams.Key ResponsibilitiesVehicle Autonomy LeadershipLead the technical execution of the on-vehicle autonomy teamOwn autonomy capabilities that run onboard autonomous surface vessels, including navigation, planning, control, behaviors, safety logic, and autonomy executionDefine technical priorities, architecture, interfaces, and development standards for vehicle autonomy systemsGuide autonomy design decisions across reliability, latency, safety, compute constraints, mission performance, and field maintainabilityEnsure the vehicle autonomy stack is robust, observable, testable, and ready for real-world maritime operationsTeam Leadership & Technical MentorshipLead, mentor, and support a team of autonomy, robotics, planning, and controls engineersProvide technical guidance through design reviews, architecture reviews, code reviews, test planning, and field-readiness reviewsHelp engineers break down complex autonomy problems into executable technical workEstablish strong engineering practices for autonomy development, integration, simulation, testing, and deploymentCreate a team culture built on ownership, technical excellence, mission focus, and fast iterationIntegration, Testing & Field DeploymentDrive autonomy capabilities from concept through implementation, simulation, hardware-in-the-loop testing, field testing, and deploymentSupport vessel integration, field tests, customer demonstrations, and operational evaluationsDiagnose and resolve autonomy issues using logs, telemetry, vehicle data, simulation results, and field observationsBuild feedback loops between field failures, autonomy improvements, and product roadmap decisionsEnsure the team delivers autonomy software that can be operated, debugged, and maintained in real mission environmentsCross-Functional CollaborationWork closely with perception, mission software, embedded systems, hardware, product, program, and field operations teamsTranslate mission needs and product requirements into vehicle autonomy capabilitiesCoordinate interfaces between onboard autonomy, mission planning, command and control, sensors, and platform systemsCommunicate technical risks, tradeoffs, and progress clearly to engineering and company leadershipHelp align vehicle autonomy development with customer needs, deployment timelines, and long-term product strategyQualificationsBachelor’s degree in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field8+ years of experience in robotics, autonomy, autonomous vehicles, unmanned systems, maritime autonomy, aerospace, defense technology, or related technical fieldsStrong technical background in vehicle autonomy, motion planning, controls, robotics software, and autonomous system integrationProven experience leading engineers from a technical perspective, either as a team lead, technical lead, staff engineer, principal engineer, or engineering managerExperience building and deploying autonomy software on real robotic or autonomous systemsStrong understanding of autonomy software stacks, including planning, control, behaviors, state estimation, sensor integration, simulation, testing, and deploymentExperience working in Linux-based development environments with modern software engineering practicesStrong programming skills in C++ and/or PythonAbility to make sound technical tradeoffs across reliability, safety, performance, maintainability, and scheduleStrong debugging skills across software, hardware, sensors, logs, telemetry, and field operationsExcellent communication skills and ability to align technical and non-technical stakeholdersHigh ownership, strong judgment, and comfort operating in fast-moving, ambiguous environmentsPassion for mission-critical autonomy and real-world robotic systemsU.S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a security clearancePreferred SkillsExperience with autonomous surface vessels, maritime autonomy, naval systems, unmanned boats, or maritime domain awarenessExperience with collision avoidance, COLREGs-aware planning, path planning, trajectory generation, behavior planning, guidance, navigation, or control systemsExperience with multi-agent autonomy, collaborative autonomy, distributed robotic systems, or coordinated vehicle behaviorsExperience with ROS2, DDS, MOOS-IvP, autonomy middleware, or distributed robotics architecturesExperience integrating perception, radar, EO/IR cameras, AIS, GPS/INS, or other maritime sensor modalities into autonomy systemsExperience with simulation, hardware-in-the-loop testing, autonomy verification and validation, and field test programsExperience supporting government, DoD, defense, or dual-use technology programsExperience operating in startup or fast-moving product engineering environmentsActive or prior security clearanceLocationThis role may be based remotely, with preference for candidates located in or willing to work from Boston, MA or Rhode Island. Candidates should be comfortable with regular travel for onsite collaboration, vessel integration, field testing, customer demonstrations, program reviews, and deployments.Benefits:100% Employer paid Health, Dental and Vision Insurance for you and your familiesLife Insurance (Employer Paid)Ability to participate in the companies 401k program (Matching) Unlimited PTO policy with an enforced 2 week minimumEquity PackageWork / Home Office StipendGlobal Entry16 Week Paid Parental LeaveMonthly Health and Wellness StipendOur Values:Innovation: We are driven to break new ground. Every day presents an opportunity to challenge the status quo, think boldly, and deliver advanced solutions that transform the future of defense technology.Integrity: We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards, ensuring transparency, accountability, and trust in all our actions and partnerships.Mission-Driven: We are focused on achieving impactful outcomes that align with our core mission—protecting lives through innovation.Forward-Leaning: We continuously seek out new opportunities and remain at the forefront of technological advancements. We embrace change and anticipate the challenges of tomorrow with confidence and creativity.Ownership of All Tasks: At HavocAI, no problem is too complex or too trivial. We believe that greatness comes from tackling the hardest challenges, but also in handling the smallest, sometimes thankless, tasks with the same level of commitment and care.Servant Leadership: We lead by serving others, whether it’s supporting our employees, partners, or the broader community. Empowering those around us is key to achieving long-term success and making a lasting impact.HavocAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.
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