Production Engineering Manager

Saronic Technologies•Austin, TX

22h

About The Position

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. 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. The Production Engineering Manager leads the development of the production engineering function required to stand up and scale shipyard manufacturing operations. This role is responsible for defining the build strategy, developing production processes, and ensuring that vessel designs are compatible with facility capabilities. The Production Engineering Manager serves as the technical bridge between engineering, manufacturing, and facilities, translating ship designs into efficient and executable production plans. This includes defining block construction strategy, heavy lift and transport engineering, and establishing the production rules that govern how vessels are built within the shipyard. A critical component of the role is developing and maintaining the Facilities Production Manual, which provides engineering teams with the design constraints and manufacturing rules required to ensure that vessel designs can be efficiently produced within Port Alpha’s facilities.

Requirements

8+ years experience in shipbuilding, heavy manufacturing, or large-scale industrial production engineering.
Strong experience developing build strategies for large fabricated structures.
Experience with heavy lift engineering, rigging, or large assembly operations.
Demonstrated ability to translate product design into manufacturing processes.
Strong cross-functional collaboration with engineering and operations teams.

Nice To Haves

Ship Structural Design Experience experience.
Familiarity with panel line production and modular ship construction.
Experience with digital production planning or simulation tools.
Background in lean manufacturing or industrial system design.

Responsibilities

Define and maintain the shipyard’s production build strategy, including panelization, block construction, and erection sequencing.
Develop block breakdown structures and manufacturing strategies aligned with facility capabilities.
Ensure vessel designs align with yard constraints such as crane capacities, transportation limits, and assembly workflows.
Develop engineering strategies for lifting, transporting, and erecting ship blocks and major modules.
Define lift plans, rigging concepts, and transport methods for large assemblies.
Coordinate with heavy lift equipment operators and infrastructure teams to validate lifting and movement strategies.
Develop standardized manufacturing processes for steel fabrication, block assembly, and erection.
Establish production workflows, takt planning concepts, and throughput assumptions.
Identify opportunities for automation and process optimization within shipyard operations.
Lead development of the Facilities Production Manual, establishing design rules for engineering teams.
Define constraints including maximum block weights, dimensions, lifting interfaces, transport paths, and production tolerances.
Ensure naval architects and vessel design teams incorporate facility manufacturing requirements early in the design process.
Work closely with ship design teams to ensure production feasibility.
Translate vessel design into manufacturing work packages and build sequences.
Support development of digital models and production simulations.
Support the startup of new shipyard facilities and manufacturing systems.
Validate production processes during early vessel builds.
Capture lessons learned and refine production engineering standards.
Partner with engineering, facilities, automation, and operations teams to align production systems.
Provide production engineering input to equipment selection and facility design.
Support strategic planning for future production capacity expansion.

Benefits

Medical Insurance: Comprehensive health insurance plans covering a range of services
Saronic pays 100% of the premium for employees and 80% for dependents
Dental and Vision Insurance: Coverage for routine dental check-ups, orthodontics, and vision care
Saronic pays 100% of the premium under the basic plan 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 with company match
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
Pet Insurance: Discounted pet insurance options including 24/7 Telehealth helpline
Additional Perks: Free lunch benefit and unlimited free drinks and snacks in the office